Recycling is something that everyone in their on way has been working on to improve our surroundings. We are learning to be more energy efficient and figuring out new ways to use old items and the amount of things that are being made from recycled paper are amazing, like counter tops and pencils plus many more items.Everyone is trying to do their part, but since Christmas is almost upon us it reminds me of Bills’ son and his young family.They have 2 little girls ages 2yrs and the baby is 9 months.
I honestly have never seen a house so full of toys and half have never even been open. Can you imagine the money that is going to be spent before these 2 little girls are even grown. Now I find this a sad situation when there are so many needy children out there that would love to have just one toy. We don’t buy them toys, we try to get them something useful like toy boxes, book shelves, saving bonds or money.
Along with all the toys, the amount of clothing and shoes is staggering. Especially with children so young. As far as I’m concerned this is a big mistake that parents make, especially when their family is young, they tend to overspend and buy more toys than children can possibly play with and that just overwhelms a child.
When children are in a play room, overflowing with toys, they will often retreat, feeling there are too many to choose from, and will not play with any of them, except Nate when he goes to his cousins house, it’s like a toy store and his little hands are grabbing everything. It’s actually very nerve wracking to see toys all over the place and no respect for the things you have.
Fewer well made toys will be a much greater gift than more toys that are made without lasting quality. Although they buy quality, safe products how in the world can you teach a child appreciation when they can have anything they want? You should find toys that will last for a long time and can either be passed down through the generations or that can be re-sold, remember you will not get much money for these items at a yard sale.
Keep in mind that when it comes to children and toys, more is not better and making informed purchases based on the child and the quality of how the toys are made, are in the hands of adults. Most toys and games come with an age range printed on the packaging and it is important not to buy gifts that a child will not be capable of playing with for a few years.
When buying gifts and toys for holidays and celebrations take a deep breath and know that what you end up buying will be played with, probably in a rough manner, so you want it to last. The toys that last are usually the ones that are made from good, solid materials; like wood. Wood is such a great material to make things from and as long as it’s FSC-certified, you won’t have to worry about harmful toxins coming off when the child is teething and the bonus is that it could last for several generations (reinforcing that reuse idea, all the more).
Yes we want our children to have the things we didn’t have, but it can very easily get out of hand. Children now a days expect way too much because of the world we live in and there is no sense in overwhelming young children with more than they can handle. Sometimes I think it’s the parents themselves that actually have these desires to revert to childhood and live through their children.
Christmas is a beautiful time of year full of giving and sharing and there is more to giving than just material things although some people are in dire need of the material part, maybe we could focus on those in need and share some of the bounty we so lavishly heap on our families and really make a difference in someone else’s life this year.
