activities

What's Different? (Dover Little Activity Books)
$1.50
I purchased four of the Little Dover Spot the Difference books for my nephew who is 5 years old. He loves them. The pictures are large and are printed in black and white. The book can double as a coloring book too. The format of the book is small enough that you can but it in your purse or bookbag. You can't beat the price for only $1.50 per book.

Bright Starts Tropical Fun Around We Go Activity Station
$79.99
WE bought this for our son when he was about 5 months. He loved it. He would run in circles and laugh his head off. He would watch cartoons in it and be able to move. He could not stand to be tied down in a chair or any type of bouncy thing, this gave him the independence to "move as he wanted" He is now 22 months old and I gave this to my aunt who does daycare. She said it is the best thing she has ever had. When my son goes over my aunts for daycare and this is out, he will still play with it and try to climb in it. He could drag it around himself after a few months, he is a big boy, but I do not feel they should be left alone anyway, so you just need to "pull" them back in place. He loved the music buttons, and there are also holders for snacks too. BEST EVER!!!!!!!!!

Infantino Activity Triangle
$19.99
I bought this toy after my 7 month old daughter enjoyed a similar one at a friend's house. She really likes playing with it and has figured out the activities on each side. She does get tired of it and ignores it for a day or two but will come back to it time after time.

Busy Zoo Activity Center
$99.99
I bought the Busy Zoo at Target and my then twelve-month old twins liked it very much, although it did not take my son long to learn to tip it over and reach inside the hollow underside. After a month, however, both my babies started getting their hands and/or fingers trapped and pinched in the two sides with spinning wood blocks. They would cry and could not get their hands and fingers out without my help. I did not, however, have peeling paint, as others have. I took the Busy Zoo away, of course. Interesting that the description for the product reads for one-year olds, but there is a warning for choking hazards on the Amazon page, stating not for children under three.