Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Portland, OR

I wish I could visit me five years ago, when I was just starting out as the mama of one toddler, and give her a list of toys that were, and were not, acceptable. On my no-no-never-seriously! never! list: anything that requires batteries. There will be a day that noise makes you want to jump out the playroom window. But I can spread my hard-fought lessons and give you (and your child's grandparents, aunts, uncles, and childless godparents and friends) a good place to start. Here are five toys I would be happy to receive if I were to do it all over again, either for girls or boys:

• Lincoln Logs
  As I introduce my children to the 'Little House' series of books, no building tool is quite so appropriate as Lincoln Logs. Even as an adult I love to play with them and it's one that's enjoyed with equal enthusiasm by little girls and little boys no matter *how* traditionally they conform to gender roles. Everyone loves to build a house.
• Candy Land
  When first I brought this game home for my then-three-year-old, I found that he cheated. A lot. Who doesn't want to win (even if it's make-believe) a whole bunch of candy? But it was instrumental in teaching him to play fair and I consider our family's insistence that he stick to the rules a big part in why he was playing chess (and occasionally winning!) by age five. It's all about the Candy Land!
  
• I Play My First Baby Doll Set
  Amazingly, this doll has been a favorite of my three boys. We received it as a gift when my oldest was two and I was pregnant; every time it gets unearthed from the bin of stuffed toys it's loved dearly, and the boys love to tuck the doll in for bed. The tote part isn't much used, but I can imagine how it would be a blessing for children for whom nurturing was a more important play skill. One caveat is that it gets very dirty when carried along on outings; luckily, it seems to hold up well in the wash.
• Alphabet Blocks
  Alphabet blocks are such a basic element to any little child's play, and these ones are particularly lovely -- they'll inspire a mama's aesthetic sense as well as being great early literacy development toys.
• Oball Rattle
  If my toy box only held one ball, it would be an Oball -- they're fantastic for any age but have the distinct advantage of being one of the few balls a very small baby can play with and thus are great for sibling play. The colors are fun and modern, and the original Oball can be convincingly pulled out of a bag and used as a desk toy; ideal for the working parent who always has a few emergency toys in every bag.