5 Things I Wish I Knew About Toys Before I Bought So Many

It starts with soft toys. On hearing the joyous news of the growing life in your belly, you rush out to buy “Peanut” their first cuddly toy. Excited friends and family do the same.

By the time your bouncing bundle is 6-months-old, you have acquired numerous baby toys that flash, dance, sing and move to the beat of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” in double time.

Then they reach the milestone of depriving you of sleep for an entire year. At this stage, you have probably accumulated so many toys they require their own room: The Playroom.

Can anyone relate? When my first daughter was born, I assumed my sweet little girl needed many toys to keep her entertained. Another two children added to the family mix and I have developed an intolerance toward toys polluting every corner of the house.

My new mantra, when it comes to toys, is “Less is More”: fewer toys, less noise, reducing plastic items and times when I encourage my kids to play with non-toys instead. Here’s why:

1) KIDS DON’T NEED TOYS TO PLAY

When we moved from the UK to Australia, I could only bring a handful of toys with us for the first few months. I worried my kids would miss all their toys but, in truth, they didn’t.

Is there any “toy” more timeless than the faithful cardboard box? In my house, boxes have been houses, a boat, a smoothie maker, a train, a hiding place, a coffee-machine (Sydney cafe culture!) and more. Kids imaginations work so beautifully when they are engaged in times of focused play. When children are faced with a room full of toys that “do” everything for them, there is little space left for their own imaginations to run wild.

Pretend play is one of the most significant ways children develop and make sense of their world. Child development experts are unanimous in their views that play is an essential part of a healthy childhood. In her book, 9 Things, Maggie Dent says, “Play is the way babies and children develop their sense of self, sense of the world, and sense of where they fit in. Children are biologically wired to play. Play is very serious business for them. Opportunities for play are essential because they help a child learn many of the emotional and social competencies.“

Toys can be a catalyst for this type of play but so can nature, craft items and even household objects.

2) TOO MANY TOYS CAN OVERWHELM CHILDREN

In his book, Simplicity Parenting, Kim John Payne warns of the dangers of overloading our children with too much choice. He says, when faced with a mountain of toys, “children given so very many choices learn to undervalue them all, and hold out – always – for whatever elusive thing isn’t offered.” In summary, they always want more.

If you have ever tried buying something simple like a pair of shoes online, you too will have faced this challenge. The wide variety of choice is so overwhelming it can be crippling. What if you choose the wrong ones? What if there is a better deal somewhere else? But in a shop where the choice is limited, it is often a much quicker and more efficient means of choosing shoes.

I have noticed my children play better when I limit their choice of toys. When an object requires them to do the creative work they play for much longer. Simple toys such as wooden blocks, pots and pans, playdough and magnetic tiles all allow for their imaginations to engage in a meaningful way.

3) OPEN-ENDED TOYS FOR THE WIN!

It probably comes as no surprise to you that not all toys are created equal. But it did to me. I just assumed the more extravagant or expensive a toy, the more my child would enjoy it. Not so.

I first learned of open-ended toys a few years ago. Essentially, an open-ended toy allows for a child to create whatever their imagination wishes.

I began noticing a link between my children’s behaviour and the toys they were engaging with. If they had a day where they played with the all-singing, all-dancing, flashing and bouncing toys, their behaviour would reflect this. When they played with the really simple toys, they seemed to play for much longer and the quality of their play was better. So I got rid of all the gimmicky toys. And my kids haven’t missed them.

As a side note, no toy is gender-specific. I have three girls and two love to play with dolls while the other is really into cars. I love this. They still all play “Mums and Dads” together but watching their play preferences come into it is fascinating.

Our list of favourite toys includes wooden building blocks, magnetic tiles, scarves, a train set, doll house, animal figurines, baby dolls and accessories, cars and trucks, duplo and lego. I would probably also include craft supplies here as my kids love to make things to include in their games.

Here are some open-ended toy lists from a few of my favourite early childhood experts:

The Best Toys for Kids, Busy Toddler
The 15 Toys Your Kids Might Actually Need this Year, Simple Families
Our Favourite Open-Ended Toys on a Budget, Little Lifelong Learners

4) SPOILER ALERT: LARGE TOY MANUFACTURERS WANT YOUR MONEY

Have you ever watched your child watching another child play with Paw Patrol figurines on YouTube? If you have, you will know how low the toy industry has sunk when it comes to marketing to children. I have no problem saying these large companies do not have kids’ best interests at heart. They primarily have their own interests at heart and this involves selling as many toys as possible. The total revenue for the global toy market in 2018 was $90.4bil.

And it’s not just advertising through traditional marketing channels that impacts children. Peer pressure is real from a young age! Anyone remember Diaper Babies collectables? Coca Cola yoyo’s? Cabbage Patch Kids? If your friends had it, you needed it too. And things are no different today.

My children are by no means deprived but I’m also okay with saying “no” if I feel something is not beneficial to them or to my sanity. They already have more than they need, despite what the marketers tell us.

5) YOUR HOUSE IS FULL OF TOYS BEFORE YOU EVEN BUY ANY

I used to get incredibly frustrated by my toddler emptying kitchen cupboards or pouring things out of containers. Mess was my nemesis. That was until I learned how beneficial it is for children developing and learning about the world around them.

You can spend a bunch of money on new toys or you can just grab a bowl with some rice and pompoms and watch as the joy spreads across the face of your inquisitive toddler.

There are so many play ideas available that involve using stuff you already have at home. Susie from Busy Toddler is great at this. I also love following Emma, Play at Home Mummy on Instagram. The possibilities are endless if you can cope with a bit of mess or risk having your pots and pans a bit scuffed now and again.

Toys certainly have their place and it is special watching children play with things they love. In a consumer-orientated world, it is a relief to have learned my kids can be content with less.

Other posts on the blog you might be interested in:
Play ideas for young kids that are simple and cheap
The importance of play