Toys

[Sadorian]

What are your thought regarding toys? We have decided that when we move we are getting rid of ALL the plastic crap around here and replacing it with mostlt educational, steiner/montessori inspired stuff.

It will cost a fortune but i think its really important - as I said to my sister (who of course was horrified when I told her) she gets to send her kids out to an educational environment so whats around them in the home doesn't matter so muc considering they are even there the majority of the week!

Now to tell the in-laws....:coffee

[Ayla]

No plastic is my rule. Riley turned 1yo last month and I've already culled the plastic stuff. Except for the big whizz-bang thing my brother got us, he spent a lot of money on it so I'll keep it around for a bit before giving it back to him when he has a kid :lol

I've also nixed those Mr Men/Little Miss "how to behave" books :puke

[Aurora]

Eli has some plastic stuff. All in moderation... I am not a plastic nazi. We've culled plastic drink bottles and food containers mostly, but he has some toys he really enjoys so we've kept them, mostly gifts or second hand. He has a car garage, that he plays with his matchbox cars etc, and a tub of plastic lego-type blocks. He also has a house for little creatures called ''Wombles'' or something (garage sale find, he fell in love and we couldn't leave without them.) We have some wooden toys, musical instruments, felt boards , rainbow ribbons, playcloths (muslin) and a knitted gnome family, oh and a craft box... so I feel like he has a decent balance. It's very easy to rack up alot of ''stuff'' that doesn't get used though so I cull regularly and donate to the seccy shops.

[Janet]

Oh Wombles! Oh! My childhood! I don't buy really crap plastic stuff but I don't mind soft plastic cars since they don't damage the house and they can get wet, live in the backyard if necessary and the like. I couldn't do that with wooden toys, I have to collect them so they don't get ruined. Honestly though my kids love household objects, boxes, sticky tape and the like. I refuse to spend money on toys as such although I'll buy books happily. I buy wooden toys when I find them on special (and not made in China) or in the opshop but I don't feel the need for them to have heaps of toys anyway. We're about to cull again here. :lol

[~*heket*~]

I am really not virtuous on this front at all :lol

I'm goind to slink away now before I say any more :badday

[Beatrice]

I've been culling our toys recently and they've barely noticed. I'm not going to get rid of all our plastic stuff (we don't have much by now anyway except for the Duplo and Lego, both of which would be close to the last stuff to go) but I'm trying not to bring any more in. I'm trying not to bring ANYTHING more in, but a really nice wooden toy which I know would get lots of use might sneak in occasionally :lol

I hate the whizz-bang, flashing lights, tinkly-twee plastic shit and won't have it in the house. I like toys with a genuine purpose, which are as simple as possible to encourage imaginative play. Sometimes they can be plastic and if so I won't refuse them just on those grounds, but I think that manufacturers with the ethos of simple and imaginative tend to go more with wood anyway.

[Sadorian]

I hate the whizz-bang, flashing lights, tinkly-twee plastic shit and won't have it in the house. I like toys with a genuine purpose, which are as simple as possible to encourage imaginative play. Sometimes they can be plastic and if so I won't refuse them just on those grounds, but I think that manufacturers with the ethos of simple and imaginative tend to go more with wood anyway.


My thoughts exactly, and with christmas coming up I am going to be quite anal about what people get the kids. I just don't think its fair that people spend their cash on stuff that a) the kids will get bored of really quickly and b) I'll probably throw out anyway :lol. If they have been told and they do it anyway then sobeit yk? I just think they should be given a chance, and all our resources pooled, to get the best quality/useful equipment.

[Beatrice]

:bump I've just opened the boxes of toys and games which we packed away in the storage unit, and can only conclude that we have too many toys :runcry Way, way, way too many toys :lol H never plays with toys. K hardly ever does these days. Why do we have them cluttering up the place again? Time for a massive cull!

[Ceres]

I love toy culling! Honestly, my DS plays with such a small percentage of his toys the rest of them are just clutter. Lego lego lego is all it's about here. The rest of it hardly gets a look-in.

[Beatrice]

I'm working up to a massive cull by degrees :lol My aim is to have almost nothing left when we move to Tassie...

[Hush]

I'm looking forward to the move being a reason to leave it all behind! We don't have much plastic stuff, mostly wooden food, exploring toys, soft toys, blocks, train set etc, but I feel like it's too much, and again, he never plays with it, just dumps it all over the floor.

[Beatrice]

I reckon so long as mine have a garden to spend 90% of their time in, they don't need any toys... :lol

[asimplelife]

I'm not so much worried about not having plastic in the house. I am big on only owning toys/materials that are not a single-use thing that you push a button. When we have owned anythign like that it doesn't get played with for long anyway. So I let it get played with for a while and then get rid of it when they lose interest.

I guess we don't have many toys as such these days - but not really too sure on the true definition of that since all things the kids use and play with could be toys I suppose (science stuff, lego, board games, and plastic bits and pieces from the games get used in unrelated games as food for their soft toys etc)? The kids have been big on role playing with their soft toys lately and particularly dd plays with them a lot (I try to cull them but a lot are handmade or special in some way).

What drives me nuts about dd's room is all the little bits and pieces of things - beads, play money, stones, cardboard dress ups for cutout dogs etc) - it all gets tossed into a few baskets but she does play with them all so hard to cull at this stage. About once a month I go through and sort things back into their places again and it does look a lot less when organised.

[Plein D'espoir]

How funny, I just emptied out DD's wardrobe in the playroom/study to cull her toys.

All the toys in there are the plastic crap she got for her birthdays/christmas that she never played with so I stored them away for maybe the last 6 mths.

All thats left in the playroom is her bookshelf with books, art table (pencils, colouring books etc), easle with paints, playdoh table, a few wooden puzzles, a few soft toys and her baby dolls.

I'm not sure what I will tell people come Christmas/Birthday time as my MIL and BIL love buying plastic shit that she never plays with.

Most of what they have bought her is what I am getting rid of. Not because I dont like them, mainly bc DD is more creative and prefers time outside or drawing/painting and doesnt play with them.

[Beatrice]

I've come to the conclusion that if it's full of small pieces, I'm going to ask very very searching questions about whether the enjoyment my kids get out of it is likely to outweigh the frustration of trying to remember to get them to look after it, because I suck at doing the hourly playroom runthrough or "Let's put the Polly Pockets back in the container before we break out the Lego" which would be necessary to police a room full of them :runcry Currently the answer is Not Even Close, so I'm culling everything with small bits unless I know that it actually gets used on a regular basis (or store it if has been popular in the past and is likely to be popular with the smalls as they get older).

[jikki]

I remember mentioning to a friend once that I wanted to get rid of our plastic dollhouse and get a wooden dollhouse. I remember her making a comment that made me think...can't remember her exact words...but something that made me realise that getting rid of something I already own to buy it again in a more "eco-friendly" variety, wasn't really that eco-friendly at all! (she said it in a very non-critical way, so I wasn't offended at all ;))

It made me think a bit....and I decided not to throw things out just to buy new versions. I culled any safety concerns, but I decided not to cull toys just because I liked the look of more organic materials! (that was just my superficial motivation though, others may have more valid reasons for their culls..safety, education etc etc!) So, we still have a lot of plastic and trashy toys floating around, but I just try not to let any more of them into the house, only the good stuff! I really wish I'd thought like that 9 years ago when my first DD was born, and I probably wouldn't have so much of the trashy stuff floating around in the first place!! :rolleyes

[Ceres]

What an excellent point. Something plastic rescued from the hard rubbish pile is a much better eco- choice than buying something new and wooden.

[Asrathiel]

Our toy cull stuff gets passed to the salvos. I'm constantly culling. I hate anything with batteries, and anything advertising TV shows etc, that my small people don't watch anyway cos we have no TV.
Much Bob the Builder stuff has crept in during Malachi's first 4 years of life. As he grows out of it/gets bored with it, I'm putting it in the Salvos bag instead of storing it for Zara.
Also DSD is bought alot of shit and some of that makes it to our place too. She's brought things like a Bratz colouring book here before, and I've told her that I don't want Bratz things in the house, and if she wants to keep it she needs to take it back home with her.

[Aurora]

I feel a bit sad for your SD that she's told her belongings are banned at your house. It seems one thing to ask relatives on the quiet not to give your kids crap, but to ban an already-given gift to the SD ....?

[anaturallearner]

We don't have a large extended family so the amount of junky toys were kept to a minimum. Fortunately most of them broke within a short while, if not on the same they they arrived, so we didn't accumulate many either.

Our children collected a few good toys: wooden train set, sylvannian families, barbie dolls, matchbox cars, LEGO. Playing with these often initiated craft activities such as making dolls clothes and furniture, or creating 'worlds' in the garden or sandpit.

When they were younger play was mostly role playing dress-ups and generally included the 'teddies'. This included heaps of craft - making props, etc.

We had a mixture of quality plastic and non-plastic toys. Playing with LEGO reasonably obsessively didn't hinder my children's ability to play with twigs, sticks, pebbles and sand - they'd happily create towns and populate them with imaginary people in the dirt outside or when on holidays.

Come birthdays we'd spend the money on expanding the collections - this was the children's choice. They generally played together, which helped. I'd always buy books, puzzles and games for them too. And we kept the craft corner topped up with supplies and materials which meant that when the kids wanted to build something using something other than LEGO they could. :-)

We rarely culled toys but when we did the children didn't have much trouble letting go of those toys they rarely played with.

If I had my time over, I'd still do the LEGO bit, because it really worked well with my children (we're all builders and modifiers in our family), but I'd definitely put more time into dance, music, role playing, physical games, singing, and art and craft. These things help ground a person and develop their spiritual sense (being). We did a lot of building and gardening which helped develop their technical skills (doing).

My advice is to follow your child's lead and meet her needs when choosing toys (not necessarily her wants!), but provide balance by thinking carefully about what toys, etc can help to build abilities in those areas she isn't a 'natural' at.

[Asrathiel]

I feel a bit sad for your SD that she's told her belongings are banned at your house. It seems one thing to ask relatives on the quiet not to give your kids crap, but to ban an already-given gift to the SD ....?


It was something she had at her mother's house, where she spends most of her time. She happened to bring it with her one time when she came for a visit. I explained that I don't like Bratz, and why, and asked her to take it back home with her when she went and to please leave it and any other Bratz things at home next time. I don't see the problem?
And it's slightly hard to ask her mother's and stepfather's relatives not to give her crap. The best I can do is ask her to leave things that I really object to (ie Bratz merchandise!) at home.

[Sarasvati]

It was something she had at her mother's house, where she spends most of her time. She happened to bring it with her one time when she came for a visit. I explained that I don't like Bratz, and why, and asked her to take it back home with her when she went and to please leave it and any other Bratz things at home next time. I don't see the problem?
And it's slightly hard to ask her mother's and stepfather's relatives not to give her crap. The best I can do is ask her to leave things that I really object to (ie Bratz merchandise!) at home.

I would do the same thing. I don't see Bratz as ok at all. Especially given the other two children in the household who would be exposed to the sexualisation of Bratz.

[Asrathiel]

Especially given the other two children in the household who would be exposed to the sexualisation of Bratz.

Yep, exactly. I'm not going to let these things come into the house via DSD, when I wouldn't let M or Z have them. What she has at her mother's house is out of my control. What comes here is not.

[Sadorian]

Ohwow, re-reading this has made me realise just how much SHIT has crept back in.

I hate toys.

I do always look forward to christmas though. More so now cause we mke many of the things the children get.

We seem to have a lot of plastic stuff a the moment and I'm not eve sure where it came from. I will be getting them plastic animals for christmas though, they play farms/zoos etc for hours.

Barbie dolls have snuck in. My sister was given a massive box of them and T comes home from her place everytime with one or two. The thing is, she doesn't play with them here.

Question: wwyd if someone gifted your dd (or ds ;)) a whole heap of Bratz stuff? Give it away or bin it?

I think I would bin it.....

[Ayla]

I'm getting so sick of toys too. I said to David the other day that it's just more brainwashing that kids "need" this stuff in order to learn/develop/grow/become more intelligent. Honestly, Riley plays with more everyday household stuff than he does with his toys and he probably learns more from that! I feel like ditching the lot.

Eta re the Bratz, bin it for sure.

[Plein D'espoir]

I'd probably donate the Bratz stuff. I would never want my DD to have them here but I know a lot of parents who dont see what the big deal is and by donating it to my local op shop, I know the money from them will go back into the community.

[Mud]

I have a big box of Bratz on top of my cupboard. It was given to my 6yo a couple of years ago and she has only played with them a couple of times -- notably when the giver visited. About a month ago I said to her 'How about we give those away, since you never really play with them?' She said 'You've hurt my feelings! Now I feel like playing with them right now.' But she didn't. And she hasn't since.

Maybe I could have put it better ...

It's the same with the Barbie she got for Christmas when an aunt took her to a toyshop and let her choose her Christmas present (I found out afterwards). She has only taken it out of the cupboard once, never plays with it, but still feels it's an essential item to own for a girl her age. Girls at preschool communicated this list of essential items, and let her know repeatedly that she was the only girl without blah blah -- including a Bratz dressing gown! At least she seems to have forgotten that she's the only girl in the world without a plastic pony, because there's no way she'd be getting one.

[Auset]

Pretty antiplastic here.... I wont rule out plastic entirely, as sometimes there are good open ended plastics (lego.... and err... well.... the plastic wheels Mum just bought that you can attach to any cardboard box. That is about it....) But we culled all the crap about 2 years ago. I donated it all to charity and replaced it with playsilks, wooden blocks and anamalz and many craft things. My child changed over night. It was amazing. Plastic toys that only do one thing (ie press a button and make a noise) must have been under-stimulating and annoying her. Once I culled the crap and only had a couple of things out at a time (I got a load of baskets, and we have sets of things- and only allow 1 or 2 baskets out at a time) she was so much calmer. It made it easier to get her to help clean up too, as things didn't get so messy that it is overwhelming to start cleaning. But these days she doesnt play much with toys, she prefers to clean windows/play with the dog/pick flowers and arrange them in vases and PAINT (in capitals lol) every day. We always have watercolour paints with a big roll of paper set up out the back for her so if she feels the urge it is all there.

[Ceres]

Wheels for cardboard boxes.. wow that is a very cool idea!

[Auset]

Mum was so excited lol... I hope they are good as they are such a good idea. Total fan of the old cardboard box. They always keep DD amused for hours/days/week :) Mum said if they are good she will order another set or 2 so we can make trains too :D

[Ceres]

Yep nothing is quite as entertaining as a cardboard box!! There are always cardboard box projects going on here. They are second only to the toilet roll :lol

[Auset]

Too true! Although the dog seems to manage to steal most of our toilet rolls before they make it to the craft cupboard... he thinks they are chew toys! Egg cartons are another winner here.... caterpillars, bee's, butterflys, traffic lights, pots for seeds, trains for tiny passengers, pig snouts lol... But the old cardboard box still comes out in first here :D

[Ceres]

Ah yes egg cartons... they also make great seed planters!!

[Sarasvati]

I use toilet rolls for seeds, that way the roots don't have to creep through the bottom. Toilet rolls also go into the compost here (carbon! Carbon people!)

Sorry OT :lol.

[Demeter]

Yep nothing is quite as entertaining as a cardboard box!! There are always cardboard box projects going on here. They are second only to the toilet roll :lol

Bloody toilet rolls, I find them EVERYWHERE in our house, even the freezer for some unknown reason :lol

[Auset]

Here are the wheels for anyone who is interested
http://www.peanutgallery.com.au/catalogue/cars_and_other_vehicles/rolobox_wheel_kit (http://www.peanutgallery.com.au/catalogue/cars_and_other_vehicles/rolobox_wheel_kit)
Mum's set arrived, she said they look great. I will update when they have tried them out. Hopefully soon lol. But Mum wants to wait and have my Dad do the boxes/wheels with DD as he is very enthused about them heh heh

[SamanthaW]

We had a tent arrive yesterday in a long cardboard box which is now a boat in the river (hallway). :lol

I'm not fussed on plastics. I would prefer to purchase or create something more durable and sustainable myself, but if the children are given plastic toys as gifts or A chooses plastic toys at the op shop, that's okay. And if he really wanted something new that was plasic, that'd be okay, too.

OT, but I have culled the books slightly, getting rid of 'My First Illustrated Bible' mailed to us by estranged MIL & the Noddy books from my childhood. If he had really liked any of them I would have kept them, but he's shown no interest and DH & I agreed that we weren't thrilled by the messages in these books. I'd originally thought that the bible would just be like having a book of myths, but it's not presented that way, there's lots of 'and this is the truth, believe it and you'll go to heaven, you don't want to make Jesus sad, do you?' bollocks.

[Ceres]

I think they'd be getting culled in this house too. While Noddy is cute I don't like all the good / naughty messages in it.

[SamanthaW]

Yep, ceres, that was our problem with it. Having said that we do have books (novels) from our childhood that have similar (or worse!) messages in them that the children would be welcome to read if they wanted to, but I figure that by that time they'd have developed some ability to think critically, and we'd be able to discuss the themes and issues. I suppose the same goes for Noddy & the Bible - once they're old enough to learn about their existence and request them, they'll be at that stage, too.