Fisher-Price and the power of play

After three kids of experience, I must admit that I have become very discerning about the toys I pick for my kids. Not only am I getting pretty good at picking age- and personality-appropriate toys, I am realizing that there are certain types of toys and features of toys that I’m drawn to again and again. I like:

  • toys that encourage creative play
  • toys that encourage sustained play
  • toys that encourage active play (for burning energy)
  • toys that encourage quiet play (for mommy’s sanity)
  • toys that are interchangeable with other toys

I’ve also become rather persnickety about toys I don’t like. I don’t like:

  • toys that don’t have an off switch for their electronic noises
  • toys that do all the work, leaving the child nothing to do but turn it on and watch it
  • toys that require you to buy endless additional pieces and add-ons

Play is how kids make sense of the world, especially in the toddler and preschool age. Lucas is at such a fun age now, where I can see his awareness of the world around him being reflected in how he plays with his toys. Scenes from our day often get re-enacted as he makes dinner with a toy kitchen set, or convenes a daycare centre with his stuffed animals. And of course, there are photographs to be taken and phone calls to Granny to be made!

99:365 Cameraphone TTV

Speaking of play and Fisher-Price, how cool is this? To go with the launch of the new Fisher-Price Canada website, they’ve launched a new set of TV commercials, and the commercial features the group photograph of all the Fisher-Price blogger moms. Here’s the 20 second spot that’s currently running on Treehouse TV.

Fun eh? Lucas and I are kinda, sorta TV stars now!

And speaking of the new Fisher-Price website, have you checked it out yet? There’s a contest where you can register to win a $200 toy package and a $200 spa package.

So tell me, what features do you look for when you evaluate a toy? What do you love? What makes you crazy?

Disclosure: I’m part of the Fisher-Price Play Panel and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Author: DaniGirl

Canadian. storyteller, photographer, mom to 3. Professional dilettante.

4 thoughts on “Fisher-Price and the power of play”

  1. What makes me so crazy is that girls toys are often pink/purple and girls only…for example Snap n Style dolls only have girl dolls no boys – I know my two boys like to play with them but quickly get bored because there is only girls and their clothes are mostly pink or we have this great Loving Family doll house which is pink (how many really houses do you see that are pink??) but though they have a boy doll for it there is no boy bedroom and you can only buy a grandma and NOT a grandpa?? Really annoying! Now I used Fisher-price examples because we buy that the most often but I know the other companies do the same.
    As for like – I am on the same page as you and anything that takes batteries always gets a bit more research before buying.

  2. When it comes to picking toys I want something that will last. DD4 is part tomboy part princess so it better be durable. We also move toys a lot especially in the summer when travelling.

  3. I have a son and a daughter, so I agree with Windex that to have everything pink / purple limits the boys desire to play with them. In our house, we often have The My Little Ponies going to a party where Optimus Prime comes to fight off the bad guys and they all have to escape in the Batmobile and head to Barbies townhouse. I love it!

  4. I have a son and a daughter, so I agree with Windex that to have everything pink / purple limits the boys desire to play with them. In our house, we often have The My Little Ponies going to a party where Optimus Prime comes to fight off the bad guys and they all have to escape in the Batmobile and head to Barbies townhouse. I love it!

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