Toyland, toyland

little girl and boy land

when you dwell within it

you are ever happy there!

— From Babes in Toyland — by Victor August Herbert

Somewhere buried in adults’ subconscious is the thought that toys are the key to children’s happiness. Certainly memories of Christmas morning and favorite toys we found, or didn’t find, under the tree contribute to this perception and we become a little sentimental about it. Unfortunately, emotions tie into spending and spending at Christmas is emotional more than any other time. So is overspending.

As a result of emotional purchasing, adults can be pulled into the idea that we have to spend our way into children’s hearts at Christmas. This idea can destroy a budget and leave people paying for Christmas well after the toys are broken and forgotten. Paring down wisely is much easier on the budget and can still provide good toys and good memories for your children.

Watch a very small child on his or her first or second Christmas and you will soon realize that spending a lot of money is not essential. Toddlers become so enamored with the wrappings and boxes, parents sometimes find it hard to keep them focused on the toys.

When you choose toys, select those that require imagination. These are the ones that the kids will come back to again and again. Look for the “classic” toys — the ones that have stayed on the market for decades. There is a reason they are “classics.” Kids really like the glitz and glamour of this year’s “in” toy, whether it be a talking doll, a motorized something-or-other, or some other particular favorite for that year. However, few of the “in” gifts become classics.

Building blocks, construction sets, baby dolls and art supplies remain favorites because they allow the child to use imagination to create their own toys. These toys may not be the “thrill item” for Christmas day, and may not even find their way out of the box on Christmas, but you may find the thrill items littering the floor as soon as the novelty wears off and the kids get bored.

At that point, the kids will choose the toys that encourage creative play and they will come back to them again and again. Fortunately, long-lasting toys are not necessarily the most expensive products out there.

A toy glut is also not essential. Kids — and especially small kids — can be overwhelmed with sheer quantities of stuff. It is hard for a toddler or preschooler to know where to begin if there are too many toys. Instead, consider your child’s interests and purchase the right toy for the right child. While one child will think that owning balls and sports equipment is heaven on earth, another will be delighted to have puzzles to put together or books to read.

Fortunately, due to the recent trouble with the economy, retailers have been busy this year taking the challenge to provide incentives to reel people in. This has been a benefit for the buyer because watching for sales can make purchasing the right toy for the right child for the right price a possibility. Peruse the sale ads for ideas and savings.

Become a list-maker if you aren’t already. Make a list of who you plan to purchase for, what you wish to purchase and check it off as you buy it. By doing this you will avoid the last-minute panic as you realize that you have not balanced the purchases and have to run out to get a gift for someone you forgot or slighted. You also will avoid finding out on Christmas day (or the day that the bills come) that you overdid it.

On those lists include a budget — including how much you plan to spend on each person’s gift — and stay on track in your spending. Plan what you want to do. Stop before every purchase and ask if this is what you really want and how it fits into the plan.

Keep your receipts. Despite your best efforts, there is always the likelihood of needing to return some item to the store later.

Put your credit card where it is hard to get to. If you have to dig to the bottom of your wallet or purse to find the card, it may slow you down enough to stop and think before you buy. If it is in the back of a drawer at home, you will have plenty of time to think before you use — or overuse — it.

Perhaps most important of all, plan your fun purchases around things you can do together. Board games can entice the family to do things together and to interact. They can help learning, imagination, socialization and connecting with others.

Games that require kids to count money or keep track of points or scores, for example, can improve counting and math skills. The best part is that it is so natural, as players learn without even realizing it. Sporting equipment might stimulate a little one-on-one basketball or catch between parents and kids. The possibilities are endless based on your family personality.

The most important gift of all is to plan to invest some of you in your Christmas plans. In choosing gifts, consider that kids love our presence better than our presents and plan and purchase accordingly.