Boy Toys- toy reviews for 2008 Christmas shopping!
Yesterday 11-15-08 I went toy shopping with Beau Jr. Since I am a lifetime toy designer my - visits to the toy isles are much different than most. Meaning--- I am picky about toys. Often I just stroll the isles to see the kids smiles, and watch what they dream for.
Beau jr. has lived a great distance from me, his whole life ( Florida). Beau jr. was born at Eglin Air force base.
Most of his gifts have been picked, wrapped and shipped. Thankfully his mother moved near Chicago this year, and he and I have more time to play and study his play behaviors. I thought I would share them because it may help others decide how to buy this year- within a budget for Christmas. Sharing, the- toys “he picked, that performed well with play learning behaviors!”
I decided for Beau jr’s seventh birthday it would be fun to see what he would pick.
I gave him around a $70. Budget. I found it interesting - how he would trade a toy for another very easily, losing the thrill off the toy before we bought it or played with it.
The coolest toys we found were classic, I was amazed how Beau jr picked a -jack in the box. (Brand and trademark of Schyllings Silly Circus.) If I had toy shopped for him, my assumption would have been this was a baby toy - and I would have never picked it.
Not only did Beau play with it, so did the young man who checked us out. His quote,
“you know, I can’t ring this up without doing it once” and it jacked the box of every grouchy person waiting in line. He played with the jack and the box the most-.
It didn’t lose its luster -
He also picked a top same brand. These are well made, colorful toys - of classic design.
I enjoyed watching his joy playing with it. Beau jr. found the spinning top a bit boring.
I could re- design that one to do something.
Okay,
We also bought a FBI top secret night vision set. It looked very cool and exiting.
It required three batteries - didn’t fit his head well, was uncomfortable, he became bored with it immediately and will never play with it again. Which means its another piece of plastic junk that will end up in the bottom of the toy box. It will take a thousand years for this PVC to leach into the ground ruining the ground soil and water it will leach in toxic dumps to never bio- degrade.
WE bought a Hot Wheels - dare devil crash set with a set of five extra cars. Beau jr. wanted the five dollar, sleek cars but I told him no. Get the set for five cars for under five dollars - he forgot the sleeker more expensive cars (at nearly five bucks a car) the minute we left the store.
So, I am giving my old friend from Tyco toys - David Berko (my favorite head hauncho in toy land) and A+ on the hot wheels dare devil crash set. WE all enjoyed playing with it.
Hot Wheels is a registered trademark of Mattel inc. Not my favorite toy company.
Our most anticipating play purchase was moon sand. This toy set has been heavily advertised on television. Beau jr. wanted it because he had been programmed he must have da moon sand. It says you can squish it , shape it and mold it. This is untrue.
The sand falls apart, doesn’t stay stable. He did play with it, but it totally frustrated me.
In order to make something stable, it would have taken me hours- plus I would have had to get out my own sculpting tools to do something with it. I ended up getting out cookie cutters to help him enjoy playing with it. The most frustrating thing about moon sand is - its not a clay at all- it is sand, it feels good in your hands. However, the colors bleed into each other- it looks pretty, its sparkling fun. However there is no end - sense of accomplishment with it. Because the colors bleed it all becomes one color. Meaning if he plays with it more than two times- I would be very= surprised. Thankfully I didn’t fall for the big fancy set, instead choose the small set and bought two extra colors - making the purchase under ten dollars, instead of falling for the set around twenty dollars.
He did play with it around one hour. (Moon sand is the trademark of spin master.)
Last but not least we bough a wooden pop gun. Now we are talking hours of repeated play behavior for under five dollars another classic original fun toy. In fact I bought two one for Beau Sr. and one for Beau jr. I mean come on, dad needed one too!
I am sorry I can’t remember the makers name of the pop wooden gun. I believe its wooden toys and they do have a website. He took the tag.
My point here is this, children don’t need the dings and whistles and most the novelty toy items - heavily advertised often bring deep disappointment in a child.
That always upsets me as a consumer, because when I buy toys they better do what they say or they are returned. And its always best to go with toys- that not only have learning methods, from playing with clay to hand and eye coordination, teaching right brain skills and dexterity. Beau jr. has played with way too many computer games. It has caused some ADD. When I buy him toys we always play right brain, often I find I have to use my imagination - to help him play and almost every toy, required me sitting and teaching him =
How to play with it. Its great quality time with the child.
Remember pick the classics, skip the junk and if it doesn’t do what it says-
Please take it back, and have fun. it’s a great excuse to find your inner child.
When you play with toys, it helps us all understand, the child in all of us.
I love playing with toys, and what is really cool is this because I am a toy and doll designer, I get to play with toys, for life.
Happy Toy Christmas shopping 2008.
The doll invention 7:41 am
12:32pm 12-12-08
Update on this story,
I would also like to mention I believe every child’s toy budget this year should be fifty dollars, to seventy at the most.
And I also believe- parents are already boycotting toys from China.
I think they are sick of lead paint, toys that destroy. Toys with no truth in advertising.
I believe parents are sick of it all and this is as much as we should spend, to make a statement for our children.
no comments please just have a merry christmas.
and smile, I just don't see any smiles out there-
money isn't everything you know
and toys are not the meaning of Chritmas
they are just the wrapping and bows- they so easily forget!
Originally Posted On Site: 2008-12-10 12:33:43
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