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Baby & Toddler<br />
Wonders Of Childhood<br />
Parents will be parents. We can moan,<br />
grumble, complain about the mess our<br />
little one’s toys are making a mess at<br />
home, but the moment we see a new<br />
toy in the store, the only thing we can<br />
think about is how happy or excited<br />
junior will be if he had it. And that’s just<br />
one way how new toys keep popping<br />
up at our homes. We haven’t factored<br />
in the endless numbers of toys received<br />
from our family and friends yet.<br />
Having loads of toys for our children<br />
isn’t exactly harmful thing, for after all,<br />
toys bring joy to kids (and to some toyloving<br />
adults too). However, when you<br />
begin to realise that you keep stepping<br />
on one ever so often, or when it start<br />
to show up in places they don’t belong,<br />
that’s when you’ll realise that there<br />
might be a problem.<br />
And like all other things that we have<br />
excess of at home, toys too have to be<br />
managed well so that they can serve<br />
their purpose and not become a burden.<br />
So, are you ready to play around with<br />
some pointers? (Pun intended!)<br />
Categorise and separate<br />
While this may not address the volume<br />
of toys in your home yet, it’s still a<br />
good starting point. Determine what<br />
kind of toys your little ones should<br />
and should not be playing with, and<br />
also the quality of toys they should<br />
have in their possession. Hint: Some<br />
parents may question the toy’s origins<br />
and where it was manufactured, for<br />
instance. These few factors will get<br />
you started in your effort to narrow<br />
down your decision on which toy goes<br />
where (and which toys are making<br />
their way out of your home!).<br />
Exchange with others<br />
Most toys are age-specific in nature<br />
and children tend to grow out of them<br />
almost as quickly as they grow out<br />
of their expensive clothes! Talk with<br />
your friends who have little ones the<br />
same age about doing some sort of<br />
toy sharing or swapping programme.<br />
This way,your friends’ children and<br />
yours can play with different toys each<br />
week without having to purchase them<br />
all. Also, friends with kids who a little<br />
older can donate some toys to your<br />
child. Or, they can loan them and have<br />
the toys back if or when they have<br />
another child. This, in its own way, give<br />
new purpose to toys, and it’s a<br />
wonderful thing if we really think<br />
about it.<br />
Communicate<br />
your intentions<br />
to others<br />
This may turn out to<br />
be the toughest one, for<br />
family and friends love<br />
to soil and pamper little<br />
ones to high heaven,<br />
don’t they? Still, do try<br />
and communicate your<br />
intentions to manage the<br />
flow of toys into your<br />
home and with some<br />
luck, they’ll understand.<br />
When birthdays and<br />
special events are nearing,<br />
let your family know<br />
your child already has<br />
too more toys than he<br />
can play with. If they<br />
insist on getting presents,<br />
request instead for books.<br />
They are a wonderful<br />
alternative and are so<br />
much more easier to<br />
manage than an overflow<br />
of toys.<br />
You can also try keeping<br />
a wish list at hand, and if<br />
anyone asks what should<br />
they get for junior’s<br />
birthday, for instance,<br />
share with them your<br />
ideas of the ideal gifts for<br />
your child. The outcome<br />
is a win-win one - for the<br />
giver will feel happy to<br />
give you what you asked<br />
for and you’ll be glad<br />
to keep the flow of toys<br />
into your home at a more<br />
manageable pace.<br />
54 BabyTalk | <strong>July</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
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