Most of the toys I have are from Melissa & Doug. I appreciate the quality and attention to detail in their toys and know they pass the durability test in my house. This type of activity may not be for all toddlers, but my son, Ryan, really enjoys working on and mastering puzzles. After a few days he could put the puzzle together by himself, but still likes to play with it. 

Another Melissa & Doug favorite is this Latches Board. It has 6 unique locks/latches and behind each door is a surprise animal! Ryan has been learning his numbers too, so this gives him good practice to remember, recognize and say each number. 

Can you tell I like this brand?! These are definitely a favorite for Ryan too. These squishy pull-back cars are so much fun! This will keep Ryan busy and proof that kids' toys don't need a bunch of flashing lights and buttons to be fun. 

This toy has more to it than just being a toy clock. Kids can learn about their colors, understand how to tell time, sort shapes and practice their numbers! 

This is another brand I appreciate. This set came with 6 different animal shape puzzles. If you like to rotate toys for your kids, this would be easy to incorporate a different puzzle every week. 

If you need an option for traveling with kids, these activity pads are a great consideration! Ryan likes to curl up on the couch and color these all the time. Coloring books are great, but these are reusable and only need water in their pen that's included. 

I noticed Ryan wanted to follow me around when I'd be dusting or sweeping, so I thought, why not encourage me to help me with some tools of his own! This open-ended toy inspires him to help me clean the house, and teach him to responsible to put everything back on it's stand. 

Ok, prepare yourself. Ryan LOVES this keyboard. He will play with this all day! I set this up in the playroom on the carpet because it slides on the hardwood floor when he really gets to running around on it. It can get a little annoying if some of the tunes repeat a hundred times, but well worth it in my book.

Do you have any favorite toys for your toddler? What are some timeless toys you can't live without?