Kids and Toys
They don’t even play with all of the toys.
Cherylyn Feierabend
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Kids and Toys
Hey there! You’re listening to the Mighty Mommy with some quick and dirty tips for practical parenting.
I love birthdays and holidays and shopping and my kids love toys. If that isn’t a dangerous combination, I don’t know what is. When I venture into either of my kids’ rooms it feels as though I could go into the toy business for myself. Do you know what the worst part is? They don’t even play with all of the toys. They do enjoy dumping the toy bins out on a regular basis, but a rare few of the items actually have the mark of a child’s sticky little hand. I do look after many kids other than my own and, of course, they pull out some of the less-played-with items, but I am absolutely sure that we still have way too many toys here. I’m a victim of the oh-that’s-so-cute syndrome. It’s so darling; my kid will love it … for about a minute. So, my bad habits aside, I do have some tips to help you, and hopefully me, avoid buying too many unnecessary toys in the future.
The first tip is the easiest. Do not buy on impulse. If you see an item you previously did not know existed and think you must have it, make a mental note to come back to it later. Give yourself time to think about it while you finish your shopping. If you are not still absolutely certain that you need it, you probably don’t. If it’s something your child thinks he needs, write it down and save it for that list you send to relatives on birthdays or Santa during the holidays. Remember, just because a toy entertains your child in the store, that doesn’t mean it’s going to have the same effect at home amongst all those other toys.
When you are picking out toys and you are definitely going to buy one, think about the toys that your child does play with. A lot of kids have enough stuffed animals to completely fill the inside of your mini-van. The crazy thing is, my daughter plays with her stuffed animals more than any other toys. My son is more interested in electronic light-up games that ask him to “find the letter q”. This information, along with the knowledge of which licensed characters are going to be loved for longer than a minute, helps me to make better choices. I know and love that my daughter likes to use her imagination. She likes to be in complete control of what her toys say and do. Therefore quiet, still toys are the best choice for her when she wants to play pretend. When we are at the store and she tells me she wants the new horse that walks and talks or the bear that reads stories, I know that these toys will be quickly tossed aside and I avoid those purchases. Just because I write it on the list, doesn’t mean she’s going to get it later, but if she suddenly changes gears and starts playing with her existing toys in that category, I’ll know what else is out there. I’ll have a list. I’ll give the list to Grandma.
Finally, I’d like to tell you that my kids are pretty normal. When I have promised them they can pick something out at the store for themselves if they are on their best behavior, they hold me to my word. If none of the toys are going to make the cut, the kids will become less than joyful. At this point, I offer them a trade and steer them toward the things I am willing to purchase. There are a few things I believe are timeless and can be enjoyed by kids of pretty much any age, myself included. My first choice is the books. Books at stores may cost more than you’d pay at a book fair, and if you are like me, you may visit the library fairly regularly, but, it’s nice to have books. I love books and I’d rather pay six dollars for a book if my other option is a two-dollar plastic robot that’s probably going to sit at the bottom of the toy box. Board games and puzzles that the family can do together can also persuade children to put the toy they’ve chosen back on the shelf. Most kids would jump at the chance to play a game with a parent. That’s much more fun than playing alone with a toy. This does not mean that all toys are bad either. Some great toys that are timeless are building blocks, coloring supplies, and Play Doh. I have a never ending supply of Play Doh, but it doesn’t bother me because the kids never tire of it and it doesn’t last forever, so having some extra on hand is generally a good idea. Toys that spark the imagination and allow for creative play without repetition are my favorites. Find out what is best for you and your family and then for the rest, just put them on the list and keep on moving.
That’s it for now. I hope you’ve enjoyed the show. Thank you for listening.
Before I go, I want to remind you that Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty will be available wherever books are sold on July 8th. It’s the first book from a Quick And Dirty Tips podcast host and you can reserve a copy now or preorder one from your favorite online retailer. You can view an excerpt from the new book by clicking the link on her website at grammar.quickanddirtytips.com.
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This is your friend the Mighty Mommy wishing you happy and fun parenting!
Toys image courtesy of Shutterstock