Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in San Francisco, CA

The Savvy Moms-in-Chief have asked us to take a look at some of our favorite toys over on the national site; here are my first five favorite toys and what I had to say about them. Want more? Click on the "Books, Toys, and More" link above.

Radio Flyer Sports Coupe

My daughter has been a Radio Flyer nut since she first saw a wagon outside of a hardware store. Something about the sturdy construction, bright red color, and outsized wheels makes these wagons and cars really accessible to kids. One suggestion, though: skip the model that's reviewed on Savvy Source (with the batteries and flashing lights). Just get a wagon -- or, for a self-driver, the roadster is much more classic and less annoying to parents.

The Learning Tower

Even though it's an enormous chunk of kitchen real estate, we love our Learning Tower. (I even reviewed it on the San Francisco Savvy Source site back in September!) Since she was about one and a half, my daughter has loved this "safe stool" as a place to help me in the kitchen -- washing veggies, mixing up some batter, or decorating cookies. It seems frequently not too hard to find a gently-used version, too, so check around.

There is no cooler backseat or restaurant toy than the magna doodle. My daughter's been a fan since she was around 14 months old and even now frequently packs one in her go-along bag. She's also discovered that any magnet will work -- from fridge to other toy parts. We always have two of these -- it's good to have a backup!

Colorforms

Colorforms are one of those great, creative toys that never loses a kid's interest. My daughter will return to her set at least every few days and create new temporary art with it... without a ny mess.

There's something essential about "hiding" for kids. My own daughter Fern once would play "hide and seek" buy just turning her head to the wall and shading her eyes -- now, she requires a lot more creative hiding spots, and a tent is just the ticket. She also loves pulling a few dolls into hers, giving her a little private play space.