toy question

[kitten_uk2]

my problem is i dont know wat to buy my son anymore, i was really looking forward to xmas new toys for my 3yr old to play with, all toys for 3+, train sets, play doh, toy guitar and microphone etc, but my son doesnt play with them as such, playdoh has not entertained him, trainset is automatic and he keeps picking train up or pushing it instead of lettin it go on its own. i keep showing him how to use his new toys but he just isnt botherd, he just wants to scribble or me to read to him. i really need some guidence what sort of toys to get him, 3+ toys seem to advanced for him and the younger ones are too babyish.
any ideas????

[spudqueen]

It sounds as though he needs toys that he plays with, not ones that play themselves, if you know what I mean. How about a car mat (you know the sort, with roads and a car park) and some toy cars? Or a brio train set where he is in charge of the trains. It can be rather boring just watching a train go round and round, toys which the children are actually playing with and using their imagination with are much better for them, and usually played with much more. For example you can get toy telephones which talk to you, but if you just get a toy telephone with no voice a child will have loads of 'conversations on it', whereas the one with the voice means there is limited play.

[annie0000]

I would go for Duplo bricks every time - make sure you get things that can be made into vehicles etc. I agree the wooden toy trains are great as well and so is the play mat - my boys still play with theirs at age 7 and 6. Other ideas would be a castle or garage or fire station.

[Pippa68]

I agree.

A lot of toys nowadays don't allow for childrens imaginations ~ and the vast majority of kids have imaginations which are not being used. My daughter prefers cuddly toys which she can put a voice to...she was bought several 'interactive' cuddly toys for Christmas and has hardly played with them!

I remember my oldest having a toy playhouse, with kitchen equipment etc. She much preferred the cardboard house my dad made for her ;o)

[Ice.Maiden]

It appears to me that your son has an enquiring mind, and maybe the automotive stuff just bores him rigid. The best "toy" you could ever get him, would be a book, if he likes you to read to him, or wants to write. How wonderful! I read to my eldest son every single night until he was 7, even when I was falling asleep with tiredness, and he's now a prolific reader with a brilliant imagination. Perhaps the Play Doh wasn't exciting enough for him - but as has been suggested, some form of building kit might interest him. I still think the Early Learning Centre has some good ideas, so it's worth a look.

[lou 26]

have you seen the Tomy storytime theatre? I bought my daughter one for Christmas as she loves books, theyre very good! http://www.tomy.co.uk/products/toys-and-games/ brands/magic-storytime-theatre/ and it will read the story to them if you need to get things done!

Also moon sand. Its a bit like play dough but sand! You can have all the fun of the beach in your front room and it doesnt stain! lol

[aims1202]

One thing my boy loved at that age was shopping and cafe, i collected all our old tins, jars, packets, bought a tea set and a til from a charity shop, put some coins in it, used an old purse of mine. We also made a cooker out of a carboard box which had an opening oven with a magnet to close it. we painted it together. then we would make a shop and a cafe and invite teddies. lots of fun you can do together and then they can play alone too.
If he loves books then read to him as much as you can, it might not last long. if he likes to draw then let him get messy with paints, wear painting clothes and just cover the floor in newspaper and paper and have fun squirting paint and doing hand/foot prints, or use different brushes, like ones for the walls or a toothbrush. My boy also loved playing with water, i would empty out a big plastic toy box and fill it with water, sometimes put bubbles or food colouring in and then give him things to pour with or fill like plastic cups, jug, pots with holes in etc. he would play for ages. he did get some really good toys that he still loves now (hes nearly 5 ) like marble run and a toy racing car you build and take apart with a drill. But like your boy he has has a wooden train set for years and never really played with it.

[angeldraws]

Children need time to adjust to their new toys so it could all be a bit bewildering to him so he sticks to what he knows at the moment.
Also, as parents, we want our children to play with the toy 'as it should be played with,' but if you think about it, they probably dont know HOW - espec. when the toys are new, even if we show them, it still takes a long time to sink in... If he goes to playgroup or nursery, you could find out what sort of things he plays with mostly when he is there, and encourage 'imaginative play' - this way he can learn to believe in himself and have faith in his ideas too.
I guess its like when you buy clothes for youngsters - they will grow out of their 1-2 year old clothes but have yet to grow into the 3-4 year old size......

[Le Chat]

kitten, my son sounds alot like yours but worse.(In the toy playing department) He is just not interested in any toys at all. His birthday was in December, shortly followed by Xmas and he has not played with anything! He was like this at playgroup and now in Kindergarten! He is 4yrs old. He is very energetic and intelligent with a lively mind - but obviously not an imaginitive one!
He loves being outdoors, he would be a great farm child! Running and exploring are his loves and being with other people - adults and other kids - and doing 'jobs!' ie, emptying bins etc He loves to be involved!
It is harder work for Mum, of course but it is what it is! My oldest son used to amuse himself for hours with his Thomas trains and books! Oh how I miss that!!!
If things don't change, then at least next birthday and Xmas will be relatively cheap!