Fun gifts are noisy and require imagination (12/12/05)

Christmas shopping is coming along nicely. I had plans to complete another major gift-buying spree this weekend. The weatherman had other ideas.

We are in the process of recovering from our first major winter storm as I write this. The streets are still indistinguishable from the sidewalks. Cars are slipping and sliding all over the place. Huge piles of snow block our view of the intersections and prevent us from crashing into oncoming traffic.

I guess shopping will have to wait for another day. This is the only time of year that I actually enjoy spending money. We have three little kids in the family and I like deciding what to get for them.

They ask for things that I refuse to buy. They want movies and video games. I want them to have things that require them to use their minds. To that end I have bought a robot-making kit, a magic set and a very messy sticker-making kit. Please note that I did not buy the finger paints like I originally intended. And I have never given a set of drums … at least not yet.

There are requirements for presents that I purchase. It is a plus if they are noisy or messy. They don’t have to be educational but they do have to encourage the child to use his or her imagination. I don’t believe in toys that do everything. Besides, I have found that the more a toy does the more likely it is to end up at the bottom of the toy box.

Teddy was my daughter’s favorite possession. He was a magical bear who listened to all her stories and talked to her. Nevermind that he was an ordinary stuffed animal who didn’t actually “do” anything.

My daughter’s niece has Crystal, a doll that the three-year-old takes everywhere. Crystal doesn’t walk or talk. She doesn’t cry or wet or say “mama.” Her clothes are removable but she almost always wears the outfit she came with. Crystal also has the ability to talk to her owner in a voice that only she can hear.

I fully realize that today’s children live in a world far different that the one in which I grew up. I also know that they need time to be children. They need down time, time to use their imaginations and time to be bored. We push kids too hard to grow up too fast. If they are boisterous and act like the immature creatures that they are, we tend to drug them into submission. We reward conformity and punish initiative. We don’t allow them to just be children.

Do we really need an adorable Tigger that turns somersaults all by itself? Why can’t we give them a Tigger that does nothing so the child can “help” the orange and yellow beast turn somersaults or bounce on its tail or whatever else the kid wants the toy to do? It takes fewer batteries to do things this way and gives the child more control over how the toy behaves.

I have no illusions that the recipient of the magic set will actually learn sleight-of-hand. I do expect him to don the hat, wave the magic wand and turn his sister into a frog. He may read through the directions for a trick or two and in so doing will be practicing reading and following written directions.

The painter will tap into her creativity and undoubtedly use the stickers to adorn any number of things. The paints that come in the set are sure to decorate her arms and possibly her face.

The robot maker will have to read and follow written instructions before he can personalize his creations and crash them into the nearest ankle. It should make for some quality bonding time with his parents as they all try to decipher the directions. Once he builds the robots he can also use them to terrorize the cat along with the resident adults.

In supplying oddball gifts I am vying for the title of eccentric aunt. My intention is to give presents that will actually be played with for more than 30 seconds. I also try to give toys to the adults in my life. This isn’t very easy as I have a $20 limit on all presents. As soon as the roads clear I will roam the stores looking for playthings for the rest of those on my shopping list.[[In-content Ad]]