Toys to Avoid This Christmas- I Dare You!

" Bah, Humbug!" At the risk of being labelled Mrs Scrooge and never having you come to my blog again, I am sticking out my neck to plead  "PLEASE, have the strength to swim against the tide of marketing propaganda this Christmas and take back control over your child's toys.  Yes, I know you know that children learn through play but hang on a minute, have you really stopped to consider if THAT so called 'educational toy' which your child is pestering you for may actually be harmful (and I don't mean technically safe)?

The marketing sharks fool you and DEVOUR little children -they get away with literally murdering childhood under the guise of selling an ' educational toy'. It will take some guts and heaps of tough love for you to stand firm and get back to basic toys that promote 'open ended' play.

Playing is a child's JOB- every child deserves the best tools.  I don't want to come across as 'preachy' but every child is a potential little gem of amazing potential and we risk stunting and warping this potential every time we fail to deliberately select the 'tools' our children 'go to work with'.

Hi tech toys and toys with flashing lights, artificial voices and highly finished features and accessories (especially those 'branded' with famous characters) encourage consumerism and LIMIT IMAGINATION and DISCOVERY -two of the crucial elements needed for your child's healthy development. 

Don't be tempted to let your TV or baby DVD's  'baby sit'. Electronic media interferes with a toddler's developing brain and inhibits parent/child bonding.

Avoid toys that :

• keep your child sedentary in front of a screen  - do not encourage physical activity
  
• that keep your child mute and in 'solitary confinement'- do not further language/social skills
  
• that are highly detailed -leave no room for imagination
• provide all the answers - do not allow experimentation/discovery and ideas to emerge
  
• have shallow play value - do not encourage concentration
• promote violence- do not encourage respectful behaviour or healthy view of the world
  
• focus on sexiness or appearance - do not encourage healthy self image to develop
  
• that DO something for your child- prevents your child from DOING something to the toy
  

Make the most of Christmas TIME this year to give your child the TWO best activities for learning and growing

• interacting with YOU
• engaging in creative play - with simple toys that help your child to work out the answers through EXPERIENCES- don't underestimate the power of free household objects!

There are many factors today that have contributed to a surge in childhood obesity, diabetes, asthma,  ADHD and anxiety related illnesses. Many, many of today's toys actively hinder your child's development and slow down learning.

Trust your instincts- You will not be a bad parent if your child does not have the latest fad toy.  It's not rocket science to figure out that fresh air, running, jumping, swinging, climbing and playing games is better for growing little bodies than sitting on the couch pushing a button. Return to proven 'old fashioned' toys like construction sets, board games, sand/water toys, dress ups, puppets and magic tricks and watch your child blossom.

.... as Tiny Tim says ' God Bless us Everyone!"

Next post: How To Choose REAL Educational Toys