Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Fort Worth, TX

As promised last week, here are my thoughts on five of the toys we can't live without!  You can find all of these toys in Savvy's Books, Toys, and More section.

Candyland - A classic that will never fade! This is so much fun for our 3-year-old; she loves the feeling of accomplishment she gets just by understanding how to play. She likes the whole process of the game - matching colors, picking up cards, laughing when mom gets stuck in the mud - it's a delight!

Little People Lil Movers Airplane - This is one of our family favorites! The recordings are cute and fun and the people move along when the plane rolls. It helps inspire airplane noises of take-off and landing. When we are getting ready to travel, we always use the plane to show what's going to happen to help my daughter understand the concept of flying. It's great for boys and girls and, as always, the little people are interchangeable with the other products!

Melissa & Doug Birthday Party Birthday Cake - Melissa & Doug products are great! This one is a fun reminder of a birthday. My daughter celebrated her 3rd birthday and she continues to ask "when will it be my birthday again?" Each time she does, we take this out and have a pretend birthday party for her! She even shares with her dolls. It's a great toy to encourage sharing, recall memories, and be creative. We love it!

Radio Flyerâ¿¿s Beginning Balancing Bike - My daughter received this as a gift and she loved it! It is a clean, sturdy, streamlined machine! It's low to the ground, so learning doesn't hurt too much.  And, the old-fashioned bike bell is the cherry on top! This bike is a good first bike to encourage bike riding and helps little ones get the hang of steering and balancing.

Little Petshop Whirl Around Playground - This is such fun for all (even the parents) because it has all the "old school" playground rides! It encourages kids to imagine and pretend play with the fun animals. A bonus is that is helps to keep outdoor fun at the park at the top of the list for kids, rather than another episode of Cartoon Central!

So, add these to your ever-expanding Christmas list as must-have's for the kids! Better yet, let Grandma and Grandpa know about them!