Time is on my side….
When I announced on my other baby blog that I was going to be blogging here about toys, someone left me the following comment:
Althought I know babies are amused and kept distracted by lots of the new toys, I’m not sure they NEED them. I think this field is just one more example of consumerism gone mad. Babies and young children are often just as happy with pots and pans and bright colored magazines. We should think carefully before sinking lots of money into many of these things that will serve for a few short weeks.
And yes I agree with them, which is why I wanted to write this post about time. Now, for most new parents time is the most valuable commodity. There is never enough time to brush your hair, put in that last load of laundry, call your best friend on her birthday, finish washing the dishes, make that delicious and healthy dinner for the whole family, help volunteer at the local [insert charity of choice] and about a million other things. You constanly feel like you never get a second to yourself and if you do its used up doing the latter chores, not for something really relaxing such as taking a long bath (to wash off the layers of baby spit up) or just READ a book. Remember that? Remember non-parenting related reading material?
We often buy/make toys that we think will occupy our kids for long enough to get a few seconds to ourselves. Of course then you meet a parent whose child has just gone off to college and then remind you that you’re going to blink your eyes before you know it that tiny baby will be moving into dorms and you better cherish every moment with them now. And you get that horrible parent-guilt for wanting a few minutes to yourself, even though you know that if you got some time to yourself one in a while, just to center your crazy core, you would be a better parent. It’s a great catch-22.
We should remember that TIME is often the best toy. Kids (up to probably the age of 13 and then you might as well not even exist) often can be entertained by hanging out with you, helping you with chores (as long as you make it into a game!) or doing ‘grown up’ things. Especially for babies. How many times have you read in baby books that the most best toy a child will respond to is your own face.
June 19th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
So true! I can get my laundry done with the help of my almost two year old. Although it takes longer because she likes to carry it to the washer and then i pick her up and let her drop it in etc. we have a blast! I love doing chores with her in tow. Also she still wants to be in the shower with me so although I get very few moments alone she has a blast. Even if she doesn’t need a bath she likes to sit in there and play with her bath toys in the shower…and thats just fine with me.
June 19th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
I agree that expensive toys aren’t necessary, but seriously - they are FUN. After all, I play with them, too!
That said, we have a mix of expensive toys, garage sale finds, cheap toys and “homemade” toys (lentils, mung beans and chickpeas in water bottles make the BEST rattles). My kid’s toys all get played with together in varying combinations. I do want to teach my son that he doesn’t have to have all of his toys be name brand and that finding something good at a garage sale is to be treasured, also. Furthermore, we often use leftover boxes for “garages” for his cars.
But in the end, you are right. You can’t throw a bunch of toys at your kid and expect him to be happy. He needs YOU.
Nice post!
June 20th, 2007 at 2:24 am
Well of course you should continue to buy the toys for the parents to play with!!