about Toys.....

[RCT]

I thought I read in a post recently, that I can't seem to find again LOL, something about buying toys....I got to thinking about it, and we really only BUY toys for Birthdays and Christmas.....I have been known to buy something educational, like a workbook or for example, I bought an easel recently, for motor skill fine tuning for ds .....chalk and paper for painting and drawing....I was wondering, like with the kids meals, do a lot of you just buy toys for fun whenever, no particular reason? just curious, not a slam by any means....

[angie r]

It is funny, I was just talking about this today with some friends. We buy toys all the time. A friend and I go shopping together once a week to Super Walmart for groceries and we always scour over the toys/movies for things. I have a closet full of toys and things right now that the kids don't know about. I pull one out for reward or for holidays. I have been working lately filling up two new backpacks with new toys and gadgets for our trip to Disney this May. I bought a bunch of videos on ebay and gave one to dd and am saving the rest for other occasions. They don't get a toy every time we go someplace. Although alot of times we will go to the toystore just to pick something out for no reason.

My dk's are 5 and 2 so we don't buy anything really expensive. Unless ds wants a something new for his "Thomas the Tank Engine" set. If it is expensive they have to save their own money or wait for a birthday/Christmas.

[AnnW]

I buy stuff if it's on sale and then hold it back, but we don't buy toys "just cause". Birthdays, Christmas and end of school year..that's pretty much it. One of the reasons my kids get an allowance is that they can buy all the junk that they just can't live with out! LOL

[MK]

Like I mentioned on the original thread, I do occasionally (like about once a month) buy small, inexpensive toys "just because" when I'm in a generous mood, and when I can afford it. They cost no more than $5 though. Today I bought three new story books-- does that count? It was a completely impulsive buy. I've also been stocking up for Easter, and for our upcoming trip to Idaho in June. Today I bought a miniature keychain game of Sorry! just for the trip.

[Mickey]

I gotta get my mind out of the gutter...I thought the subject of this post was "adult toys"! LOL!

I will get ds something little now and then when we're out shopping--like crackers or a hot wheels car. But, he usually wants to ride a little ride at the front of the store for 50 cents, so that works for me--IF he has behaved while we shopped!

I do buy him educational toys and cd's for the computer when he outgrows or gets too old for the ones he has. I just got a Montessori catalog and plan to get some things from it. I feel like I've wasted a lot of money on popular toys that don't hold his interest for long, so I plan to be very careful about what I buy in the future.

[Amy2]

I buy little things for the kids all the time. I found this silly Scooby Doo water bottle...gum...toothbrush...whatever. It's hard becaue I know I am sort of creating a monster when DS says "did you get me something?" I really hate that. I ususally say something like "Just my undying love" and he looks at me like I am nuts. I just love to get things for my kids.

What can be a problem, though, is that my children are the ONLY children on either side of our families. So the aunties and the Nana's all like to get "little somethings" for them when they're out and about. They get more "gifts" than most kids I know.

I am trying to figure out ways to teach GIVING as well. Having Tristan make pictures for people. He and my mother write letters to each other and he will tape little things to the letter, pennies, candles, whatever he thinks is cool.

It's a fine line, I think. Amy

Micky, you crack me up "Adult Toys" could be a very interesting discussion, though!

[KarlaB]

We do buy our kids toys for no reason, but not all of the time and they are typically inexpensive. I also have a "stash" of hot wheels, activity books at home for little rewards, as a pick me up when they are sick or when I really need to get something done and think having something new will help! :) This is completely crazy, but we also exchange Valentine's Day, Halloween and Easter presents with my sisters kids in addition to Christmas and birthdays. I shop ahead for these things and find good deals otherwise we wouldn't/couldn't do it. When we go to Target or WalMart we usually hit the toy aisles, but they don't get a toy everytime. I will let them bring a toy in the cart though to play with while we shop. That does wonders and there is usually no problem putting it back on the shelf when it is time to go.

[KarlaB]

Originally posted by angie r
It is funny, I was just talking about this today with some friends. We buy toys all the time. A friend and I go shopping together once a week to Super Walmart for groceries and we always scour over the toys/movies for things. I have a closet full of toys and things right now that the kids don't know about. I pull one out for reward or for holidays. I have been working lately filling up two new backpacks with new toys and gadgets for our trip to Disney this May.

I have a closet full of toys, too, that the kids don't even know about! :) I love having them there "just in case".

May I ask what things you are doing for your kids for Disney? We are going in April and I have been trying to think of new/fun things to put in their bags to entertain them on the plane. I have two boys just shy of 2 & 4. So far I have new hotwheels and activity books with crayons and markers - I wrap these up and pull them out as needed. :) I also plan to bring ds's Etch a Sketch, Magna Doodle, and books. I am blanking out and would love more ideas! Thanks! :)

[angie r]

[i]May I ask what things you are doing for your kids for Disney? We are going in April and I have been trying to think of new/fun things to put in their bags to entertain them on the plane. I have two boys just shy of 2 & 4. So far I have new hotwheels and activity books with crayons and markers - I wrap these up and pull them out as needed. :) I also plan to bring ds's Etch a Sketch, Magna Doodle, and books. I am blanking out and would love more ideas! Thanks! :) [/B]

I have brand new back packs they haven't seen. Hmmmm...let's see.... My kids are 2, well she'll be 3 and 5. Magna Doodles, flashlights that you can cover the light and this tube lights up in the handle...looks like a snow globe, little hand held battery operated fans for when they get hot, crayons in these fabric holders that have a slot for each crayon so I am not trying to bend over in the plane and pick them up, activity books, coloring books, books to read, I bought a cd player w/headphones for cd's and we will take our cassette player, new cd's Mary Poppins and Scooby Doo, lip balm, sunglasses, autograph books (for the characters to sign), view masters. That is it so far. I will get snacks & juice bags too. It is hard to find things that won't be annoying to others around us!! I think I was most excited about the fans, because they will be useful in the hot weather and fun for them. The blades are made of foam and have no cover. I also picked up some hot wheels, but I am afraid they will end up under the seats of the plane!

Any more ideas??

[MK]

How about dry erase boards/markers? Magnetic alphabet boards? Window clings, if you get a window seat, or maybe they will work on the little pull-out snack tables. They can make felt pictures on the seat in front of them(bring along some felt of various shapes, and a felt cloth to hang on the seat or tuck in the magazine pouch to hang). Or if you have finger puppets, they can do a little show or make up a story.

[KarlaB]

Thanks for the ideas!!! :) We have tons of toys we could bring, but most make noise and I think we'd annoy way too many other passengers! ;) We have those little fans form a previous trip to FL and the dks love them. One thing I do want to find are those books that come with "magic" pens that make pictures show up when they color with them. At this point our carry on bag will be bigger that our suitcase! ROFL! If I think of anything else I'll let you know, Angie. Thanks again gals!!