Wooden Toys and the Christmas Aftermath

Well, I suppose my living room looks just like yours about now. Something like an explosion in Santa's workshop. The toy selection on our floor looks like what you see on nostalgia-inducing Christmas cards. That's because we gave our son lots of wooden toys this year. I've got to say I'm so glad we went that route because these toys have really caught his attention, and I mean for more than the standard five toddler minutes. Unintentionally, all the toys we bought for him were from Melissa & Doug. (They were even sold at our grocery store here.) The Melissa & Doug company didn't ask me to review their stuff, and I'm sure they don't know I exist out here in the blogosphere. But I had to share the Christmas shopping success with you because I'm so happy with the toys, and there was so much toy concern for all of us this year. We didn't have to assemble a single blessed thing. And aside from a little shrinkwrap, there was no monster "unboxing" to be had. Everything smelled like fresh pine when we opened it. What, I ask, is more Christmassy than that? I think the best part is my son plays with his toys instead of him watching battery operated toys doing all the playing for him.

Now that all the presents have been opened and kid tested around your house, do you have any that stand out as real winners? What ended up being the favorites?