Choosing Creative Toys

Photo by Mai Le

The toy industry is massive. Each day corporations compete for the dollars of hard-working parents. Gigantic toy stores contain shelves crowded with the latest inventions and fads. Some ads for certain toys even insinuate that they'll help your child develop faster academically.

With all these choices, how can you spend wisely and provide the best creative stimulation for your children?

Much has been written about this topic, but if you're a fairly new mom you may not have had a chance to read it. This was true of me when I entered the motherhood profession almost five years ago. In my mind all the toy aisles looked the same - overwhelming! The types of toys I bought then differ vastly to what I look for today.

Here are a few guiding principles that have helped me along the way:

1. Look for toys with more "scope for the imagination."

Have you ever noticed your child playing with a toy in a different way than its intended use? This used to frustrate me on occasion; now I see what a gift it is. That's creativity! We can nurture it by ensuring the toys we give can be played with in a variety of ways. 

Some easy examples of imaginative toys that come to mind include Legos, blocks of all shapes and sizes, Play-Doh, art supplies, and dolls or puppets. (Our home puppet theater regularly transforms into some kind of drive-thru line!)

2. Avoid brands.

Your son may really enjoy Elmo, but that doesn't mean you have to plaster his room with Elmo pillows, Elmo curtains, Elmo dolls, Elmo clothes, and more. Doing so really limits the amazing capacity of a child's imagination.

If your child already knows a character they will typically view the toy through that lens, often not bothering to experiment with it outside of what they know.

It's been easy to limit brands in my house because I've done so from the beginning. I find it refreshing to hear my kids say, "Look at the princess/fairy/etc." when they see a photo or toy of a popular Disney character, for example.

Recently I heard my three discussing that the "M" outside McDonald's must be there because Ice Cream ends in a "M!" (That's the only item they've ever eaten there.) I did get involved at that stage just to tell them the name of the store!

3. Limit toys with batteries.

Not only are batteries bad for the environment, they're often not the best choice for our kids' creative development. Toys with batteries do everything at the touch of a button, leaving no mental gaps to imagine or fill in for yourself.

Photo by Desirea Rodgers

When you do purchase a battery-operated toy, consider investing in rechargeable batteries to lengthen their life. Many times we've removed batteries from toys (like trucks) before giving them to the kids - less annoying for us and just as cherished by them!

4. Have a list ready of desired toys.

I always keep a written/mental list of a few present ideas for our kids. That way when holidays roll around and someone asks for suggestions, I can mention something specific that our kids will enjoy and lines up with our values. I also have an Amazon Wish List that out-of-town family members can check for ideas.

Not all the toys in our home fit with the above principles, but in general these ideas work for us as we accumulate new playthings. Choosing creative toys is one more way we can nurture our children in an intentional, professional way.

And if you'd like to read on, here's more advice from the blogosphere:

Natural Toys @ Green Bean Boutique
Classic Toys That Are Worth The Money @ Simple Mom
Choosing the Best Toys for Babies and Toddlers @ Euphoria's Blog for Green Mamas

What are your children's favorite creative toys?