Jack
Like most good things, this was my wife's idea. Basically, we were bored of the arguments.
It comes of having one offspring aged 7 going on 43, and obsessed with rollercoaster engineering and the other aged 3 and an Elsa fanatic.
Ideally, I'd like some kind of youtube video where Elsa rides a rollercoaster, telling you facts about it in between choruses of LET IT GO. But in the absence of that, we've turned off the television at the wall, and no bashing of the buttons is making it work.
Oh, Offspring number 1. If you're reading this- firstly, get off my damn laptop. Secondly, I'm sorry we lied to you about the TV being broken. Well, Sorry-Not-Sorry, as the kids say. (Memo to self- do The Kids still say this? Offspring number 1 has just started calling me "Suss", so I don't know how to feel about anything anymore).
After a bit of shouting and grumping, the kids then started to actually play. Y'know, with the thousands of pounds (both weight and price) of toys they have. And, *gasp* imaginative play has happened!
Offspring 1 has opened a bunch of Lego kits he has had for a while. For imaginative play, Lego is The GOAT (ok, I promise that's the last time). The trick is, balancing the branded with the generic. There's obviously the appeal of a kit that ties in with your child's chosen cinematic universe, but I'd also advise on getting some normal Lego as well. The generic stuff can be anything, that's the big appeal.
Duplo (the big, chunky preschool version of Lego) also deserves a shout-out. If you've got children with an age gap, like we do, then having a play system they can use together is a must. Offspring 1 and 2 can both enjoy Duplo, either together or just side-by-side. Obviously there is the occasional refereeing session required when one Offspring is making a rollercoaster and the one needs the piece for a zoo, but with a big box there should be enough blocks to go around. Don't be too tempted to stick the Duplo on Facebook marketplace as soon the kids start playing with "big boy" Lego. Ours like to switch back and forth, depending on mood- so there is normally a few years' worth of life left.
There Magblocks, Magna-tiles, Magformers, CooDoo- basically they are a way to build stuff with magnets. And magnets are awesome. Chunky pieces mean that younger siblings can get stuck in as well, but the nice thing about the various magnet kits on the market is you can build big stuff very quickly.
For storage, invest in a big linen bag. You'll drive yourself crackers trying to get this stuff back in the box.
Everyone remembers Playdough. And if you don't, as soon as you crack open a tub the nostalgia will hit you like a freight train. All kids love Playdough, it's the tactile feel of it, and just having something brightly coloured to fiddle around with.
If you're going to get playdough, for the love of all that's holy, not in a room with a carpet you care about. My wife and I are very fortunate because we hate our carpets, but I understand not everyone is so fortunate. For these people, I politely suggest either using a table you're not too fond of, or maybe a plastic sheet.
There is something to be said for a good tea set. Apart from being incredibly good for your waistline, make-believe tea and cakes are a good way for kids to try out different social ideas or just pretend for a bit. Don't be tempted to buy real China. It won't end well. Instead, go for drop-resistant plastic, metal or wood. John Lewis do a fantastic range of different tea sets. Obviously that comes with John Lewis prices- but to be honest it's worth spending a couple of quid more when a tea party may be catering such glamorous names as Princess Belle, Pandy the Ikea Panda, The Unicorn Queen, Elsa from Frozen, a random duck, and Princess Daddy.
One of Offspring number 2's favourite toys is the Mellisa and Doug ice cream parlour. It combines her favourite things- roleplay and make-believe, currency, and ice cream. As a family, we do tend to slightly eat more ice cream than is strictly necessary. But we tend to get one on days out, so its reinforcing these happy memories. The big selling out of the Mellisa and Doug ice cream parlour is the scoop. With a sort of clicky thingy, you are able to portion out ice cream, toppings, ect into either a cone or a tub. It even comes with a little menu card! The big problem is that this is a bit of a one-trick pony. But to be fair, it is one hell of a trick and a lot of fun to play with.
