Comments on: A Quick Thought on Toys

By: Tanya

Tanya — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:53:14 +0000

Then again, my brothers and I really wanted some Transformers as kids. My parents wouldn’t get them for us, so what did we do? We created out own Transformers out of Legos! Good enough for us!

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:26:58 +0000

Eric, check out the Cardboard box castle link I posted above your comment on the blog. Also, check out this company: http://scientificexplorer.com They have some pretty neat stuff I can't to get for Lucy someday. Your kids might enjoy the Soda Pop Kit. I know I would!

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:22:30 +0000

One idea for keeping the clutter out of the living room: I have friends who have their kids donate a bunch of old toys every year right before Christmas. It’s up to them what they want to give up, but they have to choose a certain number of items. It teaches them about the importance of sharing with the less fortunate and also makes room for the new toys.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:08:48 +0000

It always comes back to TV, doesn’t it?
What are your thoughts on TV, Walter? Good? Bad? Indifferent?

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:07:13 +0000

You can even build cardboard castles, too! http://kimandjason.com/blog/2006-04-04/how-to-build-a-cardboard-castle.html

By: Eric Searing

Eric Searing — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:35:00 +0000

Fortunately my kids are getting past the plastic crap and stuffed animal stage. But I can not find the kinds of pre-teen toys I had like Chemistry sets, good basic microscopes (without going high end), electronics board, erector sets, etc…

Lego has some robotics and electro-mechanical stuff which may make use of the billions of lego pieces we now own.

I was most happy building cardboard box forts, so perhaps I should go find some nice refrigerator boxes. Would my kids freak if they unwrapped an empty box?

By: Libby

Libby — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:48:04 +0000

I’m stumped as to what to get my child this year, not for lack of ideas from him mind you. He has lists a mile long including wii, more Legos, and all things Star Wars, but I’m wondering just how many more plastic planes, guys, or Legos I can fit in my living room. I was looking up wooden toys last night, and because he is into knights and the like I was thinking about a castle, but I have to agree that if I got him a castle then what does that do to his creativity with the blocks? Hmmm…and he is getting a bunch of old, but new in the box Star Wars guys, which he’ll go gaga over, so I am truly stumped! Merry Christmas!

By: Walter

Walter — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:07:09 +0000

I think our kids have an important impact for this decision. Since they watch TV, the toy companies do their work. :-)

By: Selina German

Selina German — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:34:28 +0000

I think that it is true that Barbie can lead to tons of imaginative play. I just wince at them because of all the marketing behind them. I feel like I would be opening the flood gates. I feel the same about Disney. I love the movies but get overwhelmed when I walk into Wal-mart and see Princess lifejackets, fishing rods, you name it.

Sometimes it is just silly.

Cardboard boxes are the best thing. We just made a major move across the country and it is amazing what can be done with those huge wardrobe boxes Spaceship anyone?

By: Geoffrey

Geoffrey — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:35:13 +0000

Building things out of blocks – some years ago I had a roommate whose children would use every single videocassette I owned as a building block.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:03:41 +0000

Good points, Connie. I remember having tons of fun with my Star Wars guys as a kid. We had a few of the official “playsets” but I think we had the most fun building our own command centers our of blocks or taking the adventure outside to play in the yard!

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:00:40 +0000

There’s something about toys that can transcend ages and generations. Those are the best kind, methinks.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:59:36 +0000

I agree about Legos, Minette. They’re a good example of a toy that’s NOT a “unitasker.” They leave lots of room open to imagination!

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:58:31 +0000

Heck, I still get excited about oversized cardboard boxes…

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:57:35 +0000

Yeah, those Baby Einstein toys have the marketing thing down. Funny thing is that the real Einstein didn’t have these fancy gadgets and he seemed to turn out ok…

By: Connie Kotecki

Connie Kotecki — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:29:08 +0000

The things that my children play with time and time again are: board games, books, puzzles, play food, Barbies, buddies (figurines), cars, and video games. The three of them also love to play outdoors with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and also ride their bikes and scooters. They all have the most wonderful imaginations! I think there is a balance to be found between educational toys and the “plastics.” Some people may scoff at figurines and Barbies, but I have to say that this is when I see my daughters’ imaginations in full swing! They spend hours setting up towns and villages and playing with them. It is so much fun to watch them and hear all their giggles. Ironically this was my very favorite thing to do as a child. In my opinion, timeless!

By: Geoffrey

Geoffrey — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:02:15 +0000

Soap bubbles!
Cheap.
Ironically, sold in plastic containers.
Hours of entertainment for all ages and in all environments – just ask my coworkers, who find them occasionally floating over their cubicle walls.

By: Minette

Minette — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:19:27 +0000

The one plastic toys that I consider to be “good” are the good old-fashioned Legos! Gotta have those Legos! I had a lot of fun last year playing with my then-5-year-old nephew with his Legos and seeing how high we could build the tower before it came falllliinnng down!!! (And then we just started up again!)

By: Laura Hegfield

Laura Hegfield — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:27:33 +0000

as usual…great advice!
Laura
(my nearly 13 year old still enjoys a good ol’ cardboard box!)

By: Selina German

Selina German — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:29:07 +0000

I totally agree. We have for some time chosen only high quality toys for our kids. I think that the reason we end up with all the plastic crap, it a combination of the things listed above. Some of it is pressure from the kids. My daughter is all about Barbie, although we have never bought her one. Then there are the well meaning friends and family. As well as being made to believe that all the electronic educational toys are going to give us super smart kids.

Those are my thoughts.