The Little Tikes Apple Grove Pals Friends Packs are adorable, easy for small hands to manipulate, and they have interchangeable hats. They also come with a book. To go with the fun little animals, there are several play sets and accessories. We have The Great Pancake Caper set of 3 and the Heroes Are Everywhere set. Though it can be messy letting a 14 month old play with figurines that have removable hats, I think they will provide fun for him for some time to come. They’re for ages 18-48 months at littletikes.com.

Though my son really liked the Little Tikes Light and Go Thomas Flashlight and found the lights and sounds to be fun, it did not last very long. We had to return the first one after a very short time of owning it and the second didn’t last much longer. No one was rough with it in the house and it was played with quite a lot, but that’s to be expected with children’s products. I would not recommend it, though our son liked it very much. It’s $17.31 at Amazon.com.

My older son, nearly 4, has always loved playing with Little Tikes Cozy Coupes. A few of his friends have them and he loves getting in and out, pretending to fill it with gas, “driving” it around, and directing other “drivers” by telling them to stop and go. The 30th Anniversary Cozy Coupe is cute as can be, with its bug eyes, and $49.99 price tag at Amazon.com. Very durable and made to last for years, it’s a good investment for families, and when they go on sale, they’re a great price (a friend of mine got hers half price.)

When my oldest daughter was a toddler, we had all of the plastic Little Tikes kitchen pieces. This  Deluxe Wooden Kitchen & Laundry Center has really come a long way from those early models. It includes everything little ones need to keep house–from a stove and refrigerator to a laundry center, complete with an adorable little laundry basket. This would definitely inspire hours of dramatic play at our house. You can purchase one for $199 at LittleTikes.com.

My father loved to push my sister and me in our wagon when we were little, so when my oldest daughter was born, it was one of the first things he wanted to buy for her. Our trusty dusty Little Tikes wagon has now been going strong for almost 10 years. Its heavy duty construction helps it withstand the elements. It even survived being stored on our deck for a year with no cover. With three kids, we don’t get out with it as often as we used to, but it definitely holds a lot of family memories. Right now, these wagons are sale for $49.99 (down from $59.99) at littletikes.com.

As you can see from the above picture, this Little Tikes 5-in-1 Adjustable Gym will be suitable for your child throughout her first years: a traditional play gym for an infant; a sit down activity center featuring plenty of electronic lights and sounds for an older baby; a stand-up activity center with a built-in support bar for when your child is learning to stand; a play table for all kinds of creative projects for toddlers; and converts into a sturdy easel for young artists.

Versatility in a child’s product is always a plus for busy households. A child’s attention span can be quite short at times. Even with the older child, you have the option of converting the gym set into several different activities - giving you a little extra time to finish preparing dinner or that report you brought home from the office.

The Little Tikes 5-in-1 Adjustable Gym requires 3 “AA” batteries (included) and measures 21.25″ x 21.25″ x 15.5″. Some assembly is required, and colors may vary. Purchase yours for $34.93 at WalMart.com.

My son has the Little Tikes B.C. Builders I-Fell Tower and after the initial confusion over how to put the tower together, he has had no trouble throwing it together and either pressing the button to knock it all down or using the dinosaur’s tail to destroy it.

He’s a fan of puzzles and couldn’t be any happier than when he’s playing with something that involves assembly. What little person doesn’t love destroying (with permission!) what he’s built up?! Perfect for the imaginative preschooler mind, the colorful set comes with a dinosaur that makes constructions noises, boulders, a tower, and some cavemen.

You can get yours at amazon.com for $58.20.