Recommended Christmas presents for 20 month old?

Hey guys, I need your help. As you may know, my boyfriend has a 19 month old daughter (will be 20 months by Christmas), and I need to know what the best presents to get her would be. I need something fun, but also educational. She absorbs information like a sponge, and this is a great time for learning. She already has tons of books, but I guess you can never have too many. She doesn't watch much TV, just isn't that interested in it. She does seem musically inclined, she loves playing her little piano and anything else she has that makes music. I read that it's never too early to start teaching them different languages, so maybe a bilingual toy as well? And I also read that hearing their own voice in a microphone helps them talk more. She talks all the time but anything that will improve her skills would be great, right? Any suggestions?

There are so many educational toys on the market today, its a little overwhelming. Maybe you might find it easiest to just head over to Toys R Us and peruse the aisles to see what's out there? I know the kids I babysit for are big on the Baby Einstein video stuff--but if she's not that keen on tv then she might not like it that much.
Dora the Explorer is also a good TV/video program and teaches kids Spanish as well as other skills--I think there's a Dora the Explorer talking doll out that counts in Spanish, that kind of thing.
Also, I find anything made by Playskool to be well-made and well thought out--they have a ton of playsets that teach counting skills, language skills, that sort of thing.
Kudos to you, though, for thinking beyond stuffed animals and clothing and looking for something with some educational merit!

I would go to whatever your local toy store is and look for toys made specifically for toddlers. Please pay careful attention to the recommended ages on the packaging, as toys for older children may have pieces or parts inappropriate for younger ones. Most Fisher Price stuff is wonderful.

Oops, I forgot to mention, my main reason for posting this is because I don't want to peruse the aisles forever and buy something I think looks cool and then turns out she thinks it's a total flop and never uses it....I guess I'm looking for opinions from those that have already had success with fun learning toys. Thanks for the help already, I put Spanish Dora on my list!

At this age there are so many things that build basic skills. You almost can't go wrong. The curiosity factor is huge with a toddler, and they all enjoy that they realize they have some control over things.

My granddaughters are 2 1/2. I buy them "touchy-feely" books. In the past, I have also bought them Leapfrog's electronic piano and drum machine.

Every toy doesn't HAVE to be educational - kids just need to play and be kids sometimes. Feliza and Isabel like cars, trucks and baby dolls, too.

I agree with you. She has tons of non educational toys, and I do plan to get her some just fun stuff too, but I want to include learning stuff.

How about a nice set of teeth?

How much hair does she have? The twins have long , curly hair and I buy lots of cute barrettes and ponytail holders, as stocking stuffers. The 99-cent store has tons of cute ones.

Originally Posted by Zoggy

How about a nice set of teeth?

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Hers are coming in nicely, but ones without pain would be nice!
Her hair is just getting long enough for ponies so that's an option too. Thanks! Keep em comin!

you can buy her a cute outfit, and some hair stuff,
maybe you can buy that matt for the floor that has roads and trees, buy the lil toy cars and little people to go with it.

What do we think of Leapfrog stuff? I've been hearing about that a lot....

Originally Posted by menagerie mama

What do we think of Leapfrog stuff? I've been hearing about that a lot....

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Get her a cat!!!

Originally Posted by menagerie mama

What do we think of Leapfrog stuff? I've been hearing about that a lot....

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The twins have several Leapfrog items. They also like cars and trucks. Last Christmas, I bought them wooden rocking Harleys. This year: tricycles!

Originally Posted by emb_78

Get her a cat!!!

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If things go well, eventually she'll have 7 cats!

What about baby dolls the soft kind... I like the hair things ( makes clean up easier) ... Bath toys

I would love to be able to give you some advice on this but, I have two rough, little monster of boys Anytime I have to buy a gift for a little girl, I usually have my mom get it because I wouldn't know what to do with one . I grew up a tomboy myself and Im lucky my boys are happy with Doodle Monsters and Lego's

It's been too long since my children were that small. I have one of each. My daughter always preferred books, wooden puzzles, (quiet thoughtful toys), while my son loved anything with wheels or that was mechanical (or anythng that WASN'T a toy). Have you tried looking at one of the on-line sites for ideas? Anything that requires placing shaped objects into holes is good. My daughter also loved wooden blocks, dolls (age appropriate), play food (groceries & a cart for instance). I also just did a search and found the following:

"Your toddler is becoming more excited about independence but is constantly being reminded of her own limits. So while she insists on doing something "Myself!" one moment, the next might find her turning to you for help.

The way she learns what she can do is by getting her hands into everything. She fiddles with knobs, opens and shuts doors, flips light switches on and off — it's enough to drive any parent nuts. Toys with interlocking parts — pop-up toys, nesting toys, sorting toys, trucks with doors that open and shut, play kitchens with knobs and doors — can create endless opportunities for your child to explore, and push, her limits while keeping her away from the light switch.
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At this age, children learn best from unstructured play, so just make the toys available and off she'll go.

Plastic tea set or playhouse: Your child will get a kick out of play eating and drinking. And in general, scaled-down toys, from rakes, push brooms, and shopping carts to miniature kitchens, give her a chance to do one of the things she loves best — mimic what she sees the adults around her do and organize her world to her own satisfaction.

Large and small blocks: Working with blocks lets your toddler build her handling skills by grabbing, stacking, and sorting. Large cardboard bricks easily add up to toddler-size forts and hiding spaces. Small wooden ones can be sorted and organized into any number of original designs.

Toy instruments: Children generally love music and the chance to create their own sound, no matter how cacophonous. Give her a toy guitar to strum or a keyboard to bang on and she'll treat you to many original compositions. Make sure whatever instrument you find has a volume dial you can turn down so that you — and your neighbors — can tolerate those early tunes.

Puzzles: Puzzles are a good way to give your young child little victories — the simple satisfaction of putting something exactly in place is a marvelous thing. Choose puzzles that have very few pieces and are made of thick, easy-to-manipulate blocks of wood.

Illustrated books and cassette tapes: While recorded stories are no substitute for reading to your child, many toddlers do enjoy the novelty of hearing a voice come out of a machine and can appreciate that the voice is new and different. The regular patter of nursery rhymes is particularly pleasing to a toddler's ear. For more ideas, see our recommended books and music for this age.

Train sets: Your toddler can use her new dexterity to link the cars and run the whole train around the house. She'll love seeing how it can take corners, and the difference between running it over a carpet and across a bare floor.

Washable crayons and paper: Your child is becoming more interested in making her own mark — on floors, walls, furniture. Clear a space for her to work, give her a big sheet of paper (tape it to the table) and a couple of crayons (you don't want to overwhelm her), and she'll get the idea that art has its place. Hang up whatever she makes for you. (See our article on writing and your toddler.)"

Great ideas everyone! I should have enough to go by now! Now, can anyone lend me the money for all this stuff?? Hee hee....

I saw a new cabbage patch baby doll that looked really cute- but I have no little girls to buy one for. I suggest Dora the Explorer or Leapfrog stuff. The leapfrog things are so much fun.