Toddler Toy Review

Ok, so now that the "joys" of Christmas are over, the dust has settled and a mass of new toys is scattered all over the house. Some are getting more use than others, but all in all I think we made some good choices. I'll review the toys we purchased for those needing toy gift ideas for your little one:

Biggest Hits

• Tin Tool Box (Schylling)- Cute little tin with rubber and wooden tools inside. Tools are very realistic, but on a smaller scale (the saw is about 6" long). Unfortunately, they're probably a little too realistic and aren't the safest tools for toddlers to play with, particularly the saw... it's got some pretty sharp teeth. But, my daughter loves it!

• Mr. Potato Head (Playskool) - This toy is a classic for a reason. Kids can be silly and practice using their "body parts" vocabulary at the same time. Our 18 month old has played with it everyday since Christmas. Definitely a hit!

• Cozy Coupe (Little Tykes)- Very cute little foot-pedaled car that reminds me of the Flintstones. This little car comes complete with horn and gas cap! Our daughter's face lit up like New Year's Eve when she saw it. She's still figuring out how to maneuver it, but she looks adorable in it.

Also Liked

• Doodle Pro (Playskool)- Magnetic drawing board that allows children to express creativity and work on fine motor skills without making a mess! We actually got the full-sized one in addition to the travel-sized. Both are easy to use. Our little girl enjoys playing with either one for about 15 minutes or so, then is ready to move on.

• Bath Crayons and Finger Paints (Alex)- More outlets for creativity, these activities also are great for teaching a child his or her colors. We confine the finger paints to the bath...just makes clean-up that much easier. The tub crayons work on the tub, tile, or on the child's body.

Not So Much

• Jack in the Box (Schylling)- This was actually our second "Jack." She loved the first one, and it broke from being used so often. We finally bought our daughter another one for Christmas, but she seems to be scared of it now. Perhaps in time she'll come to love it again.

• Stacking Train (Brio)- This little train had all the makings of a hit toy: magnets, stacking, and a train. However, it didn't quite work out that way for our little girl. She seemed to enjoy it at first, but soon lost interest when she couldn't figure out why sometimes the blocks wouldn't stack. I guess 18 months is still a little too young to understand the laws of magnetism!

The Santa Clause "Myth"

Here is a discussion I recently had while visiting relatives on Christmas Day:

Relative: "Are you including the Santa Clause Myth as part of your Christmas tradition?"

Me: "Well, our girls are still a little too young, but I'm sure we will in the future."

Relative: "Let me share with you my experience. When I was about seven years old, I learned that Santa wasn't real and that everybody had been lying to me all this time. I also went to Sunday School at the time and I think that's when I started questioning other things that seemed impossible, like Noah's Ark and The Flood."

Me (wanting to avoid continuing the conversation): "Oh, I think it's good for kids to question things."

Relative (thinking I'm missing the point): "But, that's when I started questioning all those things I had been taught and I think that's why I believe what I do today. It all started with Santa Clause."

Me (now fully engaged): "And what do you believe now?"

Relative: "I believe in Jesus's teachings, but I don't believe all the stories in the Bible that seem too outrageous too be true -

Relative's wife chimes in: "There's not enough water for a flood to cover the world"

Me: "Ok. But do you think you would have come to that conclusion eventually anyway?"

Relative: "Yes, but I think it started with Santa. I just wanted to tell you my experience so you consider it with your kids."

Me: "Thank you. I appreciate you sharing your experience with me."

Well, I still think there's no harm in continuing a cross-cultural tradition that has been around forever,but the conversation got me thinking about what kind of impact the Santa Clause story has on our youngsters, particularly when they find out it isn't exactly true.

Are children who spend their early years believing in the jolly old fat man who brings presents more likely to hold feelings of distrust towards their parents once they learn the truth? Are there any psychological impacts that carry into adulthood? Do children who grow up expecting Santa to dive down their chimneys (or climb through a window as the case may be) end up abandoning their faith in the Lord once they learn that Santa is just a fun game we play?

Where is the research on this subject? Surely someone in academia has addressed these issues.

When science hasn't come up with answers yet, all one can do is follow one's instincts as a parent. All children begin to question their beliefs as they grown into adolescents and young adults. It's just a stop on the road to adulthood. As parents, it's up to us to offer support and guidance without being judgmental. I'm sure that some children may be thrown off track a little when faced with the reality that Santa Claus doesn't really fly around the world in a sleigh powered by flying reindeer. But, with good parenting, I think that the likelihood of any long-term trust issues is minimal.

I'm not a Blogger

In fact, I am an anti-blogger. I think of bloggers as people who are either trying to make a buck or two off the Internet, or just jumping onto the blogging bandwagon because it's trendy, and I am against being trendy. Yet, here I am.

I need a hobby, and I decided that sharing my experiences as a new parent with whomever happens upon these pages will have two benefits.

First, I am hopeful that it will give my brain a little more exercise than it gets from talking to babies all day. It's almost completely turned to mush as of late and I'm afraid I may have even started too late...only time will tell.

Second, there is always the chance that I may be able to offer some useful information for somebody. I believe that learning from one's own experience has the greatest impact, but learning from someone else's experience isn't that far behind.

My girls bring me immense joy on a day-to-day basis, but I find that as I celebrate the achievement of one milestone, I have new challenges awaiting me with the next. I intend to share my challenges, solutions, and general thoughts on child-rearing with you and I hope you will also share your thoughts and comments with me.

And so it is...I am now a blogger!