I call them ‘the mobile years’—that passageway when that utterly dependent bundle of poop you schlepped home with from the hospital suddenly sprouts into a roaming, grunting, recalcitrant toddler who has an insatiable curiosity, plus the legs and willpower to go with it. During this stage, developmental psychologist believe that tots—and by that, I mean 1- to 3-year-olds—develop insolent behavior (as in belting out “No!” at your every command, and then conveniently sprawling their bodies into a grocery store aisle) and the ability to imitate others’ behavior and speech (which any mom who has whispered an obscenity has uncomfortably discovered when her 2-year-old later puts that very word on loudspeaker).
Buck up, parents: This is no time to back away from one of the biggest tests of child rearing. In fact, I’m sending you into battle with a few toy reinforcements that will tame and entertain—or, at the very least, distract—that preschooler’s brain. Like the vibrantly multi-colored Build ‘n’ Discover Stacker from MegaBloks (www.megabloks.com). With this playset, toddlers can experiment with balance and gravity as they build (and probably later topple) 11 blocks on a special rocking container. It’s a great choice for keeping your little one’s hands busy just long enough for you to squeeze in a tea break.
Might your little one prefer baby dolls to blocks? Then introduce her to Fancy Nancy (Jakks Pacific, www.jakkspacific.com), the doll first conceived as a children’s book character: Fancy Nancy by Jakks Pacific. Her cute-ola accessories—necklace, ballet slippers, and hair ribbons—are enough to capture (and, much to a mother’s delight, keep) the attention of a 3-year old. Not bad for a cuddly, 18-inch doll that your girl will enjoy dressing and undressing for hours on end.
I’ve never quite understood children’s obsession with treehouses—but when it comes to keeping kids engaged why question what clearly works? Long before your toddler is enough of a big boy to build his real-life treehouse, he can get his fix by building a Calafant Cardboard Treehouse (www.calafantusa.com). Not only is it a snap to put together (even for a 3-year-old), but your child can dream up the best color scheme and decorate the treehouse with watercolor. While the latter will likely require some supervision from you, the final result is a product that can sit proudly on your child’s dresser top for passersby to gawk at and admire.
In addition to this hodgepodge of toys designed to restore caretakers’ emotional equilibrium, I leave you with a wise word from the late American comedian and television host Sam Levinson: “Insanity is hereditary: You can get it from your children.” If you’ve recently joined the ranks of unsuspecting inheritors, may this list of playthings be your first step back toward lucidity.
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