One of my nephews, Evan, earned himself the near-permanent nickname of Buzz for wearing his Toy Story-inspired Halloween costume approximately every day for two years. It has been passed through two of his younger siblings and is definitely worse for the wear, but is probably the best $30 investment his parents could have made to further the entertainment and creative play of their kids. I saw Evan yesterday and today and both times he was sporting a full-body Spiderman costume for a significant part of each day (beginning the second he got home from church till bedtime on Sunday and from the second he got off the bus till bedtime today, I think). I laughed at Buzz, but now I'm beginning to wise up.
Allow me a small contrast about toy investments. Today, Evan's mom watched my girls while I got some shopping done (THIS is a Christmas gift in and of itself). Do you know how many aisles are devoted to toys at Walmart? They comprise an area approximately equal to the city block I live on. And how many of these toys are worth their cost? I have no idea, but from my personal experience, it's not many. I want to learn how to choose the best toys--the ones that encourage creative play, instead of merely logging time as the toy bucket "benchwarmers." Couldn't someone write a book explaining why the ladybug costume was going to be a failure and why the pig costume was going to last, and how that applies to cooking sets, princess costumes, trains, and stuffed animals?
Here's my little Christmas pig, living it up in her favorite dress up. And if anyone tells her that Santa's sleigh isn't pulled by pigs, they're in big trouble.
I hope Santa checks his list twice and informs his elves which toys are going to be the good ones [and I really hope they don't make noise], and maybe the elves can somehow get the word out to Walmart and Target. Because I've got too many boxes of ladybug-costume-like-toys and not enough of Buzz Lightyear and the pigs.
11 comments:
I can't believe that little pit could fit into a 3-6 month costume!!! (a hung pig, oh wow). I think for me your gray yoga pants are the equivalent of the Buzz suit. Except that I wear them more than he wore the Buzz suit.
You're definitely right--the hung pig comment has to go. It's gone. Thanks for being my editor and cheerleader in this blogging thing, Danielle!
Jage, I think this blog directly applies to my life, except with clothing instead of toys and costumes. Sheesh. I have yet to master the art of knowing while you're still in the store what you're going to wear and like a week or two or a month or a year or two down the road. Sorry, I can't help ya much.
If you figure this out, please share the wisdom.
'Liza is a very cute pig, by the way.
-Lupe
I have no better answers for buying clothes than for toys and costumes. My one suggestion about getting the perfect costume is to make good friends with someone as nice as Lupe, and hope she gives you the pig costume that becomes the favorite dress up of all time. Thanks, Lupe! I had no idea it would get so much use when you sent it 3 1/2 years ago!
Isn't it said that kids find the boxes more interesting than the toys? There I've just given you a great idea for your kids. Buy them boxes! They can stack them to make forts, color on them, hide in them,...hours of cheap entertainment/creative play. I have the same problem with toys and clothes. Just know you're not alone.
Who duh thunk? These cute kiddos always keep us guessing. --Mom
So true! I remember the good old days when I used to wear the kitty shirt and purple shorts EVERY day. Mom probably had to burn them just to keep me from wearing them anymore.
By the way, I still think the most hilarious was when Eliza was looking at herself in the pig costume on my computer last night. When I asked her where the pig was, she started smacking herself in the head!
Janel, here's some sound advice for you. I think you need to hail back to the pioneer days. I could be wrong, but I don't think they carried lady-bug or Buzz-lightyear costumes across the plains. No, for those strapping young children, the toys of choice were what else, sticks and rocks. Creative play at it's best. You can use them as building blocks, dolls, or just the classic guns and grenades. I don't know if you could find these items inside wal-mart, but defintely in the poorly landscaped parking dividers outside. Some of my most treasured childhood items came from searching these rocky, dirty wildernesses for treasures while my Mom put the bags in the trunk of the old station wagon. Just an idea.
Ryan--
It's all fun and games till someone gets infected with tetanus from a rusty nail sticking out of their "doll." : )
Actually, I think you have a really good point. It's just that it's hard to let kids wander and play in the wilderness when you live in a city, and when sexual and other predators (and I don't mean imaginary T-rexes) make newspaper headlines. Of course, I'm overly cautious. I don't know where to draw the line. From ladybugs to pioneers to sexual predators...how do I digress so easily?
Janel, this isn't South-Side Chicago or East LA, it's Provo.
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