Many moms notice that babies are often enthralled more by the tag on a toy or blanket than the item itself. One smart mom observed this phenomenon in her own baby and created a special blanket full of soft tags. Soon this blanket was the envy of play group, followed by craft shows and now retail stores. Now the entire line of Taggies handmade, machine washable toys and blankets are a must-have item for babies to play with, grasp and explore.

Taggies are a very simple but effective baby item; playing with the many tags provides babies warmth and comfort when trying to fall asleep or in a stressful situation (like the doctor’s office). Many moms swear by the soothing power of Taggies, especially the blankets, but I don’t really consider a blanket to be a toy, so here are a few of their popular play items I recommend.

This is Grabby Elephant. He doesn’t just have tags all over his body, but his torso and ears are also tag-like and a delight for babies to explore. There’s a little Retractable Wiggle Mouse with chime inside, to create a whole new set of textures, sounds and motions. If you like the style of the toy but aren’t an elephant fan, there’s also Shaggie the Taggie, a fun puppy toy.
[Grabby Elephant $14.99 at Arsa Toys]

A soft and fun twist on a classic baby toy, the Animal Friends Stacking Rings provide plenty of fun tags and hand-eye-coordination and spatial relationship skills.There are more tags than I can count on this toy! It also seems that the individual rings would make a great stand-alone toy for a long car ride or a nap. It also plays music and makes a variety of sounds. What more could you need in a baby toy?
[Animal Friends Stacking Rings; $26.99  at Arsa Toys]

The Uncle Milton company has been bringing interactive fun to learning for decades. They created the original Ant Farm and have sold over 20 million since 1956. In fact, they have trademarked the phrase Ant Farm! They do a whole lot more than Ant Farms. I’ve already mentioned the highly-educational and fun In My Room Series of toys in a previous post.

Shadow puppets are always a fun activity, but with Shadow Magic you can create shadow art. When you pose in front of the green screen and flash the magic light, the shadow remains for several minutes and then fades away. You can also use the cool light pen to draw on your images. If you want to keep your art, just take a quick picture with a digital camera. Another paper-free, mess-free way to make fantastic art and also, a great activity for the whole family.
[Shadow Magic by Uncle Milton; $19.99 at Arsa Toys]

Do you know a little dinosaur enthusiast? Uncle Milton also makes the Dino X-Cavator, a fun game similar to the classic board game Operation, only with dinosaur bones and noises. It even includes cards with bone names and dinosaur trivia facts, making it even more educational.
[Dino Xcavator by Uncle Milton; $18.99 at Arsa Toys]

RC vehicles have been a childhood favorite for many years. And while cars, planes and helicopters are fun to control, they aren’t quite as cool as this RC Tarantula. OK, it might not be that educational, but it sure is nifty. From reviews I’ve read, it works well on flat surfaces, but not well on slopes or carpet. It is a fragile toy, so it’s better for older children.
[RC Tarantula by Uncle Milton; $18.55 at Arsa Toys]

Rokenbok is a legacy-quality toy that combines classic construction toy play with modern technology to create an endlessly expanding modular world. Basically, the modular construction system and radio controlled vehicles are combined to create a metropolis with monorail, construction and rescue elements. I hear a lot of parents praise Rokenbok’s products simply because there are so many elements to choose from, and its easy to add to your collection without worrying about compatibility. Children are definitely entertained by a single set, but also take great pride in their mega-metropolis. I also read  that the some Rokenbok components are compatible with LEGO products for even more fun.

Everything that I have heard and read about Rokenbok toys has been very positive, and it’s a toy that kids will keep around for many years and can play with in groups, with their parents or on their own. Though  Rokenbok has an extensive product line with just about every type of vehicle you can imagine, I thought I would show off some of their larger basic sets.

While the Rokenbok toys are recommended for children ages 6 and older, the Junior series contains larger pieces and more basic kits that are specifically designed for children 4-5 years old. This series is fully compatible with the regular Rokenbok series, so children can continue to grow with their toys. The Rokenbok Jr. Beginning Building Set includes a remote controlled dump truck, roadway with chutes, two figures and much more.
[$95.69 at Arsa Toys]

The Power Chutes Starter set is a great launching point for first timers. It includes a front loader RC vehicle, radio control center, control pad and plenty of track. It has more than enough activities and building possibilities without being overwhelming. Of course, it can also be incorporated into all other Rokenbok sets for future expansion.
[$69.59 at Arsa Toys]

To really get your Rokenbok metropolis up and running, the Inventor’s Toolbox contains 618 pieces and endless possibilities. This is a more free-form, advanced set, but it does include a building guide with several options. The angled pieces provide a lot of height to the set and create a fun challenge for young builders.
[$113.54 at Arsa Toys]

One of my friend’s sons rushes to the window and jumps up and down when the garbage and recycle trucks arrive to collect from the house. He’s 3, and like many boys, he is infatuated with almost all trucks and construction devices. In order to help him understand how these machines work, his parents got him a Bruder garbage truck and they say he won’t stop playing with it several months later.

Bruder is a German company known for its very realistic and popular construction and rescue toys. The high level of detail and realistic functions really help to encourage imaginative play. Bruder prides themselves on their realism; many toys are built to the exact specification of their real-life counter parts. Most offer cabs that tilt forward to reveal replica engines. Maybe the best part for parents: most Bruder toys don’t make any noise.

Bruder makes several different garbage trucks, both rear and side loading varieties. I like this Mercedes-Benz replica because it comes with two different color trash cans and the truck features a recycling logo, so you can easily teach children about the importance of recycling. Plus the trash cans hook into the tailgate of the truck and can be lifted and emptied into the back, then the “trash” can be compacted.
[$52.99 at Arsa Toys]

This is another cool replica, this tow truck comes with a 4 x 4 vehicle to use as cargo, so it’s really two toys in one. Additionally, there are several ways for the truck to be towed; there is a telescopic crane, a lowering bed and even chains to help get the job done.
[$49.99 at Arsa Toys]

In addition to many big trucks, Bruder makes a variety of authentic construction vehicles, like this bulldozer.These toys can be used inside and outside; kids will love to push around dirt and sand, or maybe even marbles. Just like other Bruder toys, this one has many working parts for a robust playing experience.
[$27.99 at Arsa Toys]

Bruder toys are made with ABS plastic (what LEGO bricks are made of) with no glue or screws holding them together, so they’re extra safe. However, children that are especially rough on toys may find that they break, so a die-cast toy may be more appropriate for hard players.