[bamamommy]

We are waiting on our license and preparing for our first placement. We already have 2 boys and lots of toys, but I was wondering if anyone had any good suggestions for girl toys. Do you recommend a certain kind of doll or toy for girls? We are taking up to 2 girls under age 5. Thanks!

[dachshunds4you]

My 3 yr old loves dolls. Of course she takes off all their clothes, but she loves carrying them around, putting them in the big baby swing and carrier.
She also loves boy stuff...legos, building blocks, cars/trucks.
She likes stuffed bears, her kitty cat and giraffe.

Chalk, crayons, books...and the list goes on and on...

I'd check ur boy stuff and see if you have some universal things. These would work for you in a pinch so they have something to play with.

[SarahBethsMommy]

My daughter is 3 and LOVES tea parties, dolls, and doll accessories (like the doll stroller and such). But she also loves the boy stuff too and universal things like crayons.

[deadcalm]

My girls luv their doll stroller. They take walks up and down the apartment chit chatting along the way.

[marykath]

Dress-up clothes, dress-up shoes, purses. My girls also loved Thomas the Train at that age and really enjoyed putting together the wooden train tracks.

[shycar]

My dd, age 3, also loves her doll stroller and her naked dolls. She also loves purses. Everywhere we go she has her purse, wallet, fake keys, fake cell phone, fake credit card and fake money, even fake make-up. She also loves to draw and has to have a paper pad and pencil. She will draw everything she sees.

[snc2007]

All of the above and a kitchen playset with fake food and dishes. We got one at a thrift store and cleaned it up together. It was like new when we were done and only cost $5.

[marathonmom]

My Little Pony is fun and don't forget about playdoh and cookie cutters.

[bamamommy]

These are all wonderful ideas. Thanks so much! I think I am going to have lots of fun shopping for girly things.

[cabbagepatchkid]

You've received a lot of great answers, so far. That is a fun age for little girls .

I ran a small home daycare for many years and the kids loved the medium sized Duplos (not the giant ones or the tiny Legos)--I never seemed to have enough of them. Another thing that they loved was some neckerchiefs that I got at Walmart in the woman's purse/hat/wallet section. I got one of every color and they used them for all different things. Little girls love to wrap things up... little doll blankets work well too. Good luck on your first placement

[LadyBugz]

Since you got so many great answers above, I'll go in a different direction.

Ages 0-5 is a huge developmental gap on toys. You have some gender-neutral toys already. How about investing in more gender-neutral things that can span many ages? Then your boys can play with them now, the girls can play with them and grow into them, and personalities or ages won't matter nearly so much.

I'm in a phase where I'm trying to purge all the little plastic pieces, numerous duplicates on purpose or type of toy, and just inspire creativity and play through more simplicity. I'm hoping for quality over quantity and to be mostly gender-neutral. A kitchen with tea set and pots, some blocks, lots of good books, a table and chairs, good art supplies, a place for their treasures they find and to hang their masterpieces, a wooden learning tower which is great for getting toddlers and preschoolers up to your level to see what's going on in the kitchen or other areas, pieces of fabric or blankets of various colors, shapes and sizes, a few push or pull toys including a little indoor wagon for new walkers, some teethers or rattles, a few cloth dolls in different genders and skin tones, a few dress-up outfits (kings, queens, knights, fairies, wizards, animals), a shovel and pail, a sandbox, a grocery cart that doubles as a doll stroller, some sort of sprinkler or pool or other outside water play for summer, and you're set.

I'd throw in some girly hair bows and clips, some child-safe fingernail polish, and some little baubles like rings or necklaces to play with as well as some sweet smelling lotions. You can go pink in your accessories, too, to celebrate the new girl factor. Wear feminine and frilly clothes. Buy pink earrings and scarves and umbrellas. Get a pink purse that could double as a diaper bag. When they arrive, go out clothes shopping for girly shoes and bathrobes and clothes.

That's what I'd suggest.

[Mallynn]

I agree with the pp's. I have all girls, and they love all that stuff.

[snc2007]

I just went to walmart today and bought a bunch of halloween costumes for 75% off. I gave her one and will probably save the rest for xmas. She is dancing around the house in her flamenco dancer dress right now!

[laceyc]

My girl loves Dora and the like. She loves dress up...the dress up shoes are a great hit. It sounds like you have a lot of great suggestions already.