This weeks last blogger guest post is from the fabulous Kate from Family Fever  where she writes beautiful posts about every aspect of parenting, life and anything else that inspires her.

Today she is sharing with us her favourite toys for tots and beyond …

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Favourite Toys For Tots And Beyond

With three children of different ages in the house, there are always a wide range of toys here too. Finding things that are suitable for more than one of them to play with can sometimes be a challenge, and we often resort to puzzles, board games and crafts in an effort to bring us all together in play. Of course, this is lovely, but sometimes the children do want their own space, and their own toys. So, I thought we would share our favourite toys for different ages – are there any here that your children enjoy too?

Gemma

Gemma is 9, and is hovering on the barrier between younger children’s toys and more grown up things. She loves to create things – whether that is puzzles, bracelets made with beads or collages from leaves, pine cones, acorns and flowers. When it comes to toys, she is very much an independent player. She likes toys that she can use her imagination with – so she particularly enjoys Sylvanian Families and Lottie dolls – they allow her to make up her own stories and games.

Jacob

Jacob is 7 and is very much what people would class as a ‘typical boy’ – he loves his toy cars, wooden train track and outside toys. No matter what the weather, Jacob loves to be in the great outdoors, and the possibilities for play outside are endless. Kicking a ball, riding a bike, playing tag or hide and seek, there is so much fun to be had. When it comes to toys, building long, winding train tracks is one of his favourite pastimes – I am forever falling over trains and carriages. He also loves other things that he can build himself and then play with – marble runs, Lego and Hot Wheels tracks. I think there must be a certain sense of achievement to playing with something you have made all by yourself, and of course the beauty is that you can make it any way you please – and then take it apart and start again!

Max

Max is 2, and so he is just learning about the wonder of play. He loves cars, trains and trucks, especially the big chunky ones that you can take in the garden and push in the mud. He also loves his tool box – it has a saw, screwdriver, hammer and other bits and pieces like Daddy has, and he spends ages following Daddy around the house copying and helping to ‘fix’ things. His favourite place to be is outside – on his balance bike, pushing his lawnmower around the grass, having picnics with his tea set and just running. He loves running, and climbing – little monkey!

What do your kids like to play with? Do they naturally fall within the typical gender stereotypes or do they mix it up a bit?

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To read more fantastic posts from Kate you can find her blogging at Family Fever and can also find her on Twitter and Facebook too, so why not pop over and tell her what your favourite toys are!