You all said it, “When I have a baby I won’t spend hundreds of dollars on toys just to have them clutter up my house and get used only a handful of times”.

However, how many of you are reading this staring at a living room full of expensive toys that light-up, spin, dance, and sing? Ha ha…caught ya!

For today’s Worth it Wednesday, we discuss which toys are worth it and which ones are not…

 

 NOT worth it:

• The dog with the light up nose that has the ear, hand, foot, and tummy labeled and says “foot” when you press the foot, etc.

What IS worth it:

• Playing hokey pokey with your child to learn the body parts or singing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”

NOT worth it:

• The American Girl Doll that sits on the shelf so it doesn’t get ruined

What IS worth it:

• A baby doll that can be carried, dropped, stained, squeezed, and loved until it starts to resemble Sasquatch

Not worth it:

• The “play” table with the buttons, the wheel, and the gear that do the same thing every time they’re touched

What IS worth it:

• A grab bag or box filled with yarn, buttons, clothespins, bouncy balls, styrofoam, egg cartons, marbles, and rocks that allow for a different experience every time

NOT worth it:

• That expensive device that reads to your kids

What IS worth it:

• Reading with them at their bedside for naps or bedtime, reading by the pool, reading at the park, reading to their class

NOT worth it:

• The phone that sings or speaks to them so they can pretend they’re interacting with someone

What IS worth it:

• Facetime with dad or the grandparents

NOT worth it:

• The $1000 play kitchen from Pottery Barn

What IS worth it:

• Grocery shopping & preparing the meal at home together

NOT worth it:

• The mini versions of vacuum, broom, and mop

What IS worth it:

• Sharing in household jobs together to build confidence & create a sense of mastery in your child

Are you catching my drift here? There’s no need to clutter your home with expensive, “educational”, toys when studies show that those toys actually work AGAINST learning. Children learn best from experiences, social interactions, exploring, using a variety of senses, and being able to manipulate items & toys to do something different each time. Foster their creativity and encourage imagination through open-ended toys. If the toy performs for your child, chances are it’s not educational. Instead, it’s an imagination killer. So, kick it old school (see below) and just play!

What kind of toys are in your home?

:: What is your child’s FAVORITE toy? ::