Tessa the Duchess Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 I have spent some time this afternoon browsing online for pressies for my grandchildren. Virtually EVERY toy needs batteries usually 3 AAA. Seems toys today have to DO something other than just be a doll or a farm or a cuddly toy Call me oldfashioned actually I suppose I AM oldfashioned but I thought the idea of toys were to encourage a child's imagination Of course after a couple of weeks the batteries run down and the parents have to front up for some more or the toy doesn't get played with Rant over..... Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 I do agree Tessa But, if it's of any help at all I noticed today that Aldi have batteries on a special Panasonic 12 packs of AA & AAAs at £2.99, but the offer doesn't start until thursday . Sorry, that doesn't really respond to the initial posting, although I do think that some electronic toys do have good play value, just as I think that some of the "old-fashioned" toys that the child needs to imagine and manipulate themselves have great play value. I guess I think that there's space for both Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 I like old-fashioned toys myself Tessa - we play old board games at Christmas - TV is banned. There's a special mains adaptor coming out on the market especially made for the more stationary toys - be brilliant for Christmas; no more wasting money on batteries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 James is having a mixture for Christmas. A Vtech laptop which will need batteries - but I've always found the Vtech stuff to be pretty good with battery life. A sack barrow and a builders jacket which don't need batteries. And we've bought him a nice wooden snakes and ladders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 OOoh, I love snakes and ladders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Apparantly he plays it at school. with Hannah, and Hannah always wins! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 I've just been browsing on Amazon for some of my nieces/nephews - decided on an Etch-a-Sketch (no batteries ) which I loved when I was a kid, Crayola Doodle Doug (batteries but I will send some with it ) and 2 Philip Reeve Mortal Engines books. Just 6 more niece/nephew pressies to go . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 I've just got the two little boys their Christmas pressies. Out of the loft. A scalextric set for Dan and 2 buckets of lego for Matthew. Both belonged to their big brother a few years back. Am I tight or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 I've just got the two little boys their Christmas pressies. Out of the loft. A scalextric set for Dan and 2 buckets of lego for Matthew. Both belonged to their big brother a few years back. Am I tight or what? Definately not I recycled my children's play kitchen and food to my neice last Christmas, and our slide to her for her birthday They were big presents to my children, and not the sort of thing I would have bought my neice, so it was lovely to pass them on knowing how much pleasure they would bring again karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 Snowy wrote I've just got the two little boys their Christmas pressies. Out of the loft. A scalextric set for Dan and 2 buckets of lego for Matthew. Both belonged to their big brother a few years back. Am I tight or what? You are right not tight the toys will be 'new' to them just not brand new. I found the Early Learning Centre site which has v.nice stuff and very few batteries required I also might brave Ikea next week, seem to remember they had nice toys lots of wooden stuff. Both my grandchildren are under 2yrs but I have a horrible feeling that although they will like my 'old fashioned' toys they will probably play more with the bright shiny plastic noisy ones given by other people Oh well Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 That's a relief! They have plenty of relatives who'll buy the shiny Thomas the Tank toys for them to lob in the pond, plant in the garden or bury in the sandpit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 It was great when the children were little because we could get them loads of pressies from car boot sales and charity shops and as you say they were new to them. Now that they are older they have no objection second hand but they tend to want the latest Nintendo DS games, mobile phones etc for Christmas the age of innocence is gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I used to do that too Snowy, and when she was little, I used to spirit away some of the pressies to be enjoyed at a later date as she had serious present overload. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 My Mum does that to me too. I don't think I've ever had anything battery powered for Christmas. I usually get books and other bits and pieces, that I actually want! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...