Conference moira::parenting

    Just yesterday I bought my 8 month old son a set of wooden blocks and
    he loves them! His dad gets down on the floor and stacks them, then
    Nicky knocks them down. He cracks up like mad when he does that.
    They are non-toxic and made by Playschool.
    
    Sherry

    Charlotte (now close to 11 mo) still enjoys those things she
    got for xmas - she had an activity centre/walker from fisherprice
    from my Mom. and now loves to stroll with it more and more.
    
    She's also a BIG fan of the many many plastic containers and lids
    we have. We keep all the lids in the same bin and will take them
    out for her - she will stand by the big livingroom chair and 
    amuse herself (I think her attention span is finally getting a 
    little longer!).
    
    Monica

    
    Balls have always been a favorite toy of Michaels, just the plain old
    type that kids play kickball with etc, smaller ones, and tennis balls
    too. (Now he trys to dribble them like Daddy on the kitchen floor!)
    
    I remember going thru this same thing when Michael was this age.  Lets
    see: the stackable cups/blocks as mentioned were a big hit, the little 
    tykes school bus with the "little people" was a big one too (altho I
    don't think he had that until 1yr), jack in the box, pop-n-play things
    (press this button, this pops up, etc)...
    
    Ummm...can't think of any more..
    Good Luck.
    
    Chris
    

    
    
    
    
    small cardboard boxes of varying sizes
    bandaid boxes
    anything with a lid or top
    anything that stacks or nests (boxes, cups)
    keys on a ring
    measuring spoons on a ring 
    rice or dried beans in a box or can, taped shut (makes a shaker)
    coffee cans or pots and wooden spoons (drums)
    water in a plastic container, sealed with duct tape (unusual rattle)
    wooden spools on a string 
    
    ...Just a few cheap ideas. 
    
    Lucy

    I recall that my son loved to read books at 9 months.  Of course you 
    can borrow many of these from the library, but kids tend to have
    favorite stories - the more interesting and variety of pictures seem
    to be a big plus.  Reading is also a good habit to start early -
    especially before they attempt to watch videos fulltime at the age of
    2+ years.

	At 10 months, Emily's favorite toys are:

	Balls (any size, any type, she just carries them around, and thinks
		they're the world's greatest invention)
	socks, especially hers - I keep a clean one available for her to play
		with (playing means carrying around in her mouth)
	Anything with a string, strap, or tag (obviously no long strings that
		can cause strangling, and never without supervision) - her
		reebok sneaker that she never wore is an example
	Pull toys (my Mom's got a little truck on a string that makes a
		   noise.  Emily will pull it behind her as she crawls or
		   walks)
	Doll's, stuffed animals - this is a new one, perpetuated by "grammy"
		   playing with them with her

	Karen

    GREAT IDEAS EVERYONE !!
    
    Thanks so much !!
    
    I'll be broke, but hey, she's worth it !!
    
    Thanks again !!

    
    Take cues from her.  What does she enjoy.  There are lots of toys out
    there with prices that span the globe.  If she likes balls, you don't
    have to spend a fortune just look for bright colored ones.  
    
    An other 'trick' I use is to take some of the toys away.  Put them out
    of sight, then in a month switch some.  They are all excited all over
    again and you don't end up buying new toys every month.  
    
    Have fun!
    
    Rose Marie

    
    my twins went to a nursery over the weekend (we were skiing 8-))
    and they played with all kinds of toys. Gave me a pretty good idea what
    to buy them next.
    
    So, take them someplace with a lot of toys and see what they like.
    
    Simon

Jonathan @ 9 months likes his toys but also:

	- his socks
	- mom's wooden spatula
	- refrigerator magnets. We have a few safe ones that does not have
		small pieces that could come off, on the lower part of the
		fridge door. He spends a lot of time standing at the fridge 
		door taking them off showing them around and putting them back.
	- laundry basket in master bedroom. Great fun to pull out old clothes
	- lids to 8 oz yougurt containers. 

    Andrew @ 9 months
    
    Water filled plastic ball with fish and beads in
    Trolley filled with wooden blocks, thinks it's hilarious to empty
    trolley while mummy tries to put them back.
    Colinder in kitchen, makes a very good hat for peek-a-boo.
    The mesh on the sides of playpen, impersonates bank robber
    Anything shiney/ and metallic, buts wants to eat them all the time
    Bits of fluff, socks, padders etc all go in mouth.
    Toy trumpet (which he cant blow yet) but loves noise if we blow it.
    Banging things on other things especially in public.
    The in-laws gas fire is fascinating and a real job to keep him away
    from.
    The in-laws very tolerant west highland terrier, under strict
    supervision.
    Mirrors
    An inflatable hide and see with transparent and opaque panels, balls
    and pictures inside.
    Musical teething key ring, with endless battery??, drives me mad on
    long car journeys, and i'll never forget the tune
    Food !!!!
    Eating implements !!!
    The TV remote control
    The curly wire on the phone, so much so we had to search over the whole
    county for a toy phone with a curly lead designed for a four year old.
    Mummy's gold pendant
    Daddy's watch
    His own voice 
    
    Need I go on.
    
    Regards 
    
    Ian
    
    
    

    Ian, that reminded me:
    
    Daddy's pocket watch - best of them all!
    
    Monica

    Most of these 9month old's are probably ONE year olds by now, but
    thought I'd add this one.
    
    I saw at the Fair, a discount dept store chain, a small round yellow
    thing, designed to put Cherios into.  It is specifically designed so
    that toddlers can open the lid and get the cherios ( suppose other
    finger cereals would work as well), But I was thinking just the idea of
    being able to open and close the lid might be a thrill for a toddler. 
    It is really just a round yellow piece of molded plastic, cost was
    under $2.
    
    Lyn

    Lyn, I just got a mail-in offer for those - from Cheerio's them selves.
    (I ordered 2!) Free with 2 box tops.
    
    Monica

    Current also carries them, not sure of the price though.

    Paul just turned 8 months.  What a great list!  I can tell you the
    remote control for Paul is one of his favorite toys.  Another is the
    cord on the phone.  Funny how he picks the clicker (must be from
    watching Daddy!) and the phone (because I get awfully jealous when
    Mommy is using that and not playing with me).  
    
    I can't wait to try some of these things on Paul.  Thanks for a great
    note Joanie!  
    
    cj

Kyle is 6 1/2 months and I'm looking for suggestions of toys that 
sing (not just play the music) of lullabies.  I've been looking around
and have found several toys that play the music but would really like
to find one that actually sings the songs.  He's a bit young for any
of the tape recorders, and I don't think he'd be very interested in them
anyway since there is no other activity to go along with just a tape.
I'd love to find something like push-a-button-and-it-plays-twinkle-twinkle-
little-star-and-sings-the-words-too type toy.  Any suggestions out there?  

Thanks, Jean

    Jean
    
    Acutally, I purchased the FP 1touch tape player, and a set of
    tapes. They have 1 full of Nursery Rhymes, 1 of games, one of 
    Lullybyes and I forget what the other is. Anyway, I put the tape
    player on, and hang it on the edge of the crib or chair, depending
    where Nicholas is playing, and put in the tape, and he loves it.
    he also likes to push the start and stop buttons on the front. 
    
    And later, when I purchase the books with tapes, he will aready have
    the tape player.
    
    
    For me, I think it was worth the investment..
    Of course, this is JMHO
    
    Anne Marie
    

My daughter had one that plays songs - all the popular one -
shortened versions.

She was older 18-24 months when she got it so she looked
at the book.  I was thinking a younger child might just
enjoy pushing the buttons (~8 songs/buttons).

Of course my husband and I went a little batty after hearing
the songs again and again...