Last week I bought him a few toys at a garage sale. I'm constantly looking for older Fisher Price or Playskool toys that are in excellent condition. At my mom's house some of Jamie's favorites which were toys she saved from my brother, sister, and my childhood are this old Fisher Price train (minus the green car):
and this Fisher Price cottage. (Among many other vintage toys he also loves.)
Here's a great toy. I picked up 3 of these Creative Blocks sets for a $1.00! (not new in package, just the blocks & rods, but brand new looking)
There are a lot of educational toys out there, from great companies, however most of them cost big bucks. (Back to the old arguement that more money=a better education) So I'd rather check out craigslist, ebay, or garage sales for some classics at reasonable prices. Don't get me wrong, Fisher Price still makes some good stuff, we own the new Little People Animal Sounds Farm-which is a definite improvement and adorable...but there's something about those "old skool" toys where you had to make your own sounds and movements which I think is so much better for child development.I've also been thinking about the commercialism and marketing of toys to children and to put it bluntly, I think it sucks. One of the worst offenders is Disney. I'm thinking about my cousin's daughter who has Disney Princess everything. Sheets, posters, lamp, dolls, clothes, cups, shoes, toothbrush...it goes on and on. I remember as a kid-sure I saw Cinderella and loved her-but I didn't own everything associated with her. I think it's wonderful for children to imagine and pretend and want to be a princess-but I think I'm going to try to steer my kids away from the commercial aspects. Be your own Princess! I say try because kids see this stuff everywhere including school, stores, friends homes, on clothing, cereal boxes, etc. etc. I imagine it's going to be a challenge.
5 comments:
Poor Seth doesn't have any cars are trucks. He has to push around the TV remote or beer bottles. The child is deprived.
James has some toys although he prefers to play with things like tv remote, roll of packing tape, dada's adjustable wrench. So, I suppose I should just save my money and give him all our junk.
Preach it sister! I couldn't agree more.
You wanna know what... my kids hardly even play with their excess of toys (and by many standards we probably don't have that many toys even.) I've practically sworn off buying them toys altogether because they usually just end up scattered around my house or broken (cheaply made).
I do love the vintage toys though... I'm sad that none of our kids toys are really even quality enough to last until we have grandchildren.
I couldn't agree more. When my daughter was younger I was constantly putting back toys that did nothing other than blink a light. What happened to simple toys?
Even though I'm not yet a mom, I have to agree with all your comments. What happened to, "Go find a stick and play with it." or "Take some pots and pans and wooden spoons and start your own band." I can remember my brother taking blankets and setting them up on our couch as mountain roads and taking his matchbox cars to them....making car noises. We'd play with lincoln logs and legos. Great toys. I've saved my old toys (My Little Ponies, Dolls, TONS of books, and stuffed animals from when I was little to share when we have a little one...years down the road). Children nowadays NEED to be entertained instead of making their own entertainment....not good.
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