Cheap Toys - Fun Toys Don't Have to Be Expensive

Have you ever bought your child the latest toy but they enjoyed playing with the box more than the toy itself? Toys these days are incredibly expensive and a multi-billion dollar business, with manufacturers spending a fortune on research of how to tap into a child's mind and make them want to buy their toy.

The truth is that most parents could save a packet by buying cheaper toys or making them out of household objects, which kids will find just as fun, perhaps even more entertaining! Here are some top tips for the best cheap toys to keep your little ones occupied for hours:

A garden sprinkler: one of the cheapest and best loved toys available for the summer months. You can pick one up for as little as $10... what can be more fun than jumping through the cool water of a spraying sprinkler?
Water guns: also a hit during the summer, water guns cost from a dollar to fifty and will keep the kids and their friends of all ages having fun for hours.
Bubbles: a great toy for younger children, you can even make your own with a squeeze of washing up liquid and some water shaken up in a plastic drink's bottle. Or on a rainy day put the mixture in a bowl and let them make their own bubble machine by blowing through a straw. Simple yet great fun!
Play-Doh: one of the cheapest toys for kids and a great way to improve their creativity and get them used to making things with their hands. A Play-Doh fun bucket costs under $10 and includes 5 cans of doh, animal moulds, cutters and shaping tools. A classic and timeless fun toy.
LEGO buckets: all kids love LEGO and it's perfect for children's changing needs. One day they may want to build a house, the next they may choose to make an aeroplane - LEGO allows their imagination to run wild!
Jumbo crayons: pretty much every child loves drawing and jumbo crayons are a cheap toy that doesn't make a mess. You can take them with you wherever you're going with a pad of paper and also allow you to educate them during play.
Dressing up box: little girls and boys love dressing-up. Fill a box with old shawls, sarongs, funny hats and wigs and let them create their own characters and put on shows and plays.

One last tip: if your kids insist on the latest toy or gadget and you're prepared to fork out the cash, look for a supplier who stocks wholesale which enables them to offer toys at a discounted price. Or look for Mum's clubs online where there are excellent quality second hand toys being sold off at great prices.