Melissa and Doug

When baby looks like he is ready to take his first steps, mama may turn to a walker to help steady her lil guy. While some of the push toys feature flashing lights and music to encourage tots, more traditional wooden versions are making a comeback. Unfortunately, the fewer the frills, the more expensive the items seem to be.

Simple: Melissa and Doug's Chomp and Clack Alligator Walker ($30) is made from hand-sanded, painted wood to create a colorful push toy with three clacking alligators.
Swank: Plan Toys' Woodpecker Baby Walker ($76) reflects the company's Eco-friendly mission. The natural wood colored toy is made from recycled rubberwood trees and has three nature-inspired animals that move as the walker is pushed.
Which one do you prefer?

Three-year-olds tend to be a bit fickle as they express their independence. One moment they are telling you they can do it all by themselves, then the next they insist on holding your hand. When shopping for a gift for a preschooler, look for items that showcase their new found abilities.

Among our favorite selections for this age group:

• The ballerina in your life will be begging to put on a recital with the Acting Out Dress Up Musical Skirts that either play music from the Nutcracker or Swan Lake with the flip of a switch.
• The little John Bonham or Tommy Lee in your family will love the Plan Toy Musical Band drum set. Featuring drums and cymbals, this environmentally-friendly set, is not too loud and is made from replenishable wood.
• One of the coolest new toys on the market, Automoblox, are more than just wooden vehicles. Each car can be taken apart and reassembled, and, once additional cars are purchased, the interchangeable parts can be used to create new, unique, creations.
• Sprig Toys use kid-power, rather than batteries, to move their environmentally-friendly, paint-free vehicles. Unlike other vehicles on the market, the trucks and all terrain vehicles in the line use kinetic energy to move, make sounds and light up.
• Get your tot up and moving with Animal Scramble a new game of hide and seek that encourages listening and following instructions.
• What preschooler doesn't like ice cream? With the Melissa and Doug Ice Cream Set your lil one can dream up the quadruple scoop cones while practicing her colors and numbers.

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Two isn't terrible! The key to entertaining a rambunctious two-year-old is patience and a steady stream of back-up ideas to prevent meltdowns. Look for toys that keep children active as well as items that let them explore their creative sides.

Among our choices for lil two-year-olds are:

• Kitchen play items like grocery carts, play food, and cash registers allow toddlers to imitate adult behavior, while increasing vocabulary and introducing numbers.
• Easels, like the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel promote independent play, while allowing children to draw, paint and play with chalk.
• Radio Flyer's Little Miss Scooter, which also comes in red, will be a hit on the playground while teaching lil ones about balance and stability. Just don't forget to purchase a helmet to go with this gift!
• The PlasmaCar is one of the coolest products on the market. Unlike other toddler ride-ons, it does not have pedals. It uses natural forces of centrifugal force and gravity to zoom around the playground.
• Unlike an easel, Aquadoodle's Draw N' Doodle Mat will not make a mess of your home. Using nothing but a water-filled marker, tots can draw on this mat as often as they like, without ever having to replace their canvas.
• If green markets are more your thing than grocery stores, check out the Market Stand complete with bins and baskets ready for imaginary play.

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One-year-olds are on the move! Whether they are already walking or on the verge, their increased confidence makes them inquisitive of the world around them. When shopping for gifts for tots seek out toys that help them explore their surroundings. Here our some of our favorite picks!

• A wooden pull along toy like the Quack Pack Pull Along Toy from Apple Pie that wiggles as the toddler pulls it on its way.
• A five-in-one activity cube like the Busy Body Cube from BabyStyle, which features mazes, beads, magnets, clocks and puzzles to keep lil ones entertained for at least a few minutes!
• The LeapFrog Fridge DJ introduces numbers, letters and popular children's songs while displaying the characters on its screen. Best of all, it attaches to any magnetic surface, so it can entertain babes while their parents complete kitchen tasks.
• Melissa and Doug's line of large knobbed puzzles are a great introduction to puzzles and can help lil ones stay put for a few minutes at a time.
• Bring out the athlete in your toddler with the Little Tikes Little Champs Sports Center. The perfectly sized basketball hoop is a great way to introduce a variety of sports.
• Push toys encourage tikes of all walking abilities to get up and go, which is why I love this BabyStyle Wooden Jeep. Made of natural rubber wood and featuring rugged tires, the car can be used inside and out.

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