Sometimes when buying toys I try to buy the cheapest, but other times I prefer to invest because I know that will bring me benefits on the long run. In this last case I am talking about child's scooter or bicycles, when most of the time buying cheaper just means that will be ruined faster. Also, when I buy for my older kid I know that in a couple of years it will be for the younger one, so it does justify the investment. How do you see it?
It is indeed a good way of saving on toys. It is wise to buy things that are durable in the long run and will help save and be useful for other kids in the household too.
Exactly. So in fact it was just yesterday that I bought the child's scooter for my younger kid, but I bought a higher end model that suits my older kid too. So basically it will last them until they are teenagers, hopefully, so the extra money I spent was actually an investment in the future.
From parent's point of view it's a good deal but not from the child's angle. If I pass on a toy of my elder one to the younger, he sulks for having an used toy. So I cannot continue the process over and over again. However, stuffs like carom board, puzzles etc. I have bought once and is shared by both.
I have seen cases of some children not wanting the hand me downs because they also feel that they deserve a new toy aswell. Some do take it very well if it's a toy they were eyeing for a while but their siblings wouldn't share. I guess it depends on the kind of toy it is.
I remember buying toys for Christmas gifts to my nephews and nieces. My choice would always be the traditional toys like dolls. Later on it was the lego and some board games. But now the toast of the younger generation is the drone. I agree that the drone is a good toy and in fact a good investment since it can be used in many ways. You can attach a camera and get a view of your environment from a bird's eye view.
Well, you have certainly taken it to another level @Alexandoy as the drone is certainly something all kids want, but only from a certain age on. Also, a drone is something expensive, so it's not for all pockets. I see it more as a toy for adults than a toy for kids.
For kids, I would rather give them something different. And by different I mean board games. Most kids theses days have mobile phones and some other gadgets so a board game would be something different for them. Well I was just thinking that I would start with my kids, I would give them toys and teach them games that are not played by a lot of kids anymore. Buying toys for them that can be used outdoors and promote exercise is good too. Like rollerblades or a bicycle.
It becomes more complicated in case of twins. You have to buy two identical toys every time else you are going to witness the next world war. Some parents became successful in buying two different types of toys and advise the kids to exchange the toys after sometime. It will also develop a culture of give and take. Some kids also like this as they can play with two toys. But there are some stubborn kids who always find faults in his toys. When it comes to money part, I would always invest in quality toys even if they are a little bit costly. Cheap toys are made of inferior quality materials and some of them use toxic colors and other materials.
My parents this Christmas missed the target on my younger kid. They offered him a plastic telescope that looks really awful and a puzzle he already has, so he was fairly sad. I don't know why they did this, as the kid has asked them for another thing. I suppose the age factor is already playing it's role on my parents.
There are times that parents tend to forget some things, and at the same time they have this thing that they always think that kids grow up LOL. I remember getting toys as gifts when I was already 16, my grand parents still think I'm a kid who still enjoy playing with such things. Well I still thanked them and I just kept the presents.
Haha, that's diplomatic from you, good job there @Working Buck. I know, maybe I am demanding too much from them, but if they are spending the time and money in buying the gift, why not buy something the kid actually like, and not something he will never play with?
Not really, as a parent it is normal that you would want you're child to have what he wants. What happened to your kid happened to me a lot of times when I was a kid. Every Christmas eve I always get presents that I did not ask for, I remember asking for a sword with a shield when I was around 7 years old but ended up having a toy train which would be enjoyed by a 4 year old. I just put on a smile and check the toy out and then put in in my storage for my toys. It is really disappointing but I just managed to not expect anything from anyone at an early age.
That's sad in a way, I guess it has to be related with our upbringing? I recall being more or less that age and receiving a car that I considered to be suitable for a baby, but I was not diplomatic about it, I was really angry and wanted to destroy the toy, LOL, I was mad!
When it comes to bikes it doesn't really matter which bike you get no matter the cost. I find that all of them work the same. The only problem I've had with bikes was the pedal chains that came off but you can always replace them. I've never had any bike no matter the cost just break on me. Of course, if it's only for casual use, any bike is okay but using it for tricks, that's another story. You'll need a special bike for that.
Nah, never @TheKnight, never! There is a huge difference in the bikes according to the place where we buy them, at least in my country. I prefer to pay a little extra and buy them in a store that knows what they are doing, than in a general retailer who is clueless about how to assemble a bike properly.
I don't buy them at bike specialists because that's usually a bad choice. I purchase bikes in major stores and they're usually good quality and low priced because they can afford it. Sometimes, smaller businesses bump up the prices to pay for their location and merchandise. It's all about location as well. Expense doesn't always mean quality.
It doesn't mean I buy in a small store either, it's just a matter of not buying in a general retailer because in those shops the guy that assembles the bikes, is the same guy responsible for the refrigerators. This is something that happened to me, it doesn't mean that other person won't have more luck.
That is an interesting concept to begin with, and I do not care what the toy is. It is definitely a step up from the standard purchase, but I am not sure it would always be a good idea.
I usually try to buy toys which are cheap. My kids usually break them after a few days. So buying expensive toys is not advisable in my case. Yes, for bicycle etc. I do buy good ones, because they last for a longer time.
