Mom's
Corner - December 2001 Worthwhile
Toys or Should It Be Tools?
Regularly
I receive e-mails requesting that I write a Mom's Corner on a specific
topic. Here is part of one such note: "There were a couple of areas
I would really appreciate Teri tackling in future 'Corners.' One area
has to do with toys and suggestions for timeless, durable, worthwhile
toys." With Christmas
quickly approaching, I thought this might be an appropriate subject for
the December Mom's Corner. Considering we have eight children in one family,
we have had plenty of experience with toys! Let me begin
by sharing some of our goals for our children's playtime that in turn
translates into goals for toys. As we began our parenting adventure, Steve
and I did not realize that the toys our children played with had an influence
on their character development and even their future appetites. If we
allowed the children to have a toy with an evil face, they played with
it as an evil individual and their play took on an evil bent. If we gave
our children an electronic game, they spent hours sitting and playing
with it. They lost interest in any type of active or creative play. Your
goals, even for how your child spends his playtime, are important. We choose
to shield our children from as much worldliness as possible. 1 John 2:15
tells us to, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in
the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in
him." Therefore, we desire that our children be involved in pure,
wholesome types of play. For example, we give the girls baby dolls rather
than Barbie dolls. We would like for our daughters to desire to be nurturing
mommies rather than possibly giving them a hunger for dating relationships.
We want
the children to develop skills while they are playing. That means we will
invest in puzzles, games, quality reading books, and even tools. Creativity
is on our list of goals for playtime. Therefore, we avoid electronic toys
with lots of "bells and whistles;" the kind with a never-ending
thirst for batteries. In addition, we choose to avoid toys that are faddish.
We didn't have to decide if some of the Star Wars toys were okay or not.
They fit into the category of faddish and therefore, weren't even considered.
We desire
for the children to be developing hearts toward families and service even
while they are playing. This, then, needs to be taken into consideration
when we are picking out toys. Will this toy help my child toward the goal
or hinder him? I have included information at the end of this article
on where each of the items I will be describing can be found on the Internet. Trikes
Durabuilt tricyles. We would much rather our children ride trikes for
outside playtime than to ride around in a battery operated sidewalk vehicle.
Outside play is the time for exercise to build strong bodies and release
energy! Durabuilt trikes are sturdy enough for Steve to ride - and he
has been seen on an occasion or two doing just that. Our family
loves to walk together. However, our toddlers would reach an age when
they no longer wanted to ride in a stroller, but also weren't able to
keep up with the walk. They would try to ride the trikes we used to get
them, but the hills were too much. Durabuilt trikes have three large,
sturdy wheels that allow the children to ride up hills. We bought
our first Durabuilt trike nine years ago. It is still going strong. We
have a total of three of them - one in use and the others in storage for
grandchildren. These trikes are pricy, but your child cannot wear them
out. You can easily pass them from child to child to grandchild. Educational
Games
Playing educational games is an activity I enjoy doing with my children.
I feel like my time spent with them is not only quality time, but time
invested in their future. I schedule a half hour each afternoon to spend
with just one child. We almost always use this time to play games together.
Here are our favorites. Takeoff.
Takeoff is a game that teaches the names of countries, their major cities,
and flags. Even my six year old can play it with a little bit of help.
There is some strategy, but not much. My children will often beat me! Muggins
Math games. We have Knockout and Muggins. It is a two-sided wooden
game board using marbles, numbered dice, and numbered game board holes.
Any child who is able to add and subtract can play these games. All of
my children regularly request this game - even the one who can't add or
subtract. "You tell me where to put my marbles, Mommy," she
says. Sum Swamp.
Sum Swamp is a board game for children learning to add and subtract. It
has cute little plastic swamp characters such as a frog and snail for
game pieces. We have played this game so much that the numbers have worn
off the dice. Name
That State. Name That State is a board game to teach the names of
states and capitals. The younger children simply have to name the state.
Older children and Mom have to give the state and its capital. They love
it when Mom can't remember the capital of Vermont or South Dakota! Puzzles
Each year when I order school curriculum, I also order two to four new
puzzles for the preschoolers. I have a wonderful collection of puzzles
that my children love to work. Most are floor puzzles. We have puzzles
of varying levels of difficulty. Some of the puzzles make for playtime
after they are put together. One is a city just right for Matchbox cars.
Another is a house with little bunny people. Several become props for
other play. One is a rainforest. As we put it together, John will say,
"Mom what is this animal?" "Well,
I'm not sure I've ever seen anything like that. Let's look inside the
box where it shows all the animals with their names on them." Our puzzles
are kept in a closet, and are only allowed out by permission. That helps
to preserve them and to keep interest in them high each time they come
out. I expect to have my puzzles be regularly asked for by my grandchildren
in future years when they are at my house! Legos
and Playmobils
Legos are the timeworn standard in the Maxwell house. Sons and daughters,
older and younger play with them day after day after day. We purchase
the city, police, fire, rescue, arctic, and space station sets. There
are many sets that aren't acceptable to our families' standards. Usually
this is because of an evil theme, or because they encourage play that
we wouldn't allow in real life. We were even able to purchase a large
wooden display table from a store going out of business so the children
can keep permanent Lego set-ups. The children
have spent hours and hours of playtime during cold winter and hot summer
days with their Legos. They build and build; then they enjoy what they
have made. The buildings and vehicles are redesigned and rearranged. A
new play theme is begun. While many toys the children have had stay stuffed
on a shelf, Legos are forever used in our home. Playmobils
are the second long-standing favorite of our children. While the sets
are expensive, they are played with for years and years. We often rotate
having Playmobils out or Legos. Every few months when the change over
occurs, the children will have an added excitement in their play. Tools
As our boys enter their middle elementary grades, we begin looking for
tools we can give them as gifts. Because we are training our children
for their lives as adults, we want them to begin to see value in work
and find it rewarding, even as a child. Our boys are given age-appropriate
work tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, and even cordless drills. Of
course, it is important to use discretion as to when a child is mature
enough to safely handle the tool he would be given. Also, rules as to
the tool's usage and adult supervision while the child is handling it
are musts! One year
when John was seven and Joseph was nine, they were each given a cordless
drill for Christmas. They were thrilled. Steve had a project planned for
after Christmas that he knew they could use their new drills with him
doing. Over the past three years they have used them often in other work
projects with their Dad. They have even been able to "loan"
them to their big brother for work on his house occasionally. For a boy,
collecting tools throughout childhood is similar to a girl's hope chest
except the son should have regular reasons to use his tools before marriage.
By giving your son tools, he will learn valuable home-maintenance skills,
develop a willingness to work, build his personal tool supply, and have
as much fun as playing! Set Your
Goals and Make Your Choices
Our children have grown up without television. They have enjoyed parental
sheltering even in the toys they are allowed to play with. While some
would mock such choices, we are watching pure, wholesome, delightful children
grow into the same kinds of adults. Appetites are developed in childhood.
Consider well what appetites the toys you are giving to your children
fuel within them. May I encourage you to pray and seek the Lord for the
Biblical goals He would give you for your children's playtimes. Then translate
those goals into the toys you allow your children to have. Teri Maxwell Where to
find the products mentioned: Trikes
Durabuilt Products
Trike price - $159 plus $18 s/h
1-800-290-3709 Take Off
and Name That State
Rainbow Resource Center
http://www.rainbowresource.com/
Toll-Free orders: 888-841-3456
Questions: 309-695-3200 Muggins
Math Games
http://www.mugginsmath.com/
PHONE TOLL FREE 1(800)962-8849 Sum Swamp
http://www.learningresources.com/Index.pasp
847-573-8400 Puzzles
http://www.frankschaffer.com/frntpage.html 847-573-8400
Legos and Playmobils
www.lego.com
www.playmobil.com
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