Classic Gifts for Grandpa Unplugged: Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, and more!
November 9th 2007 by Dr.MOZ in Wooden Toys, Toddler Products, GoodFather Fridays
Dear Dr.MOZ,
I have grandchildren ages 3 and 4 years old and I’ve had it up to my eyeballs with their beeping and flashing toys. I don’t care what anyone says, I’m going “old school” from now on and only buying gifts that don’t require electricity. I’d love it if you and the GoodFather could recommend a few gifts that would be safe for toddlers. Anything suitable for the indoors that requires creativity and no batteries would be perfect.
Yours,
Grandpa Unplugged
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Hello Grandpa Unplugged,
If you’re looking for “old school” you came to the right guy. There are quite a few great gift options for ages three and four, and there seems to be an increased interest in classic toys with the recent flurry in recalled toys lately. Here are a few of my favorites that I think you’ll recognize from a great store that is keeping the classics alive!
Artist Easel by Melissa and Doug (3+ years): Not only will your little one’s love the creative outlet, but the double-sided easel will keep them both entertained for hours at the same time! You’ll need to provide your own art supplies, but the deluxe standing easel has everything else you could want including: chalkboard,
dry-erase board, adjustable heights, paint tray with cup holders, locking paper holder, paper cutter, large chalk tray, and four clips.
Tinker Toys (3+ years): This is the Classic Jr Tinker Toy set complete with 66 wooden and plastic pieces with the same metal lid and bottom that you remember from childhood. If you go this route, you may want to give a canister to each child because things tend to get ugly when two toddlers sharing a set run out of pieces!
Original Wood Lincoln Logs (3+ years): The original wood Lincoln Logs can’t be beat, and just to show off…I’ve included the link to the set packaged in the commemorative tin can!
A few other honorable mentions for your age group includes the classic Etch A Sketch and Mr and Mrs Potato Heads. You could get extreme with your new found dedication to being “old school” and use a real potato, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Giving a few toddlers a box full of sticks and logs as a gift is already considered already pretty extreme these days…giving them a potato just might be a deal breaker. Thanks for the great question Grandpa Unplugged and good luck!
Your favorite family man,
The GoodFather
November 12th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Wow, I didn’t know that they still made Lincoln Logs! I just might pick-up a can of these for the little guy and see if they still entertain.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Hey there NJ Pops. Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, and wooden blocks are always great for indoor play. They are pretty hard to destroy as well, so younger kids are usually able to play with them in the future. I hope the little guy likes them!
~ Dr.MOZ
June 19th, 2008 at 10:03 am
I always loved classic toys like the toys listed above; Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, Etch a Sketch and the Potato heads! But I never heard of the Artist Easel.
I think these are a great and affordable selection of gifts that you can give to a little toddler!