Christmas shopping for Amy

[pne]

Stella's sister had given her some money to buy a present for Amy with, and Stella and I went shopping this morning.

Good grief—I found it very hard to find a decent present for Amy. Part of this is that I'm not sure what things she likes to play with (she doesn't seem to be interested in any given toy for very long), part of it is that many of the toys were for really small infants or for children 3 and up.

But the biggest pain, I found, is that there were so many toys marketed at the age range "18 months and up" which incorporate "edutainment" of some kind or another, and/or that make noise and sing songs.

I didn't really fancy noise-producing stuff since I wanted stuff she could play with, that would be attractive through interaction rather than through some inane jingle (that would probably get on her parents' nerves within the week, anyway). And I didn't want to force-feed my toddler literacy and numeracy.

Hello? Is there anything wrong with having children simply play, or is that suddenly no longer politically correct? Does playing always have to be connected with learning in some way or another? Does she really have to learn her shapes and colours? Furrfu.

We managed to find something in the end—some plastic things you can stick to the side of the bathtub with suction cups that turn or tip over when you pour water in them, since she likes to take baths.

Comments

[bacskocky.livejournal.com]

I just buy the older baby toys and take teh dangerous stuff out of them... edutainment toys are frightening, plus, William has such a fixation with music that I end up with the stupid songs stuck in my head after 45 minute sof playing.

[denial-land.livejournal.com]

Haven't you heard? If it's not edumacative, then it's bad for you.

*sigh*

I'm glad you found somehting in the end..it sounds like fun. Heh.

[pne.livejournal.com]

Haven't you heard? If it's not edumacative, then it's bad for you.

I must've missed that memo; it would explain things, though.

[pleiades829.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha, I so totally agree with you. Right now, all the girls have are fairly boring little toys, and they are happy. I'm certain that, although I asked for more "boring" stuff, they're going to get crazy things with lights and noise and such that are supposed to teach them colors and the United States presidents or something. Sigh.

[wingflutter.livejournal.com]

it's an attempt to provide everyone with little prodigies. quite ridiculous really. childhood isn't what it used to be any longer. i'm sure, if they could, they'd stop kids from being able to use their imagination too.

[pne.livejournal.com]

i'm sure, if they could, they'd stop kids from being able to use their imagination too.

Well, that's already happening because so many toys are so specific.

I mean, consider what a child played with 100 years ago: they had a stick and a box, and the stick could be a doll or a car or a drill, and the box could be a house or a boat or a present.

Now they have a Barbie doll and a jeep, and the doll can only be a doll and the jeep can only be a jeep: less opportunity to exercise your imagination.

[lexabear.livejournal.com]

Didn't you know? If you don't play classical music in the womb YOUR CHILD IS DOOMED!

[ubykhlives.livejournal.com]

We managed to find something in the end—some plastic things you can stick to the side of the bathtub with suction cups that turn or tip over when you pour water in them, since she likes to take baths.

I remember having something like that when I was still very young. Unfortunately, nowadays there are no real toys - just education aids. Interestingly, I think children are getting more stupid as a result - the reason being that the earlier one begins this forced education, the earlier the child rebels against their parents force-feeding them their education, and thence against education in general. True play is a very rare thing these days, and I truly believe we're the poorer for it.

[conuly]

I agree with the conclusion, but not with the reasoning. Fact is, children *aren't* being educated by those toys, so they have nothing to rebel against! They learn from doing, not from sitting.

[ubykhlives.livejournal.com]

Fact is, children *aren't* being educated by those toys, so they have nothing to rebel against!

Except their pushy parents, who are under the delusion that these toys will somehow produce Einsteins and Feynmans. I'm not arguing that these toys do educate kids; my point is just that many parents are pushing the kids into an "educate-educate-educate" frame of mind that just isn't healthy for young children. It's the attitudes rather than the "education" itself that are at the heart of the issue, I think.

[conuly]

I've found it's helpful to shop online - you can tailor your searches to just find wooden toys, or books, or whatever.

[fridoline.livejournal.com]

I agree that there are way too many toys that involve lights and music! This is especially critical when you've got two children and they decide to use a musical toy each at the same time...

Interestingly enough, we too ended up in getting the children something for the bath for Christmas.

Something else that is often misunderstood is that ordinary toys are only for playing and that educational toys support the child's development. Children learn from any toys they play with, and at their own pace.

And finally, if the children play with toys that do not involve sounds of their own, they are much more likely to start humming and singing for themselves while they play.