Trains, cars and kitchen sets . . .
Here I go again. Another visit to a shopping mall and I’m returning with a bag of toys. The range and variety of toys to choose from keeps improving with time. As a girl of three and a half years, my daughter can do many things that she could not do a year back. She is now more interested about certain things than she was a year back. More dexterity, more immunity, more intellect, more curiosity mean lots of choices when it comes to toys. The toys that are just eye catchy or just make some stupid sound are just simply not good enough. Now I need to look for those toys that will also improve her intellect, memory and knowledge but satisfies the most important need: fun.
Buying toys for a three-and-a-half year old can be quite difficult. Today, I went to this mall with an intention of ‘let’s buy her some new toys’. As I entered the floor the first thing I saw was loads and loads of board games. Anything that comes with a ‘rules of play’ is not going to be of any use for her. Rules mean nothing to her. We are only talking about this thing called discipline. I think it will take some time to introduce the word ‘rules’. There were train sets. She is absolutely fascinated by trains. But she already has train sets of various sizes and shapes.
And then there were cars. She has cars, trucks – manually operated, battery operated, remote controlled etc. Almost everything except the ones that run on petrol and diesel. There were kitchen sets. Least interested. I’m talking about myself. Not sure about her. Guns? Same kitchen set feeling here too. How about soft toys? Well the whole of Disney family is at home. There are also their underwater friends and technology cousins. Block building? I won’t be forgiven if I buy another one of that kind. I was not planning to return empy handed anyways.
I was trying to recollect what kind of toys I used to play with. My brain said ‘your search returned 0 results’. Yup, Did I have a lot of toys? No. Was there any favourite toy of mine? No, because I cannot recollect having played with any toys or games when I was a kid. We were a struggling family back then. We had to look after our survival and needs primarily before thinking about comforts and luxuries. I guess toys would have come under the luxuries category back then. So how exactly did I spend my childhood? I think much of our time as a kid was spent in the outdoors, with the other kids, doing stuff and exploring stuff. We had probably lots of freedom which led to adventure. May be, we didn’t need toys as much as kids of these days do (that’s one sign of me growing old).
But my daughter certainly does. She needs toys, games, television, movies, music etc. She can get to see a lot of experiences but she would not have the freedom of experiencing them herself. That’s because she is always under our radar. It’s not just because she is a three-and-a-half year old but also because we’re like that. In particular I am like that. I’d buy her whatever toys and games that she wants if it means she won’t have to go out of sight. In a way, I have created this need for toys and such stuff for her. That’s sad but that’s the way it is. Nowadays (that’s another sign of me growing old), kids don’t grow up learning and experiencing by themselves. They are now left with abundance of nicely packaged second hand experiences.
I was still struggling with my choices in the toys section. My daughter was happily playing in the play area of that mall with complete confidence that I’d buy what she’d like. I did finally pick up a jigsaw puzzle, a time teller book and something else. I truly wonder what I’d be buying in the next round of purchases, whenever it comes!
Hmmmm…. I was nostalgic about my childhood for a while after reading.
haaaaa…. Giggling …. kidding if you mind, OK lets be +ve another ‘Kiran Bedi’ haaaa…
. I had two full cans of marbles that I won against my fellow street players/friends. Ones in a year we used to have village festival typically called as ‘Jatara’ where we can buy toys of our own with limited pocket money given either to spend or enjoy the rides of my own. I was fond of balls and used to buy any kind of its shape either it’s made of plastic or rubber. When Kwality ice cream got introduced in India they used to sell ice cream in a ball, I used buy most of them so as to enjoy both ice cream and also I end up with a ball to play.
Usually Guys are more fond of hard toys (cars, trucks & robots) girls with soft toys (kitchen items, teddy bear & Barbie girl). The way sruthi is growing looks like she will be another Kiran Bedi or poolan devi kind off
Toys..! to me..! never… ever in my stride. It was always a window shopping for me, Toys used to appear for playing of my kind ones in a blue moon like a festival. My toddler years & childhood memories all were in village where my fav toys are playing & exploring either with marbles & top’s as they were not expensive and most reliable for long time
Sometimes I feel I am happy for enjoying/playing every day with friends around instead of sticking to lifeless toys of my kind playing alone at home.
Vj & MKP,
Thanks for making me reminded of my childhood days as well! ‘Hot wheels’…that’s something I was crazy about that time. Unfortunately managed to buy only one after months of piggy bank savings! ‘Barbie’ is something my sisters were fond of, but Dad managed to buy some Barbie like low profile dolls to convince them!
After years, with or without toys I still cherish my childhood days, the golden moments when I roamed around, with nothing to bother whatsoever! What compensated for me in place of the high profile toys are the custom made games me and my friends went crazy about!
Secret hide, seven stones, lock & key, parrot cage, colour colour, ‘Thoon’ (Pillar), dark hide & seek, bangles, skits, marbles, tops, kites, frog hunt, ‘Naadu’ (Country), dog & bone, crystal maze, cricket, football, cycle races, ‘Noanndi’, dhaayabaaz, palaanguzhi & the entire set of Tamil Nadu custom games!
Oof I am still thinking and the list of games just keeps coming non stop! Just as how huge the list was exact opposite was the number of times I missed my favourite ‘Hot wheels’ collection which I am yet to make! I always feel outdoor games gives a kid the exposure & maturity that any indoor game can’t!
Of course indoors become mandatory if our kids do not have the right set of companions! I still feel I was much more fortunate then than the current generation!
Lovely post. Made me think of the few toys I had.
So true about today’s kids. I watched a programme on TV a week ago where 5 toys were rated by scientists. The good old building blocks – Lego – won the top spot, because it is versatile and encourages creativity in children. The toy which came last was one of those new kids’ laptops with all the bells and whistles and jing-bang features (but marketted as very good for development and all that!)
Is every one busy playing with Toys.!!! or busy watching IPL ? or on Vacation.? Dr. VJ enough playing with Sruti, Post new one or do some thing to make the blog lively & Interesting.
Vj,
This is atrocious! It’s making all resentful! You cannot get away in the middle of a conversation Vj!
Come on! If you were busy you should have had a back up for a 24/7 blog! No excuses whatsoever!
Loosing your key customers of CT ? I know you have a laptop as well as GPRS on your mobile!
VJ,
Are you in this world.? Give the admin access rights to few active members or regular visitors of this blog so as to post & ensure the momentum on and to keep the blog as lively as possible.
All,
Choose the following…
VJ should be the only admin for this blog.?
A. NO
B. VJ Not Required
C. Change the admin
D. All the above
MKP,
Easy option
Option D
Haaa…
Santy, yo yo..
Did I ever said no to you? my finger is on option ‘D’
VJ, Down Down…
Down Down…
Down Down…