Investing in toys

[homesteadmamma]

Over the next few months, most parents will be looking at purchasing toys for their kids for Christmas. Looking at toys as an investment in our children's lives can change what we purchase for them.

Junk toys don't last nor do the kids play with them for a long period. How many yard sales do you go to where you see these types of toys for sale. Very seldom do you see the "investment" toys for sale.

Here are a few:

~Lego blocks are one of the best investments parents can make. I hear often parents say I don't like them, there are too many small pieces. Yes there are, but if you get a couple plastic containers, you seldom have blocks on the floor. Lego blocks can be purchased in small or large quantities. The neat thing is you can continue to add to them throughout the year and many for many seasons to come. My kids are right now playing with Lego blocks and creating wonderful airplanes. Adults can enjoy them as well and build with their kids. I had a friend in the city who use to go into her son's room while he was in school and create wonderful set-ups to surprise him when he came home. He loved it.

~K'Nex are another investment. Similar to Lego blocks they can be added on year after year. They are wonderful for learning, especially when you get to the more expensive sets that have motors, etc.

~books are wonderful investments. I'm talking books like the classics (Heidi, Robinson Cruscoe, Lassie). They can grow with the kids and you'd be surprised at how young kids can read these books and understand them.

~art sets where they allow your child to be creative. Dd is a wonderful artist and has had art sets every year since she was 2.

These are only a few, but ones that will last for years and can be passed down from generation to generation. A truly great investment!!!

[homesteadmamma]

One I forgot.

~board games. Games where the whole family can participate in. Monopoly (they even have kid's monopoly now) is one tried and true board game. One our family has spent hours playing is the Farm game.

Often you find games at yard sales that have seldom been played. Those are the games I stay away from, mostly because they look like games that truly aren't fun.

[Early Bird]

Playmobil! Absolutely the best imaginative toys. German-made, and you don't have to first BUILD your setup. Pricey, though.

NOT to be confused with Playskool.

For example, this link takes you to the Viking Longboat:

http://store.playmobilusa.com/is-bin...inger_us&PLS=0

I'm drooling for it. Also the Viking Longhouse, Viking camp, Norse king, Nessie, Viking Starter Set, ....