Post by wanderingback on Dec 3, 2023 16:26:56 GMT -5
Wasn’t sure how to tittle this. We just rearranged our daughter’s room with the plan to put a shelf in there for toy and book storage. Right now everything is in the living room. We live in an apartment so her room is right next to the living room and kitchen.
Anyway, now that the space is cleared out in her room I was thinking maybe we should think ahead to a sensory table (although not exactly sure what that is, just heard the words haha), play kitchen, and/or small table/chair for coloring.
She’s 13 months now. Could ask the grandparents to help with expenses for Christmas (why I just thought about it cause my mom is insisting on getting her something and she doesn’t really need anything) or keep an eye out on our buy nothing group.
Anyway, I guess my question is, are those things a "must" with a toddler? What did or didn’t your toddler use? Obviously I know none of it is an absolutely must and while we don’t have a ton of space I do think we have a small area that can be kid friendly for her. And if you did have/use those items what age did your kid use them?
If I had access to Ikea I would get a Flisat table. It has cut outs so it can be a sensory table and then put the top on and its a regular table. We just use a Rubbermaid bin though and keep it under a little wood table.
My dd had a play kitchen and loved it. Hours and hours of fun. We never had a sensory type table.
We got it for her at Christmas when she was 2.5 and she used it for years. We had a bunch of play food. But this set stood out as an absolute favorite that she played with over and over.
She had a few different Melissa and Doug food/pot sets and the ice cream set which was really cute too. But the slice and bake cookies were such a big hit.
She had an art station easel that she liked and a small table for arts/crafts. They got use but not essential. I definitely feel like the kitchen was worth it for my kid at least. But obviously nothing is necessary. Even just playing with some of the food/accessories would be fun.
We never did a sensory table either. I'm just not the type of person to pour out a bunch of rice into a bin and let my kid play with it, same with fluffy stuff, or shaving cream or any of the other sensory type stuff. We never had a kitchen, but I imagine that would get a lot of use for one of my kids. Mine used the small chairs more for eating when they outgrew the highchair, but they did occasionally color at them. It was in the kitchen, so that is why it was used more for eating. They did use it regularly.
Post by thebreakfastclub on Dec 3, 2023 17:40:43 GMT -5
We got a play kitchen second hand with play food and my son liked it from ages 2-5. Then we sold it. He liked the food on its own way more, specifically the Melissa and Doug ice cream set and pizza set with a pretend knife.
He also had a small table and chair from ikea that got lots of use.
Post by maudefindlay on Dec 3, 2023 18:25:52 GMT -5
For sensory play we did bins on a towel on the floor, easy clean up. A bin with water and rubber ducks, cars, rags etc and a bin with rice and toys hiding in it, spoons, cups etc.
We still have an art easel, they used it a ton and it does fold flat and can be tucked in a closet. Our play kitchen saw tons of action and we loved the wooden Melissa and Doug food especially the bread and veggies you can cut. I'm not sure you'd have room, but a hanging swing was another hit. My DD loves to read in it.
I don't think I'd get furniture until you want one of those things. Buuut, of those options, I would vote play kitchen. Or a dual purpose table. But our kids mostly did play doh, kinetic sand, drawing at our kitchen table because it was closer to us. Eventually it was nice to have a separate table for Lego since that took longer.
I did drool over the trofast inserts while my DD was a preschooler, though. www.etsy.com/search?q=flisat%20insert&ref=auto-1&as_prefix=flisat They probably take up a lot of storage space. But in theory, the flisat table can be a sensory table, Lego/Duplo table, light board, peg board, etc etc etc.
Post by Jalapeñomel on Dec 3, 2023 18:46:59 GMT -5
We had a play workbench (it had an easel and a set of horse things and a screw driver—-he played kitchen on it too and had a cash register lol) and train table that got a lot of use.
Also, you didn’t ask but (lol) a mini trampoline was the best purchase we had…it took up space, but he used it every.single.day for YEARS.
Magnatiles!! My kids still play with them regularly.
Play kitchen and accessories for sure
The nugget couch has seen a lot of mileage, starting in toddlerhood, and even now (my oldest is 7). It’s great to set up in different configurations as they get mobile and want to climb.
No sensory table. I was going to say play kitchen. My kids used the play kitchen for years! OR if space is super super tight, you could just get some really fun food sets and skip the kitchen for now and see if you feel like you need it later. Ice cream sets were always a huge hit and also pizza sets tended to be popular. Anything where you can place an order and they make it for you.
You don’t really need a table and chairs because she can always color at the kitchen counter or wherever else works.
Magnatiles also a yes. Can we kept it have been somewhere brought out for playtime.
ETA: I bought some plastic cafeteria-style trays on Amazon. Great to have for play dough, beads, slime, etc. if they are doing it at the counter or table.
Since you’re in a small place, I’d recommend a Tupperware or small Rubbermaid bin for sensory stuff, that you can pop the lid on and can be slide under the bed or on a shelf. I think a small craft table could be most versatile. With the right play food it could become a play kitchen, or it could be used for drawing or coloring, building legos, etc.
I got a sensory table off BN right before DS turned 2. He played with it for literal hours at a time. It was magical. Once it got warm I put it outside and filled it with water. So he played with it year round for 2 years.
ETA: I got these blocks for DS for his first birthday. He played with them daily until he was 5.5/6 years old. They got used in so many different ways.
My kids are 9 and 5 and our kitchen still gets some use, especially when my younger one has friends over.
We also have a multi-use art/activity table that they still use, although they’re getting a little tall for it now. It’s similar to what I’ll link below - it has storage drawers and a top that can flip from flat to Lego baseplate.
The nugget couch is also a huge hit still and can be stacked and stored fairly nicely.
For bigger things, and even gifts if you’re into it, I’d suggest you look for something used in case you might feel guilty about getting rid of something that doesn’t work for you. I’ve bought most of our kid stuff off Facebook yard sale pages, so if the big train table doesn’t work for you, just get rid of it without guilt that your mom spent $150 on it. Or whatever 😊
Wildkin Kids Arts and Crafts Table Set for Boys and Girls, Mid Century Modern Design, Includes Two Stools, Paper & Storage Cubbies Underneath Helps Keep Art Supplies Organized (Gray) , Grey a.co/d/2AbmwLy
I'm not a fan of super messy things, so never got a sensory table. Both kids loved their play kitchen, but might wait a year for that. We had a mini table and chair from pottery barn, and used that for YEARS. We had an easel, but really wasn't used much, more often we'd just sit at the small table.
I always wanted to get a train table, lego table, and/or doll house, but never did.
Agree with PP on magnatiles always being a great gift, lasts way longer than most any other toy. Kids kinda used the trampoline. Was fun for a bit, but took up too much space.
We never had a play kitchen, but the play food was hands down the most played with toy in my house over the years. We had a bin full of various mismatched play food sets. My girls played with it from the early toddler years all the way to 8-10 yrs old.
Post by InBetweenDays on Dec 4, 2023 12:06:02 GMT -5
Our kids had a table like this and we LOVED it. They would play at the table all the time, and the storage underneath was perfect for trains, legos, etc. Ours came with two different length table legs so we could increase the height once they got older.
we had a play kitchen that we bought used, with all the foods. HUGE hit. We also never did an official sensory table or anything, I would just use a giant roasting pan over a towel and set it up with whatever the sensory item was. It was never anything that held his interest for too long.
Without a doubt I would agree with Jalapeñomel and get the little trampoline with the handrail. We still pull that out when we have smaller friends/cousins over to play. It is well worth the $35 we spent on it 5 years ago.
also? a big box is always a top hit. Go to a furniture store or appliance store and get a giant box. cut out a door. Put crayons in it. This will last you months until it is destroyed then you can do it again!
S is 6 and we always have a giant box down in our play room that is in heavy rotation.
We had a small space and are minimalists, so we didn’t get anything too big when DS was a toddler. We did get him a small table and chairs, which he still uses (he’s 6). Great for art, trains, etc. Also highly recommend magnatiles!
When she’s older, I would definitely recommend a learning tower. It’s like a little stool type thing so they can help in the kitchen. DS loved helping in the kitchen. I also bought him kid safe knives.
Post by penguingrrl on Dec 4, 2023 13:30:13 GMT -5
The play kitchen was a favorite in our house. My mom got it when my older two were toddlers and we were in a tiny city apartment (she asked first) and we found space for it. All three of mine and my nieces all adored it, and it got a lot of play from kids visiting as well. We finally got rid of it last year (we had had it for 12 years by then!). I feel like that was popular from 1.5 up to the middle of elementary school (7-8), when the kids started using the real kitchen.
We never had a sensory table, so not sure on that.
We also have a train table that flips to become a lego table and my 10 year old still uses it for his lego creations. I redid his room this past summer and thought he would be ready to give it away, but he wasn't yet and I notice he does still use it to play with legos, so that one definitely was worthwhile for us as well.
Post by wanderingback on Dec 4, 2023 21:21:18 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! When we take her to the library she seems to enjoy the play kitchen. But maybe we should take her a few more times to see how in to it she really is haha.
I think will skip the sensory table and instead get a regular or other type of table and chairs that would be more versatile. We do also have room in our open living room/area where our kitchen table is, so could set up a little table for her there.
We had a small space and are minimalists, so we didn’t get anything too big when DS was a toddler. We did get him a small table and chairs, which he still uses (he’s 6). Great for art, trains, etc. Also highly recommend magnatiles!
When she’s older, I would definitely recommend a learning tower. It’s like a little stool type thing so they can help in the kitchen. DS loved helping in the kitchen. I also bought him kid safe knives.
Oh the learning tower is the best. And I would get it now. DD ate breakfast in that thing from like 16 months - 3. It was great having her in the kitchen so I could unload the dishwasher, etc and still see and talk to her.
My girls still use it at 5 and 7. And it folds down.
At that age, my kid's number one favorite toy was a "Busy Board." My husband made and hung it. It provided HOURS of entertainment. I am going to see if I can find pic.
ETA: here is the first iteration. He added and removed as time went on.
At that age, my kid's number one favorite toy was a "Busy Board." My husband made and hung it. It provided HOURS of entertainment. I am going to see if I can find pic.
ETA: here is the first iteration. He added and removed as time went on.
Oh yes we have a busy board! Right now I just set it in the ground, but good idea could hang it. Thanks!