https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 15 May 2026 00:32:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23584 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:42:02 +0000 cyndistar3 23584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I buy both and I don't feel guilty at all. I buy things she will enjoy and be creative with. I love watching her play with her toys because a childs imagination is such a beautiful thing, I can sit there and wach her play for quite a while and it always makes me smile. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23578 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:35:38 +0000 themcmom 23578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just try to make it educational and not loud unless it's payback for something that we've been given. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23552 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:06:42 +0000 meandwee 23552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely both. We stick with non-electronic toys that our daughter can manipulate herself and breathe life into. Things that encourage movement, creativity, etc. We love playsets and lego that encourage storylines and cooperative play (they learn so much language and skills this way). A great site that discusses this is Play on Words. <a href="http://playonwords.com/" rel="nofollow">http://playonwords.com/</a><br /> Books are also a wonderful way to introduce language and concepts; especially if the book is a little bit "older" for them. A great resource I've downloaded to my e-reader is called The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. He writes all about the importance of reading aloud; how to go about it for different ages, and then he gives huge lists of the best books for reading aloud in different categories. It was interesting that he recommends less books for small children so that the ones that are there are read over and over again to create a sense of comfort and love of the stories. He also gives tips on how to expand reading from simple picture books with few words to books with more sentences and paragraphs on the page. It's been a great help to me time and time again. Just wanted to share! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23531 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:30:09 +0000 Adira 23531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love buying books for kids! I'm such a HUGE reader, so buying a book is a more meaningful gift to me, since it's something that I also enjoy! Plus books tend to take up less space than toys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23485 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:24:53 +0000 Iiamsn01 23485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both, I don't necessarily feel guilty, I always feel the need to spring clean though because kids toys (and even books) are easy to feel like your drowning in (the amount of kids stuff we have acquired in the last 2 years still boggles my mind.) </p> <p>Lately I take my time with purchasing toys/games/books for the munchkin. I try to make sure they are going to last for sometime (for multiple kids etc.. so I usually prefer wood over plastic), have some type of learning quality (not always the munchkin loves princesses right now.), and are easy to clean. </p> <p>I think play (especially independent play/pretend play) is important. Sae has learned so much from playing, we count, learn colors, and shapes through play and she has retained it faster than just books alone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23482 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:10:18 +0000 SAHM0811 23482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't feel guilty because we actually don't buy her many toys these days. She has plenty every year from Christmas and her past birthday. Even with books we've been going to the library alot. Not only for storytime, but to check out and return books. Love that she can go crazy picking books there and it's free whereas at Barnes and Noble, it can set us back a bit! </p> <p>I do agree though that kids need to play with toys too. At a certain point, toys really helped with my DD's speech delay alot. Play is a child's work and it's how they learn (problem solving, developing imagination, etc...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23477 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:26:35 +0000 looch 23477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son loves his books, in fact, he is in his room now, turning the pages of some board books. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23475 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:25:13 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 23475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love books so I will probably be more inclined to buy books over toys. But I will buy some toys, like block, puzzles, and stuff with lots of shapes and colors to help with development. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23404 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:28:49 +0000 Red 23404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both. I always tell people to buy her books cause I like to pick out her toys so that I'm not saddled with something too big or obnoxiously loud. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23397 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:55:55 +0000 Boogs 23397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While we have a lot of books, we probably have more toys. Kids can't sit around just reading 24/7 so I feel like toys are just as important. Plus, a lot can be learned from toys (especially educational ones) like social interactions, imaginative play, motor skills, words, songs, letters, numbers, shapes, colors, etc. I really feel like both books and toys have huge benefits, so I don't feel bad buying either of them. I also loom forward to the age when my LO has lots of fun with "toys" like empty cardboard boxes and such. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23333 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:41:45 +0000 mrbee 23333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: That's a great point! Especially as the kids get older... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23305 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:41:11 +0000 eeh 23305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that toys can be education too. Not only that but they allow a place for the imagination developed via books to be acted upon. For example: if you buy Charlie books about food, cooking, eating, etc. and he has a play kitchen he can act out the stories you've been reading which furthers his comprehension. Puzzles are also great. Anything promoting fine motor skills is good, especially for a boy as they tend to struggle with this more than girls. Things like balls or bikes that keep them moving and active are good for physical fitness and also for tiring them out and sleeping. </p> <p>I think what it comes down to is whether or not the toy promotes some type of activity on Charlie's part. If it's something he sits and mindlessly does then it's probably not the best for him. But if it's furthering his development in one way or another I think it's okay. Once he's in school he'll still play with toys..kindergarten in our area involves developmental centers which include several of the activities/toys mentioned above because of their educational benefits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23276 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:01:05 +0000 tequiero21 23276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i think i'll probably think toys are a waste of money, but books never are. i'll probably get a few toys to help with development, but mostly books.... until they're a certain age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23270 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:54:03 +0000 heffalump 23270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on the kid. I have a friend who's mom only lets her have educational stuff, no play. So I always try to buy her things that are just for fun :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23218 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:03:42 +0000 Andrea 23218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't buy very many books because you can go to the library. Toys can be educational, too, like wooden puzzle sets. I think every parent likes to say that don't buy a lot of toys but kids need to be kids, too. There are ways to learn and play at the same time. All learning doesn't have to be from a book. I would not want my child to be a brainiac and have no social skills or common sense for example. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23215 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:00:11 +0000 Rubies 23215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always buy books and her shelf is filled with them. I'm very selective when it comes to buying toys - I always wonder if it's worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23189 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:32:02 +0000 mediagirl 23189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want to fill our child's room with books so we will probably buy a whole lot more books than toys. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23187 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:30:13 +0000 junebugmama 23187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always buy books and Grandparents/Aunts/Uncles, etc buy him toys. The only time this doesn't apply is Christmas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/books-or-toys#post-23183 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:27:14 +0000 mrbee 23183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I realized that whenever we buy a toy for the kids, I feel guilty. But whenever we buy a book, I feel great about it.</p> <p>So moving forward, if we buy anything for the kids... I'd love for it to be educational. In other words, books over toys! That's the theory at least.</p> <p>Do you buy more books or toys these days? </p>