Friday, October 9, 2009

Children's Toys...a Moral Dilema

I made a fantastic Goodwill find the other day: a vintage Fisher Price Activity Center--I totally remember this from when I was little. I'm sure I spent enough time staring at it that it is permanently ingrained in my memory. Edgar is loving it (=














So..."what's the dilemma," you might ask. Here it is: There are so many toys out there, that I really only want to buy toys that are (a) super rad, and/or (b) nostalgic from my childhood.

But...does buying mostly awesome old-school toys rob my child of a shared nostalgic experience with his peers in 20 years? Is he going miss out on fond memories of Leap pad and Zhu Zhu Pets?
Or...perhaps my generation is so focused on awesome vintage toys that they WILL be the nostalgic toys for another generation.
What do you think?

12 comments:

Tayva and Peter said...

I TOTALLY REMEMBER THAT!!! That is so cool. Yes I think that vintage toys will be so cool when Edge is grown up that it will help him with the ladies

jacobsclan said...

I think you are awesome to find that toy. I think children love colors and sounds who cares how much the toy cost or how old it was. My sister in law has all the old fisher price toys from the 1970's and Ashley loves them more than toys today. I think leap pad and all those toys are a little over rated. GO VINTAGE. You rock as a mom.

Dave said...

I think you are worrying too much!

Just buy the toys you can afford that you think he will like.....and let his playing take care of the rest. Mom's instincts are rarely wrong.

Take care,

Dave

Candice said...

I think I have a contradicting theory here...

So I've purchased over the past three years for my niece the following.

1. Cabbage Patch Doll
2. My little Pony's
3. Fisher Price old school phone ( the one you pull around...you know that one!)

She does not play with them. She likes Littliest Pet Shops and the leap frog.Oh, and my Nintendo DS.

However, I have found the children at the daycare much prefer the simplier toys ( blocks, motion bottles, etc). Plus as he gets older he'll get into his own groove with what toys he likes.

Candice said...

P.S. Adam says he totally remembers that toy too. ;)

Amanda Palmer said...

I remember that too - it was in my crib, I'm sure, though I haven't seen pictures. I agree with Dave's comments! You two (or three!) should come over again soon :c) Email or fb...or call...or talk in person, and tell me when you're free!

meg said...

Well... what's funny to me is that the toys of my childhood are back. Bailee plays with Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake and My Little Ponies. And there's Pound Puppies (though I had a Pound Purry), transformers, GI Joe. But it's funny too, that babies just really want to play with the real stuff... pots and pans, dishwasher, q-tips, etc. You start asking yourself why you even bought the toys in the first place. Janie's favorite toy right now is her Dora yogurt cups. How do ya figure? I do have to give a plug for leapfrog's baby toys. Their little songs are so cleverly written. We still sing them and make up our own versions. And, Tater Base, that can totally help you get the ladies, too.

Biggins said...

It's like playing him good classic rock from your childhood. Get them started on awesome stuff early!

Unknown said...

Disculpen soy de México y tengo vagos recuerdos de un juguete interactivo ya que tenía formas y sonidos pero la forma principal era de un barquito; no tengo ninguna fotografía y he tratado de buscar en google pero hasta ahora no he tenido suerte. Si alguien tuvo o recuerda cual era el nombre o la marca que lo comercializo le agradecería lo compartiera. Como dato adicional soy del 88.

A Grandmother said...

A fantastic assortment of toys and other objects (like empty boxes and pans) have coexisted in people's homes for as long as there have been babies and toddlers. Different objects from different periods of time have always been available, and children choose from among them what pleases them. Of course, different children like different objects. Paper and crayons may fascinate one child while another loves to take apart their toy cars and trucks. They also watch us, to observe what WE like (they're always learning by example). So if they see us use a pan, then they might want a pan ... or, even better, two pans to hit together! If they see us reading, and if we read to them, then they're much more likely to become interested in books and reading. If they see us at our computers and on our phones constantly, then reading will have much less interest for them. They only know what they see and find around them. A child can make a toy out of anything, so be careful what you leave lying around or available to little, searching hands. Toddlers can open cupboard drawers much earlier than you think they can! (Are your guns locked up and your knives, cleaning liquids, and medicines put away, up high?) Which toys "should" they have? There is no "should" other than safety. New, old, historical, 1950s, '60s, '70s, or whatever period; it really doesn't matter, as long as the toys are safe. Offer your child only what you think is good for them and will increase their positive learning. If a toy is rejected don't take it personally. Each child is their own individual (do you like everything your friends like?. Model the behavior you want to see in your child, and in our world...

Lisa W said...

I have the same activity center that we used as baby’s! Our mom saved EVERYTHING!! My grandkids have played with it and it is in very good shape. I actually took it to donate it the other day and the facility wouldn’t take it. Sooo I guess my great grands will be playing with it.

Anonymous said...

Lisa, You could sell that on ebay easily, it’s vintage lol!