Life Online

I’d like to start off by saying right off the bat that I am not a stick-in-the-mud. I’m a fun mom. Really, I am. Right?

That having been said, let’s get to the heart of the issue at hand–It’s almost Christmas time and the issue of toys is on everyone’s minds. What do you get your nephews, nieces, and friends’ children? Here’s my primer of toys that you don’t want to buy your own kids but are really fun to buy for someone else’s kids.

1) Hungry Hungry Hippos. If you haven’t experienced the joy of listening to plastic pound plastic and then chasing marbles across your kitchen floor for hours, you have not seen Hungry Hungry Hippos. Even better is chasing your cat or dog while you frantically try to keep them from swallowing the marbles that looked so appealing as they shot across the room.

2) LEGO Deluxe Brick Box. Sure, LEGOs are fun. They stimulate creativity and help develop hand-eye coordination. And your friend will love you for bringing a grand total of 701 pieces of tiny plastic into your house that you are sure to find in the couch cushions long after your children have left for college.

3) Lite Brite. It’s a rite of passage for all children to play with. And you will love the sound that your sweeper makes when you suck them up on accident for the next 7 years.

4) Maracas. Oh what fun! Make a joyful noise! And more noise….and more noise….and more noise. The best thing about maracas? They make the perfect gift to regift.

5) Drums. See Maracas.

6)  Moon Sand. It’s a craft. It’s a toy. It’s a great reason to have to scrub the floor around the kitchen table when you get done. If you’re lucky, your kids will get the big set with lots of different colors that they will want to mix together to inevitably make brown.

So that’s the start of my Christmas list for the children in my life (except mine, of course). Feel free to add your suggestions as well. I’m looking for some new items this year.