Nov 5, 2008

Toys Worth Buying -- WFMW

This week's Works for Me Wednesday is a themed edition: Toys That Are Actually Worth Buying (presumably for Christmas).

Big shocker here, but I won't be offering any Barbies or My Little Ponies. The only thing I know about girls' toys is the whole Bratz sensation...and the only thing I can say is that if I had a girl, I wouldn't buy them.

When Mini me was three, my uncle gave him a very small figure "8" wooden train set for Christmas. He played with that thing like you wouldn't believe -- it fed his little boy-brain that wanted to build and tear down constantly. So the next year, we invested a little more and got him a full set. We didn't see any need to spend the extra just to get a name brand (like Thomas), so we just got him one from Target that I think cost about $40.

That set, and later others, successfully developed in this child a love for trains and "designing the coolest track ever!" They still play with this set (Mini me is now almost 11 years old!) and we have since supplied them with other pieces of buildings, a train station with lights and sounds, etc. to add to it.

Sidenote: although the tables are kinda cool, we refrained from buying one. I'm really glad that we did refrain; most of Mini me's tracks have been some convoluted shape that would never have worked within the confines of a table!

At least for my boys, this has proven to be the most beneficial buy in many, many Christmases:





So make some tracks over to Shannon's Rocks In My Dryer for more worthwhile suggestions!

8 comments:

Edie said...

Even little girls like train and race tracks! I liked this stuff way better than Barbies when I was a little girl.

Elle said...

both my children enjoyed the same train set - yes a boy and a girl
it was generic and it was very creative - no train table here either
good advice

Holly said...

Yep, the trains are high on the list...maybe the track even moreso than the actual train characters. You can do a lot with track.

Tiffanie Lloyd said...

Amen on those Bratz dolls. I mean, seriously.

I do look forward to browsing the isles that are full of pink this year (not that Darci Ann will really be old enough for anything yet).

My two year old LOVES to play with train sets! It's totally his thing.

I have no idea yet what we will get our kids this year.

Greg C said...

A train was my favorite toy as a child. I have bought some for my boys but they just don't hold up like the old ones.

Angie said...

Even mommies enjoy these wooden trains and tracks!! My little guy loved his too!

Met you over at Greg's place. Loved your comment there,
Angie

Unknown said...

I couldn't agree more with you about the Bratz thing. Not for my daughter either.

She does love a good train set though.

Jackie said...

The Bratz dolls make me shudder. :)

I love this train set! Even though I don't have any little boys running around (yet!) I still think Savannah would love this. Well...actually, I think I would love playing with it, too. :)