Day 5 Children's Toys

It's play time!

Tonight as we packed away the toys (again) we reflected on how many of Miss A's toys are actually plastic. Before she was born we spoke a lot about trying limit the amount of plastic toys. With one exception (discussed below) we have not purchased any plastic toys. However there is an inevitability with small children that friends and family will give toys and gifts, and the vast majority are made of plastic. While we have spoken to some like minded friends and family about our preferences we have never refused gifts or tried in any way to impose rules on how these important people can share and show their love.

Pre-loved

For a recent Birthday Miss A received a plastic toy cash register. The beautiful thing about this gift is that it is pre-loved by three cousins who each took great delight in showing her how to use it and playing 'shop' with her. They each recalled the endless fun they had playing 'shops'. We also appreciate that it is sturdy and well made. The solar powered battery that powers the calculator still works and we are confident that other kids will get enjoyment from it.

Let's build!

Our wonderful 'Retro' Duplo

So the one exception is Lego (or more precisely Duplo). Our whole family loves playing with Duplo. In addition to what Miss A has received as gifts we have invested in quite a lot of Duplo, which we have purchased second hand. We were actually surprised at how well Duplo holds its value.

We bought 12kg of Duplo (yes that is a lot of Duplo) and most it is over 20 years old, demonstrating just how durable the worlds number 1 toy is. We are a huge fan of play with 'loose parts' that can be shaped and created into so many different things depending on our daughters imagination.

Yes it's plastic, but we're ok with that. The majority of it was pre-loved by another family and it's been used over and over again. We also know that at some point will be placed in storage for another generation to use all over again.

Some of our families suggestions and ideas we'd love to share:

• We talk a lot about 'pre-loved' rather than second hand, or hand me downs.
• To try and limit the amount of plastic toys we have always tried to emphasise that we love and would value gifts of books and clothes.
• Some particle suggestions, think about wooden and fabric toys or consumables, like soft toys or blankets, wooden tea sets, dress ups, wax crayons, pencils and interesting paper. 
• If you can, and are comfortable talk to grandparents and immediate family during pregnancy about what you would like (emphasis on suggestions and ideas of what you would like - not a list of 'please don't buy'). Following conversations with our families during pregnancy we were fortunate that both sets of Grandparents contributed towards a buggy and her car seat when she was born - in lieu of lots of toys.

Question

What is your families favourite pre-loved toy?