I've been writing this post for weeks, each time I sneak a toy into the garbage or give-away-closet. Nothing is worse than an annoying toy that's only purpose it to hurt bare feet as you maneuver your way across the floor. And there is nothing more glorious than a toy that gets played with over and over again...and is not a video game!
I read in our local paper that the best toys are the ones that are 90% kid and only 10% toy. The examples would be a plain doll: 90% kids/10% toy or a Tickle-Me-Elmo: 90% toy and 10% kid.
So here are items to avoid:
1. Bakuguns: at first they seemed fabulous, but for my kids they were not long-lasting. They lasted the afternoon, but that was about it. I know there is a game to play with them, but I nor the kids put the energy into playing by the rules.
2. Trick Tracks: the funny thing about this, is that I posted on this about three years ago, raving about how great they were. I have a box full of them and most of them are broken and no one plays with them.
3. Coloring books: so I've discovered that my boys, and maybe all boys, prefer white drawing paper or puzzle/maze books, but not coloring books. I have a drawer of these classic coloring books that I should use for fire starter.
4. Small action figures found at McDonalds: throw all of these away or just don't buy them! I guess they are good for a road trip and some mindless entertainments in the van.
5. A super cool, child's accordion: I bought this before my oldest was born and had visions of kids playing tunes on it for hours. I think, in the last 6 years, it has been played for no more that 5 seconds at a time, but I still keep it because it looks cool and I never step on it.
6. Mini-skate boards: I think my kids are too young, not sure. But my oldest was sure he wanted some and a mini-state ramp. I never step on this either because it never leaves the toy shelves.
7. Tinker Toys: I really thought these would be great, but there are just too many pieces and the tubs do not come with enough to allow for any to get lost. Once you loose a few, you can't really make anything very exciting. I'm ready to haul these off, but I keep them around hoping my youngest might discover them on lonely days when his older brothers are in school.
8. Lincoln Logs: Also something my oldest did play with right around age two, but I ended up doing must of the building and once they were old enough to build with them, they lost all interest. You can pretty much only build square structures and there isn't enough room for imagination.
9. Transformers: I hate these things. They are too hard for my boys to transform, so I spend a lot of time doing it and then they eventually break. The idea of them is cool, but I think it is better to let them watch a 30 min. episode and then play-act the story than actually buy them a plastic version.
10. Dodge Ball set with Velcro vest and balls: You'd think this would be a great gift, but it isn't. The balls are too light to really be thrown any distance and even my husband and I had trouble getting them to stick onto the vests. Just let your kids throw pillows at each other as they run across the living room, way more fun.
The Top Ten List of Toys to Get is coming.....
8 comments:
We don't currently have any of these toys either! My kids felt the same way about the Lincoln Logs: great in theory (building toys = creativity), but way too limiting.
And thanks for the heads up on the dodgeball vests. My son saw one of those recently and wanted to add it to his Christmas list...
I do the same things I meant to do some room cleaning while the boys were at school this last week, it didn't happen. It will have to wait until January now and at least they will be distracted with new things.
My boys prefer white paper to anything else. I've bought them books of just plain paper yet they still steal my printer paper whenever they can.
My boys love there tinker toys but they aren't something that gets played with on a daily basis.
The transformers bug me too, I play dumb though and they have to wait for J to get home. I know bad, but they have plenty of other things to play with.
The favorites in my house are hot wheels/monster trucks and legos.
Heather, Legos are the best, and every boy needs some Hot Wheel cars for sure.
I really did clean out a lot of their toys and still there seem to be small pieces on my toy room currently. Hmmm....more cleaning tonight!
Funny that we have all had the same experiences with the toys lifted, see, people should trust me on this one.
My boys really like their Lincoln Logs. That said I completely agree on the McDonalds toys and coloring books. Yup,stock up on reams of white paper and bypass the coloring books. As you already know, Legos are the #1 toy for my boys.
It's funny, because I told my kids to clean out some things in the play room to make room for Christmas presents, and what went into the bag? Almost all of their Barbies (which they were previously very attached to). And Lucy said, "Mom, just as long as you don't throw away the Legos!" Even though I swear, I NEVER see them building anything with Legos!
I'm glad I let them do the picking, because they went ahead and picked the creative and non-gender-stereotyped toys, even though it's not what I would have picked for them.
I hate the toys from the fast food meals too. I will say I have learned that when it comes to toys it's hard for parents to stop thinking, "Oh, this so cute/cool/interactive/educational!" There have been lots of toys I would never have imagined being a favorite and it becomes an essential toy.
What my teenage son still has in his closet: Legos. Best toy ever! He and his friends used his massive collection to build sets for their tiny toy actors when they made a movie for school.
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