What do your school-age kids PLAY with?

[lexbeach]

My twins, who are nearly 6-and-a-half, and will be in first grade in the fall, have been complaining that all of our toys are "baby toys." We have a wonderful selection of play things, but it's true that they are mainly aimed towards the "under six" set. They are mostly wooden and handmade, and I love them, but I guess maybe my older kids are getting too old for them?

They do enjoy playing with lego, and we have some other similar construction toys (zaks, knex). We have had some playmobil in the past, but it never seemed to hold the kids' attention for long.

I really don't like plastic/MIC toys, but is that all that's out there for older kids? It seems like most of the online and IRL "natural toy stores" only really cater to babies/toddlers/preschoolers.

When I was their age, I was very into playing "house" with my baby dolls, strollers, etc., and playing with my ginny dolls, but my kids aren't into that kind of thing at all. I do think they would enjoy some action figures, but I can't find any that are plain and simple enough for my taste (i.e. why aren't there little boy action figures? Why are they all crazy muscular men?).

What do your kids play with?

TIA!

Lex

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

I have a 6 1/2 YO girl and a 9 YO boy. At 6, DS really stopped playing with "toys" per se. He was and still is really into legos, but it goes in spells. He really liked some dress-up options and would play out very elaborate pretend scenarios outside - mostly knights stuff. Lots of digging and building in the yard. Lots of bike and scooter riding. We are blessed with a pool and he swims a lot. Remote control anything -- that at that age planes can be really hard to handle and get lost really fast, cars were easier. Building models -- we found some great wooden dinosaurs and insects that he really liked. And he got a Ninetendo DS at that age which probably continues to be his favorite toy of all times, but I'm guessing from your comments that this would not be something you were open to. He can get into art/craft kicks sometimes, but its not consistent. He likes to go on "adventures" outside with a backpack full of magnifying glass, binoculars, ropes, flashlight and so forth.

[lucyem]

I agree with what Evan&Anna's_Mom said. My DS is 7 and just finished first grade. He plays with legos all the time. Outside he plays with a stick in his imaginary world. Likes to dig in the backyard and dirt. He sits in the chicken run and digs for worms for the chickens. He would LOVE a DS but I see no need when we have a wii. He likes the Wii and plays as much as he is allowed. He also enjoys remote control vehicles and has some spy gadgets he likes as well. Walkie talkies especially. Oh and a water gun, he would love a big water gun. This summer I caved and bought a couple of little ones for my boys. Those are fun. Board games are becoming more interesting to him lately as are more science type experiments. He will still play with some little kids stuff. I dragged out all the rescue heroes for my 3yr old and my older son was right in the middle of them for the first day. Now they are baby toys again. One of the biggest things I see is how much his peers and their toys influence DS's wants. I think that is why you do not see much in the way of simpler toys for bigger kids.

[mamazee]

My dd's favorite thing to do is to go through the recycle bin with a stapler, some scotch tape, and art supplies, and make "inventions".

Also, legos, dirt, "science experiments" that involve anything messy from the kitchen or wherever you can spare.

[darcytrue]

My 7 y o DD loves to play pretend with her stuffed animals. She will make them do school, go shopping, make little families out of them, etc. She also likes tiny dolls and has a dollhouse which is usually set up like a hotel so her animals and dolls can stay there. She is big on imaginative play. She likes computer games but not as often as she did for a while there. She has a few dolls and barbies but rarely plays with them. They are usually the big sisters to her miniature dollies or owners of her stuffed animals.

Let's see.... my 7 y o also likes puzzles, legos, wooden log blocks, matchbox cars and we have a rug with a road on it that she plays with, she likes her little wooden train track and still puts it together and plays with that on occasion. She likes to play with play-doh and will do that a few times per week still. She loves to draw things too which is great because she didn't used to.

My kids also love the outdoors. They spent a lot of their days outside when the weather is nice.

[hottmama]

My 6.5 yr. old loves to be outside, on his bike, playing b-ball, or digging in the dirt (he is always filthy!) He likes video games, Legos, Playmobil, Schleich animals. He likes art (drawing, taping stuff together, clay/playdough). He still loves to play dress-up (he has a teenage mutant ninja turtle costume, spiderman, a cape, a karate uniform, often all on at the same time). He has a Quadrilla marble run which is a hit with all his friends (and it's wooden!) and an Erector set. He asked for and got a science kit for Xmas which contains a telescope, microscope, plastic scalpels (with which he dissects bugs), etc. He has a bug habitat which he puts bugs and frogs in (for temporary observation). That's a pretty comprehensive list of our toys, aside from our wooden dollhouse and kitchen which are mostly unused these days. I won't buy anything that won't last (he really wants Bakugans but my foot is down!)

[lexbeach]

Thanks for all the responses. I guess that there isn't much else out there toy-wise that I'm not thinking of, perhaps this is just the age at which some kids stop playing with toys? My kids are outside most of the time too--at least these summery days--biking, swinging, doing barn chores, running around, wrestling, etc. I can see why some families end up choosing to take the video/computer games route (at this point we are still adamantly opposed) because I can imagine that those would be very engaging indoor activities. My kids do love to write and draw--we go through so much paper --and hopefully soon they will be able to add "reading" to their list of fun things to do inside.

I'm sure that all kids pull the "I'm so deprived!" card from time to time, but I guess that it just struck a chord with me the other day when I wondered if maybe I really was depriving the kids somewhat by limiting them to "baby toys." But I feel reassured knowing that there isn't really anything else available that I'd want them to be playing with, and I do think that what we have is truly plenty, and the kids should be able to meet all of their imaginative play needs if they so desire.

Thanks!

Lex

[Peony]

DD1 is 6.5, also going into 1st grade and likes the "younger" toys still. She has been carrying around a baby doll this week. Stuffed animals are big, blocks, cars, our play kitchen, she loves tea parties. We have a turtle sand box in the front yard that has been played in everyday this summer by her. Dress up, pretend games with stuffed animals. The 2y and the 6y are still playing with the same toys.



I don't think that will last long though. She has never been to school and doesn't know many of the toys that are out there. Some of the girls we know are into American Doll, so far those have just passed right over her head, but I think she will be in school this year, she will rapidly learn what else is out there.

[LynnS6]

Ds is 8 and plays with stuffed animals, board games and outdoor stuff (bike, roller blades, scooter). There's a lot of imaginative play that goes on with the 6-8 year old crowd in our neighborhood. They play zoo and castle and that sort of thing out in the back yard.

Ds isn't very into sports, but a lot of the other kids his age are. So, basketball, soccer, baseball are kind of big.

Have you seen Playmobil stuff? Yes, it's plastic, but it's good plastic, in that it lasts for years and years, and the people are definitely not overly muscular. I like them because they have lots and lots of different themes -- from dollhouses to fire and police to pirates to farming to knights to transportation.... It's kind of pricey, but I've managed to buy most of our stuff used.

Originally Posted by Peony

I don't think that will last long though. She has never been to school and doesn't know many of the toys that are out there. Some of the girls we know are into American Doll, so far those have just passed right over her head, but I think she will be in school this year, she will rapidly learn what else is out there.

You might be pleasantly surprised. Ds is 8, going into 3rd grade, and really could care less what the other kids are 'into'. He likes what he likes.

[borbonmamma]

My twins are 7 and they have different interests on what they play with.

DD: stuffed animals, dollhouses, rag dolls, her bike, wooden blocks, art stuff,clay, dressing up, and board games.

DS: roller skates, skate board, woodn blocks, crafts, a mini four wheeler, train set, airplane and car toys and science projects.

They both like to play pretend, no toys needed. They play soccer and basketball together.

[water]

My Ds is 8yo and he likes:

Legos (loves loves them)

Playmobil

Soccer/football/bike/scooter/skateboard

Dress-up and putting on plays with his sister

Making creations from scrap/recycling boxes etc. with a great deal of tape and glue...

Playing instruments - guitar, recorder drums etc.

Science kits - chemistry, electricity...

Drawing intricate scenes (often about Star Wars )

Playing long involved imaginary games with his sister again - travelling around the world, opening a store, ancient Rome, etc.

So not a lot of toys necessary after all - dress-up clothes are great! As are sheets and ropes and sticks and duct tape...

ETA: and we don't do video games or TV either, so no DS for DS, hah!

[graceomalley]

Hi Lex,
My boys are older now, but when they were 6 they were really into dressing up and imaginary games - in fact, we went to the river and my 9 year old insisted on finding everyone a big stick so that we could be a wizard family. We all had a staff and pine cones soon became orbs flying into the water.
Another thing they discovered at that age was the 'paint with water' books. They're wasteful and they don't let kids create their own art, but my kids really loved seeing the colours appear.
Playdough. They STILL love playdough. I don't know what makes playdough so wonderful, but my boys adore it.
Are your boys too young for Uno? Charades is also fun, it's a common request at our house. Oh, and a few boxes of Dominoes used to keep them entertained for hours! They don't actually play the game, they just stand them up in amazing, branching lines then topple them.
Coming back to add: Spirograph!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirograph
Good luck!!

BTW are there any more goat babies at your house? Love your new blog post too .

[Girlprof]

Originally Posted by lexbeach

Thanks for all the responses. I guess that there isn't much else out there toy-wise that I'm not thinking of, perhaps this is just the age at which some kids stop playing with toys? My kids are outside most of the time too--at least these summery days--biking, swinging, doing barn chores, running around, wrestling, etc. I can see why some families end up choosing to take the video/computer games route (at this point we are still adamantly opposed) because I can imagine that those would be very engaging indoor activities. My kids do love to write and draw--we go through so much paper --and hopefully soon they will be able to add "reading" to their list of fun things to do inside.

I'm sure that all kids pull the "I'm so deprived!" card from time to time, but I guess that it just struck a chord with me the other day when I wondered if maybe I really was depriving the kids somewhat by limiting them to "baby toys." But I feel reassured knowing that there isn't really anything else available that I'd want them to be playing with, and I do think that what we have is truly plenty, and the kids should be able to meet all of their imaginative play needs if they so desire.

Thanks!

Lex

Just had to respond to this. You have a barn? a whole barn with real live animals? Then, no 6 year old boy in your house can reasonably claim to be deprived. Doesn't mean they aren't going to claim that anyway, but don't believe them.

Our DS is 5.5. Lego and toy weapons top his list. Mostly we make him stick to swords but we caved on a toy Kentucky rifle, which he loves. Yesterday he came up with big ninja outfit made up of various scarves and things. Outside it's his bike, his scooter and soccer and basketball. The other major hit for inside is science stuff. We got a couple versions of things like the "Fizzy Foamy Science Kit" and he will play with that a long time. The other thing he is just starting to get into is magic tricks - he's too young for most of that, but I bet at 6.5, your boys could do them.