Children aren’t born with impulse control, and million-dollar marketing budgets and peer pressure are often too much for them. You end up buying them toys they play with once or twice, and then you store them for years before they go to charity or landfill. We’re not saying don’t buy them any toys – we all need some joy in our lives – but buying less and better quality is the way to go. So here’s how to buy better toys for kids, and some strategies to avoid buying them things they really don’t need.

How can I avoid buying my kids plastic junk and things they don’t need?

Here are some strategies which may or may not work, depending on the child and your own willingness to accept tantrums.

• If they’re watching TV, steer younger children towards CBeebies, CBBC and subscription services, rather than channels like Nickelodeon that advertise relentlessly.
• Be aware that YouTube Kids still has adverts – it’s only ad-free if you pay for the premium version.
• Teach self-control. Ask them whether they really need whatever it is they’re pestering you for, and lead them to the right answer.
• Explain the effect that plastic waste has on the environment.
• Take a photo of them with the thing they want. Tell them it’s so they can remember which one they wanted when pocket money day/birthday/Christmas comes around. This may be enough to distract them and satisfy them at the time, plus it teaches delayed gratification. Make sure you keep your promise and go through the photos with them before the next big event to see what they still want.
• Explain that you haven’t got money in the budget for whatever it is right now, but maybe they should put it on their birthday/Christmas list.
• Offer to pay half, if they earn the money for the other half (this teaches them the value of money and ensures they only buy it if they really want it).
• If all else fails, just say no and ride out the tantrum.
• Avoid filling party bags with cheap plastic that will get thrown away. Sweets are a good substitute that won’t leave the guests feeling cheated.

How can I buy better toys?

• When you agree to buy, buy good quality toys that can be donated or passed on when your children are older (like Playmobil and Lego).
• Avoid cheap knock-offs that are more likely to break, or are secretly embarrassing to your child, and therefore won’t get used.
• Encourage children to choose toys that relate to active or creative hobbies, like sports, crafts, or making things.
• Encourage children to make their own play environments for their dolls or animals. Houses, villages, rockets or battle sites can be made out of cardboard boxes, paper-mâché, discarded plastic tubs, and paint. They won’t necessarily last very long, but the fun is in the making as well as the playing.
• For younger children, buy wooden versions of toys (e.g. blocks, farm animals, cars, or play-food).
• Join local Facebook groups where people give away or swap items. These are great for picking up toddler bikes, sandpits, and toys like Bob the Builder or My Little Pony (which each child can love for a couple of years before passing on to the next one).
• Avoid toys that get boring quickly because they only do one thing, e.g. playdough shaping machines.

Good luck.

_{Image credit: photo by Taylor Heery on Unsplash}