Gifts to stock-up on for 2-3 yr olds?

[PMJ]

Please recommend the gifts you'd recommend I buy (Post-Xmas sale or other) for Boys & Girls who are turning 2 or 3 yrs old.

I need to buy at least 20 gifts, so looking for some good priced items that I can load into a cart quickly w/ very little thinking about who it might work for!!!

Please be specific w/your recommendations - (I'm a little out of the shopping circuit). I prefer Non-battery operated toys, b/c that is what I like for my DD.

thanks :)

[ett]

24 piece floor puzzles are good for that age. Marshalls/TJ Maxx/Homegoods has the Melissa and Doug ones frequently at discounted prices.

[ciw]

Play-Doh, particularly the Fun Factory.
Puzzles
Do-A-Dot markers
Magnatiles
Lacing cards/beads
Duplos
Stamp and ink kits (Melissa and Doug or others)
Watercolors or finger paints

ETA: board games like Busytown (the favorite here by far), Zingo, Memory, etc.

[infomama]

ciw has a nice list. My addition would be play food.

[mum-to-be]

For boys: wooden Thomas trains (but not Thomas, because he comes with every set)

For both: Floor puzzles, Bath crayons, Richard Scarry books (my go to present)

[Snow mom]

I'll add:
Play food, play dishes, pretty much anything that is a smaller size imitate adults toy.

[anonomom]

PLay food is a definite. Melissa & Doug makes great baking sets -- a birthday cake, cupcakes, cookies, that my 2 year old loves and that my 5 year old still plays with. They also have a "slicing foods" set that we don't have, but looks great.

Paint with water books are good, too.

If you have an AC Moore near you, all M&D toys are on sale 50% off this week.

[JBaxter]

blocks ( building toys)
magnadoodles
cars trucks
trains
interactive books

[Melaine]

Magnadoodle
Memory
Wooden puzzles
Wooden playfood sets

[JBaxter]

FLASHLIGHTS. For some reason flashlights are a hit w/ all my boys.

[Jen841]

All the above plus:
Pillow Pets (big with my nieces and nephews)
CDs - very good if you are shipping- if space is an issue skip this! Ralph's World CDs are always a hit!
Books - I am a sucker for books! You can't go wrong with Curious George!
Bubble Blowing Machines - Little Tykes one is cute!
M&D Cardboard Blocks are fun too! Hours of endless fun.
Dot Markers and paper

[MamaMolly]

If you don't like the parents then go with Lucky Ducks ;). Horribly noisy and often on sale. Or moon sand. A disaster in the making at clean up time.

Did anyone say Magnadoodle? My DDs love them.
baby dolls
dolly stroller
wooden trains if you have a Joanne's near you you can use their coupons
wooden puzzles from M&D, Marshalls usually has them for about $5

Are you crafty? I make felt food and it is a big hit and felt is cheap. Gender neutral and you can make a bunch ahead and put them in little brown lunch baggies to wrap them. I do breakfast (pancake, bacon and egg) lunch (pita with lettuce, tomato, sliced meat, cheese and onion slice) and dinner (bowtie pasta, meatballs, broccoli).

[Melaine]

Are you crafty? I make felt food and it is a big hit and felt is cheap. Gender neutral and you can make a bunch ahead and put them in little brown lunch baggies to wrap them. I do breakfast (pancake, bacon and egg) lunch (pita with lettuce, tomato, sliced meat, cheese and onion slice) and dinner (bowtie pasta, meatballs, broccoli).

Do you have a specific tutorial you follow for these? I'd love to try my hand at it, but have no idea where to start.

[Melaine]

All the above plus:
Pillow Pets (big with my nieces and nephews)
CDs - very good if you are shipping- if space is an issue skip this! Ralph's World CDs are always a hit!
Books - I am a sucker for books! You can't go wrong with Curious George!
Bubble Blowing Machines - Little Tykes one is cute!
M&D Cardboard Blocks are fun too! Hours of endless fun.
Dot Markers and paper

Since you mentioned Curious George, I was reminded that this treasury was one of my girls' favorite gifts from their second birthday. We read it almost everyday for months and months. http://www.amazon.com/Treasury-Curious-George-H-Rey/dp/0618538224/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1317229816&sr=8-2
I think it's a great gift for the 2-3 set, and we still read it weekly.

[truly scrumptious]

Since you mentioned Curious George, I was reminded that this treasury was one of my girls' favorite gifts from their second birthday. We read it almost everyday for months and months. http://www.amazon.com/Treasury-Curious-George-H-Rey/dp/0618538224/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1317229816&sr=8-2
I think it's a great gift for the 2-3 set, and we still read it weekly.

:yeahthat:

DS has this and loves it.

[Melaine]

:yeahthat:

DS has this and loves it.

I found this one at TJ Maxx also: http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Curious-George-Green-Reader/dp/0618663738/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317230336&sr=1-2

[MamaMolly]

Do you have a specific tutorial you follow for these? I'd love to try my hand at it, but have no idea where to start.

Mostly I look at photos on line and give it a try. Felt is extremely forgiving. Plus I give myself 100% permission for it to not turn out as perfectly as things like these:
http://www.facebook.com/pretendplaykitchen?sk=photos

Here is a link with a bunch of tutorials.
http://www.onecraftyplace.com/2009/02/27/felt-food-tutorial-round-up/

HTH! :)

[sidmand]

Cariboo was my present of choice for 3 year olds but I've heard they've either changed it or are not making it anymore. http://www.amazon.com/Cranium-104010000-100E-Cariboo/dp/B000063XO3 Though if you ever see anyone still clearancing them out it's a great game!

Like some of the PPs:
Busytown game
Magnadoodles
Aquadoodles (DD LOVES any of those water drawing things too--Dora, Princess, Backyardigans but they're a little cheaper and you'd probably need a couple)
My Little Pink Princess Purse (book) http://www.amazon.com/My-Little-Pink-Princess-Purse/dp/1416979794/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317242021&sr=1-1
Puzzles
Flashlights (great one, mine can never have enough!)
Zingo