Why Do We Buy Certain Toys?

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With sons ages 18 and 14 I have bought  many toys over the years. And I’ve certainly seen far more then I’ve purchased. Sometimes I buy a toy for the educational value, because I think it will help teach something , or reinforce a skill. And then sometimes I just buy a toy because I think the child will enjoy it and have fun with it. If I had to say which I did more that would be touch. The ratio is pretty close, possibly almost 50/50. Here’s an article on one popular toy that I found interesting. Links to third party sites have been included for the audiences reference.

When purchasing toys for your child what do you consider? I’d really like to know, please leave a comment!

The Building Blocks of Childhood — Educating Kids With Lego
As kids begin their developmental journey, we as parents want to provide them with toys that aren’t simply a means of whiling away a few hours with no real return on their efforts. Of course you don’t just lock your kid up in a room with a pile of books (though some kids quite happily take to their rooms for hours with a decent book!) and tell them to get studying. Instead, you’re more like to consider the educational value of the toys you buy them.
There’s a huge range of toys on the market nowadays, but some have lasted for generations. Lego is a great example of this. The colorful, interlocking bricks we know and love today came about back in 1958, following a range of prototypes, and since then the world’s favorite toy has triggered additional product ranges, such as Lego Duplo. But just what’s so appealing about this simply designed toy product?
Well, it encourages children to think outside of the box and imagine a world that’s bigger than the one they inhabit. Stimulating the imagination bolsters the development of their social and expressive skills, which has been one of Lego’s appeals to many a parent (no one wants their kid to be the ‘weird one’ at school!). The possibilities are near endless, allowing your child (and you!) to build and re-build as many different things as many times as they (or you!) want to. Not only that, but the human figures can be used for role-play purposes, which help to develop children’s interpersonal skills.
Unlike other modern toys, which are built to do a sole job or guide their users through the game, Lego is designed to get kids thinking for themselves. With Lego, there’s never a dead-end; you’ll always have a way to carry on the game and add something new to it. And no matter which Lego set you buy, you can mix and match your bricks for endless hours of enjoyment.
There are also some fantastic movie tie-in toys that allow kids to play along with their favorite characters, including Harry Potter and the Star Wars gang. There are also tailored sets for age groups and gender, although Lego is largely an inclusive toy — outside factors of nature don’t matter because every game is different. Lego places kids in charge of their own little world. You can just sit back and let them amaze you with their creative scenarios.
Lego has been with us for more than 50 years and shows no signs of disappearing fast. It can help with the development of counting, color and spatial awareness and fine motor skills. The fact that the adults can have just as much fun with it as the kids makes rare the family household that doesn’t have some sort of Lego set in it. Now, what are the odds that you’re anxious to scurry off to the toy box right now? Away you go, then, you crazy kid!
Jeannie Hargrove is a mom of five and unashamed Lego addict. She also enjoys a good puzzle.
Image by oddharmonic, used under Creative Commons license.