The holiday season was made for kids.
Who doesn’t love watching a child’s eyes light up when she sees presents under the tree on Christmas morning?
As adults, we secretly long to feel the same way about those magical moments – especially the euphoria of unwrapping gifts in a flurry of paper, tape and bows.
However, quite a few of those Christmas presents are quickly forgotten about. Some toys and games don’t live up to what the kids thought they would be like. The little rugrats get bored. The gifts get broken, and some even end up in next summer’s garage sale.
Wait a second — it was never that way when you were a kid, right? You cherished your classic playthings for years! What’s with kids these days?
As we grow older, we tend to think that the toys, games, TV shows and music we grew up with are far superior to what young whipper-snappers have. But that’s not always true.
Case in point – I used to go on and on about how Saturday morning cartoons were so much better when I was a kid.
Then I saw a few reruns of some old favorites like Inspector Gadget and Heathcliff – and realized maybe I was wrong.
We put those things on a pedestal because we have fond childhood memories connected to them. So who are we to knock the younger generation’s fads and favorites?
However, there are also some things that are classics. Sesame Street never seems to get old. We sing the same songs with our children as our parents did with us. Kids still play with yo-yos and hula hoops, blow bubbles and build sandcastles.
So what’s better – the old way to play or the new way?
The New Toys on the Block
One of the hottest toys for kids this year is also one of the hottest gifts from grownups – the tablet computer.
Now I think we all can agree that the idea of buying a $500 iPad just for your 5 year-old kid is insanely ridiculous. But those youngsters love their technology – and electronics manufacturers know it. That’s why you’ll be able to find tablets designed specifically for kids. Most of them are around $100 or less.
There’s the VTech Inno Tab which sells for about $79, the LeapFrog LeapPad, which goes for $99, and pricier $200 Nabi Tablet which is for older kids.
More mainstream tablet devices can also be nice gifts the whole family can enjoy. At $200, Amazon’s Kindle Fire is a less expensive alternative to the iPad, and the Barnes & Noble Nook ($250) is good for kids because of its interactive books and a feature that lets Mom and Dad record their voice reading a story.
To learn more you can read some short tablet reviews on ZDNet.com that focus on what works for kids.
Renting Toys Online
Here’s an interesting new company that could help you beat the boredom factor when it comes to toys. Toygaroo is being called the Netflix of toys.
You may have seen Toygaroo featured on ABC’s reality show Shark Tank this summer.
For a monthly fee, your kids get a box of new toys to play with. Plans range from $25 for four toys every other month or $53 for 8 toys every month. You and your children can pick out the toys you want to use. And yes – they sanitize everything after it gets sent back – they call it a “No Yuck-Factor Promise.” Toys also come to you shrink-wrapped.
Now what happens if your toddler falls in love with a toy you have to return? You can keep toys longer than one month – and you can also purchase it for a discounted price.
One Kid’s Junk is Another Kid’s Treasure
Of course, you don’t have to pay a monthly fee to get used toys for your little ones.
A trip to your local Goodwill store could lead you to some fun discoveries. One of my two-year-old son Max’s favorite birthday presents came from Goodwill. My brother and sister-in-law got him a View-Master for just 69-cents!
The great thing about used toys at secondhand stores is there’s no packaging. That means you can check it out for yourself to make sure it actually works. Plus, no dealing with the frustration of opening a new toy. You seriously need a blowtorch to get some of that stuff out of the package!
Good Old Fashioned Fun
As a parent, it’s your job to give your kid some balance in life. That might mean limiting TV and video game time or providing toys that are educational as well as entertaining.
Perhaps the biggest things missing from playtime for “kids these days” is time spent outside, and time spent using their imaginations. There’s a great post on the GeekDad Blog at Wired.com that lists the Top Five Toys of All-Time.
- The Stick
- The Box
- String
- The Cardboard Tube
- Dirt
It’s a great reminder of how much fun you can have with practically nothing at all!
The best way to get your kid to use his or her imagination is to get down and dirty and play with them!
Have you ever built a snowman with your kids? Do you take them sledding? Have you shared your secret mudpie recipe, or taught them to play kick the can?
Remember, the greatest gift you can give your children this Christmas is time. You may not believe it – but they’d much rather have you spend 100 minutes playing with them than spend $100 on a tablet computer.
Your Turn!
I never got around to writing about my favorite classic toys in this article. My list would have included Legos, Play-Doh, a tape recorder and a the big-wheel.
What are your favorite childhood toys?
Would you rent toys for your kids – or do you think it’s a crazy idea?
Leave a comment and start a conversation!
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Image Credit: Brit and hopeandmegan
+Kasey Steinbrinck writes regularly on personal finances and consumer news for Check Advantage. Visit them today and view their big collection of Classic Checks as well as Fun Checks.
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