All year long I struggle with a positive MASS of toys Q doesn't play with, and at least every couple of months, I try to get a handle on organizing them. So it shouldn't be a surprise when, come holidays and birthdays, I say, "Quentin doesn't need any more toys!" I guess it's no fun to be told how to spend (or not spend) your money, though, because kids toys are just So Damn Fun. Sometimes I wonder whether grandparents (and aunts, uncles, and friends. And let's face it, US) buy gifts to satisfy the kids or themselves!
But the fact is, gifts are going to be purchased. The best I can do is try to make sure the gifts the kids DO get meet some specific criteria. Here are my perpetual "suggestions" (read RULES) for buying gifts for my kids.
- Avoid plastic at all costs. I hate worrying about PVC or phlalates or the Next Big Recall. I hate the stigma around plastic toys. I hate that they can break and become dangerous sharp edges. Exception: Legos and their derivatives.
- Buy consumable products. My very favorite gifts for the kids are things that will eventually Go Away. If it can get used up, it will be and then you'll have something to buy again next year! Consumable Products of Choice: Art supplies.
- Books, Books, Books. Need I say more? Oh, right. Leave the religious stuff out, if you please.
- Keep it educational. If you must ignore the other suggestions, if you MUST buy that video game, that whiz-bang plastic toy that will Never Biodegrade, please make sure it at least PRETENDS to be educational.
I can just see grandparents the world around covering their ears like contrary toddlers, shouting, "I can't HEARRRRR YOUUUUU!" Oh well, I guess they've earned it. Besides, that's what Goodwill is for.
This post is a part of the Parent Bloggers Network's latest Blog Blast, sponsored by the Grandkids Gift Guide. To participate, write your own post on how you deal with grandparents' gifts at your house by midnight tonight. Link to the PBN and Grandkids Gift Guide, then forward your link to parentbloggers@gmail.com to be included in the round-up.
7 comments:
Awesome list! I borrowed it, with proper credit, and added to it, Experience passes. Such as memberships to the zoo, or museum! They make great no clutter gifts, that keep giving all year round!
I'm worse than any grandparent by far. I buy CRAP toys just to keep them quiet. And the trains...oh the trains. We have so many little Thomas toys that we could never in a million years make enough track for them to all travel upon.
What I am giving my kids this summer is a good fun SAND BOX for them to lose their toys in and carry half of said sand into the house in their shoes, hair and clothes. And I will curse myself for doing it, but will take many pictures to remember why I did it in the first place.
Oh yes, that's a great one! We have also requested donations toward music or activity classes.
@Ei, yes, we have many MANY trains, too. Track add-ons are usually a welcome gift (falls into the unpainted wood category - score!). He doesn't really NEED more cars, but you know how that goes.
A sand box is great. We have a sand table that Q really enjoys but lately he's been adding dirt to the $5/bag playsand we bought for it. Oy.
Speaking of buying things for US. Have you seen the classic fisher price toys at target? There's the wind up TV with the screen that scrolls, the googly eyed telephone...and more. I actually have to keep myself from them.
Hear, hear. Both my girls' birthdays are coming up and our house is positively bursting with toys. Of course, I do need to go through and weed out the baby toys. And it seems that baby boys seem to be bigger than older-kid toys, which is a bonus of a sort. I also hate plastic toys - ugh! But of course you can't always be sure of the paint on the wooden ones either. Life wasn't so complicated when we were young, was it? Or maybe we just didn't know. ha ha
I've added the rule: if it needs batteries, provide them. And an extra pack, please.
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