The holidays can be a time of great joy and magical memories, but they can also bring a bit of anxiety. We all want to give the best gifts to the lovely littles in our lives, but how do we know the best toys to get our kids? Well, fear not! As a mom of three boys with WAY TOO MANY TOYS, I’m your girl. I’m a military mom of three, and I move far too often to cart around anything but the most played-with and loved things! I have an almost 7-year-old, a 4-year-old, and a 2.5-year-old boy, so I’m an expert in finding toys that can work with multiple ages. Most of the toys on my list, I have purchased myself or my kids have played with in real life! There’s a little bit of everything on here, and it’s friendly for almost any budget, so come along with me on this journey through the top toys in my house and all over my floor!

Air Toobz from Fat Brain Toys

The newest favorite in my home is the Air Toobz from Fat Brain Toys. If you are local to Offutt AFB, near Omaha, Nebraska, and haven’t visited this fantastic toy store, you’re missing out! Don’t worry though! You can snag this on Amazon! This is a little bit of an investment at over $100, but it has rechargeable batteries, and on day one in our home, we charged it three times because my kids would not stop playing. This also comes apart to pack up nicely for PCS moves. These are sold out at several stores, but some small shops still have them in stock!

Spill Again

Spill Again was loved the most by my 2.5-year-old. You fill the top tower with balls and push down the center, and the balls spill repeatedly! He had a blast with this one in the store, and it was also recently featured on the Today Show. This one is highly rated for ages 0-2, and I suspect Santa will be getting it for our kids this Christmas!

Lite-Brite Touch

Recently, my 4-year-old has been very into the Lite-Brite! Talk about nostalgia, but let’s not talk about the pegs that have ended up all over my home courtesy of his 2.5-year-old brother. We recently found the perfect compromise for everyone in my household with the Lite-Brite Touch! My son recently snagged this at Amazon with his allowance, and it is budget-friendly. This is perfect for car trips, and PCS moves as well. This isn’t a standard Lite-Brite like we had as kids. This one allows you to save images, play three games, and include animations.

LeapFrog Magic Adventures Collection

Is there an avid learner in your home? Look no further than the Leap Frog Magic Adventures collection! It’s interactive and has three different games and a small screen for videos. It provides additional information regarding animals, cultures, habitats, and geography, providing hours of learning. This collection also includes a microscope and telescope on my oldest son’s Christmas list!

Video Games

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Do you have a little one that loves to play video games? My 4-year-old used his birthday money to buy Super Mario Wonder, providing everyone with endless hours of family fun!

We also recently acquired the Bluey video game for the Nintendo Switch, and my two eldest boys get lots of laughs from this one.

Tonies & Yoto Box

Are you looking to enjoy technology but use fewer screens? Another favorite around our house is the Tonie box. These are travel and PCS-friendly as well! The Tonie is a screen-free way to share stories and songs with your littles! My two younger boys enjoy the Tonie and use it in the car and at nap and bedtime daily. This is also an excellent toy for quiet time. We pay for the monthly subscription through Amazon and enjoy two new Tonies a month! Link to Tonies.

My oldest child enjoys a similar device, the Yoto Box, with more chapter stories. His Yoto is very similar to the Tonie, but instead of little figurines, it uses cards. Although we have found that they are easy to lose, they are also cheaper to replace! You can make your own cards using audiobooks as well. He enjoys this, and we also do a monthly subscription through Yoto to get two monthly books. Although these are a little bit more of an investment, I can tell you they have been well-loved in my home for years. We also love these because they offer budget-friendly gifts for loved ones to send for birthdays!

MAGNA-TILES

Last, here’s another favorite toy in this home: MAGNA-TILES. There are so many types of magnetic blocks on the market, but I can tell you that MAGNA-TILES have held up for at least three PCS moves and are always a favorite. They offer a variety of sets; they also are the toys that we ensure immediate access to because our boys will play with them for hours on end. They also are a lot of fun to take outside and stick to a metal garage door when the weather is nicer!

These have been played with almost daily for several months to several years. These toys are all relatively compact and easy to move, which is handy for a family that pcs-es every few years. Plus, the bonus of these toys are all educational in some way! I hope these give you some ideas to share with your littles and take a bit of the holiday burden off your plate. Searching high and low for the perfect holiday gift can be stressful! Happy shopping!