Happy Kids, Inc: Classic Toys

By Meg Hodson

Legos have been a regular toy in our house for many years. One of my daughters favorite toys as a toddler was a huge tub of Lego Duplo blocks that we would build into airplanes, robots, houses, and more. They came in a variety of colors, nothing predominantly pastel or primary.

I will be honest, the first "advanced" Legos that entered our home were for my 2nd born, my son. My daughter would engage in play with him occasionally, but it's not like she asked for her own. My son entered the Lego universe when all the licensed Legos were almost all you could find: Star Wars this, Batman that. Maybe this is why he was the only recipient of Legos. Maybe my daughter just didn't show a preference for that toy. I can't be certain.

So, when I was reading a recent article on this topic of "girl Legos" (which, to be fair, Legos newest line of products certainly have a feminine flair but are called "Friends"), I took interest. My daughter, who recently celebrated her 10th birthday, is WILD about the "Friends" Legos! She got the Dolphin Cruiser and she couldn't be happier. And the best part? Her brothers, who are equally addicted to their Legos, want to play with her, too. In fact, I know my first son would like to dismantle the entire cruise ship and reassemble it.

I was a little troubled with the article on a few levels. When I hear sweeping statements about surveys and research that showed something to be "discovered", I proceed with caution. I've never been a fan of surveys definitively proving something. For example, Legos and their research revealed that:

"Construction had never worked for girls, for whatever reason."

Well, I will be the first to refute that claim. My daughter has readily played with Lincoln Logs, puzzles, wooden blocks, and other similar building toys. Considering Legos' focus in recent years has been licensed products that are predominantly geared toward boys, should they be surprised at the lack of enthusiasm of girls? Conversely, though, I think my sons would be equally happy playing with something like Olivia's House. I see this and can only think of fond memories when all three of them would play with my daughter's dollhouse together. They don't care if it's aimed at girls. Houses are cool!

I'm not here to argue that boys and girls are the same or want to play with the same toys. But the same can be said among both groups. Preferences can be different from girl to girl and from boy to boy. Not every little girl in the world wants a Barbie nor does every little boy love Superman. While I am happy that my daughter embraces the "Friends" line and my son must own every Batman set, I find it a little sad that there aren't more huge tubs to buy of just Legos in every color of the rainbow.

With all three of my children, I'm not only conscious of the food choices I make for them, but I'm also conscious of other choices. I used cloth diapers with them. I used glass bottles. Their sheets are 100% cotton.

This consciousness also carried over to the toys I felt were safe and fun for them to play with. I was okay with a few electronic toys, but didn't want them to take over the house. I didn't want a pile of colored plastic toys in the corner of my living room. I wanted thoughtful toys. I suppose I wanted a certain old-fashioned feeling for the toys for my children. And while I was okay with a moderate amount of plastic, I wanted natural materials for the toys (i.e., wood, rubber, etc.).

The market for such toys is getting better. One of my favorite toy companies is Melissa and Doug. Almost all their toys and art supplies are wood-based. My kids love them! But honestly, beyond them, you have to either seek out European manufacturers (such as Haba) or seek out retailers who specialize in old-fashioned toys. Here, I provide a list of favorite sites, toys, and manufacturers.

1. I love the classic toys offer on Retro Planet. From marbles and jacks, to the Etch-A-Sketch and Fisher Price Record Player, this site will bring you back.

2. For great wood toys that, to me, seem like "modern" classic toys, you have to visit Oompa. I especially love that they have wooden baby teething and clutch toys. My Grandma always used to tell me the story of how she took old wooden thread spools to make into toys for her babies. These modern versions mimic that simplistic approach.

3. Another great clutch toy that I love for babies is Sophie the giraffe. She's BPA free and made from natural rubber. Although not traditionally in the classic toy realm, her simple design fits the characteristics of what a classic toy is.

4. Melissa and Doug. I mentioned them at the beginning of this article. They primarily make wood toys and art supplies. Their take on classic toys is not based on characters or trends; they are just authentic toys that kids love to play with. As a bonus, there's a great deal below for readers:

5. Wood Blocks. What better classic toys is out there than wood blocks? There are lots of choices out there and they are readily available. The creativity is endless with this classic toy.