There are days when I hate the people who invent kids’ toys. I never thought I’d become this obsessed with testing out toys before buying them—at least not to the extent that I have since becoming a mom. Obviously, I don’t buy much, but my list of gift suggestions couldn’t be more specific—take it from a girl who takes photos in stores to back up her suggestions.
No, as parents, we don’t make lists because we’re picky. We do it to make life easier for our loved ones and to keep our sanity throughout the year.
Put yourself in our shoes. The more kids we have, the more toys pile up and get left lying around. If every child gets a toy that sings in five different languages, I might end up answering the phone while singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” like a sad, squeaky clown. I might turn gray and nearly bleed out, hiding to “lose” every battery in the house, in search of that precious, restorative silence.
Same goes for those “tap-a-day” toys. Seriously? My drawers are overflowing with things to tap on! My biggest “bang-er” is his brother, who bangs on the floor. Do I really need any more banging? No, I don’t think so! I prefer recycled toys—ones that can be used by several children regardless of their age—to some poor toy that’ll be put away after an hour because it’s lost its appeal.
Of course, we have our favorites—often very beautiful, durable, and expensive toys that stay on the store shelves because we don’t have the money or space at home. Of course, the list is put together by two adults—but two adults who are the parents and who watch their children play with those very toys. Every choice is carefully considered before it’s put down on paper. It’s quite possible that the toy will lose its appeal anyway—we can’t be perfect every time.
But I wonder about the necessity of the toys we give our children—are they really necessary for their learning? Aren’t human relationships (which are becoming increasingly rare) more important? Toys won’t be a lasting memory—at least not as much as the games our children invent with their loved ones. I’d even go so far as to say I hope so, since imagination is so important—and we lose it so quickly as we get older. So let’s stick to our lists—and trust our inner parental instincts.