Toys are not us
Children equal toys whether it be a doll, stick, blocks, ball or the latest electronic contraption - kids just love to play. And play and play and play! All the parenting books tell you that this is how children learn and many alternative pedagogies believe strongly in this concept. For many of these pedagogies, the more "natural" the play the better - meaning that pieces of string, paper towel rolls, sand, water, etc. are regarded as superior to video games or any toys that require a battery. When Giulia was born one of the many things we received from well-meaning people was a lot of stuffed animals. Our children now have a mountain of stuffed animals that they NEVER play with. There's a few they are keen on, but it absolutely was never necessary for them to have as many as they do. Whenever I try to get rid of some the girls end up wanting to keep more than they ever truly use. One of these days, "Fluffy", may have to mysteriously disappear.
Barbie is a huge cause of contention for myself and for many of my friends with daughters. To Barbie or not to Barbie? Giulia received her first Barbie from her Italian "nonna" - a family we know whom we became very good friends with, and nonna gave Giulia one of her daughter's old Barbies. Giulia was only 2 years old - much younger than I had anticipated ever having to deal with the Barbie issue. And of course, she was hooked from the get go. Afterwards she received many, many other Barbies from family and friends. The highpoint of Barbiemania was when Giulia was 4 years old and she used to drag Steve into playing as well. Steve played a bit more sadistically than Giulia's young mind could grasp exposing poor Ken to all kinds of ridicule. The picture above was an outfit created with assorted ponytail holders.
Without any intervention on my part (although I must admit, without any encouragement to play with Barbie on my part either), over the last few years all the Barbies starting collecting dust and nowadays are rarely brought out for play. Instead, Giulia's favorite toy is cardboard. The passion started at 2 years old as you can see from this photograph.
Now at 7 years old, it's not just a boat or a house, but outer space she has set her sights on - the sign says "Raimbow (sp) Rocket" the name she called this rocket she constructed with some help from Steve. 
I think it sometimes seems easier for a lot of parents, perhaps more exciting to buy the latest craze toys. Yet when I see what a kick she gets from something that cost nothing, but brought hours of creativity, fun and innovation into her world, it makes me never want to enter a toy store again! Anyone interested in some slightly used Barbies?
posted by lomalinda at
14:20
4 Comments:
Toys are definitely not many of us anymore, too!
It's funny how quickly they loose interest in toys, and enjoy cardboard boxes and anything else that engages their mind, and uses their creativity.
...and that's a good thing. Especially lately with the Aqua Dots scare that left several children in a comma, it's best to be careful what kind of toys they play with. Scary, actually.
Amen sister.
Do any children actually play with stuffed animals? My sister and I had tons of them growing up and they just sat on shelved gathering dust. Our dad always wanted to get rid of them but we always objected because they were 'cute.' Years later, when we had to clean out the house before my dad sold it, it took forever because of all the toys we had to sort through.
Cardboard is much more fun than Barbie. My older brother used to cook doll parts in my Holly Hobby Easy Bake oven. That was one way to recycle Barbies, I guess, and fun too.
Hey! I play with Barbies! (But only with a deep sense of irony.) Nothing against cardboard though. The very first bloody nose I ever got was bonking my nose on a cardboard fort I'd made from a refrigerator box. Good times.
Tamera
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