Finding wholesome toys that will last

We've seen a lot of toys over the years and there have been a few I would call All Stars!  Plastic toys, though often cheaper and easier to find, don't seem to last around here.  I have found that wooden and metal toys really hold up a lot better and really are worth the extra cost. 

After considering the material of the toy I consider how long the children will play with it. Is it going to be played with for weeks then thrown in a closet? Will it be played with for years? I've found that toys you can add on to and toys that use mostly imagination will be played with for years. Some examples of toys like these are Melissa Doug wooden pretend food and a wooden stove, Brio wooden trains and tracks and a Plan dollhouse.  Grandparents and friends can add pieces over the years and many children can play at one time.

There are, of course, exceptions. Legos, Playmobil and Little People would be some!  What are your all time favorites?