How to succeed at 'toy management'
November 24, 2007
Andrea Gordon
FAMILY ISSUES REPORTER
Who knew that, when you're a parent, "toy management" would be part of the job description? It has to be, because modern kids have piles of them, thanks to cheap, mass-produced plastic and a society that never stops shopping.
Here are some tips for keeping it under control:
Take toys away periodically so the children aren't overwhelmed. "Abundance, like familiarity, breeds contempt," writes David Elkind in his recent book The Power of Play. He says less is more. Otherwise, it's hard for a child to truly engage with one toy and use it as a source of imagination. Rotating gives kids a chance to give the accessible toys a real workout and then rediscover ones they haven't seen for a while.
Mix it up. Who can argue with unadorned all-natural toys that leave make-believe in the child's hands? But once kids start to mingle at school and yearn for Barbie or Batman, don't automatically rob them of the chance to connect with kiddie culture, says therapist Jennifer Kolari of Connected Parenting. "It's about balance."
Think about why you are choosing certain toys. "We often buy them for us," Kolari says. "We think, `I would have loved this,' or, `This will keep them busy for sure.'" But adult nostalgia means little to most kids. You can spend a lot of money on a stylized quality toy but that doesn't mean the kids will play with it.
Use toys as an opportunity to connect with your kids and to teach them independence. Get down on the floor and play together. But then help them learn to amuse themselves. Start by insisting they spend a few minutes on their own and gradually extend it.
Encourage kids to part with toys they have outgrown but are still attached to. Giving those toys to another child is a lesson in sharing a valued possession, plus it reduces the amount of stuff you are managing.
For a list of toys that have been recalled for safety reasons, visit Health Canada's product website healthycanadians.gc.ca.
Toronto Star