Got walmart toys for Christmas :( What to do?

[MariposaMami]

My boys got toys from Walmart from their grandparent (dad's side) and I am really particular about what they play with, watch, listen to etc.. All of the toys were electronic, which I cannot stand! I have a wish list on Three Sisters and on Amazon, but haven't asked my husband to spread the word. He doesn't feel comfortable doing that kind of stuff. When it comes to my parents, I can just tell them what they need or what I would like them to have. It's pretty easy and there are never any hurt or hard feelings. A lot of times I prefer money if they don't know what to get them, and although it is nice and thoughtful of people to get them stuff, it would be so cool if they would ask.

Anyway, I'm going to be returning the stuff, and since I don't have a receipt, I'll have to get a gift card. What would YOU get for them instead at the dreaded Walmart? I was maybe thinking some art stuff. What else?

[TanyaS]

Art supplies is a great idea. We took back a crazy amount of things this year. The kids picked out a couple replacements and we bought groceries with the rest. The gift card was for a really stupid amount....more than my kids ever need in toys, so we fed them instead.

You could also buy clothes for the next season or playdoh.

[serenetabbie]

OT but... Does Walmart really take items back w/o receipts?

I would get art supplies for the kids if Walmart sells them. We are forever running out of tempra paints and big sheets of paper. Or books... my kids LOVE puzzle books and I am pretty sure they sell those.

[rere]

Games?Like simple,fun,non noisy, good for the brain,board games.

Or if your kids have what they need you could donate the toys to a women and children's shelter.

[JamieCatheryn]

There are actually some great things at Walmart, just most of them aren't in the toy section. Games are good, and they have a good selection of art stuff - crayola and the like. There are also some great things in housewares for a kid, wooden dishes, baskets for keeping toys in, shells, etc.

[MariposaMami]

I wish I could just get the cash and get what I want for them from Three Sisters Toys or Amazon.com! My husband said his Dad was already asking if the boys had played with the toys yet. He said FIL will want to know what we got them instead. Ay! I actually like the idea of looking outside of the toy department. I've been wanting to get my boys some "meal prep" items of their own from some Montessori catalogs, so maybe I can find some of that stuff at Walmart instead. I really hate shopping there. My boys really don't need anything, and we like to keep things really simple. Most people would consider us low income, but I've seen true low income in Mexico and I just feel blessed that we have a solid and safe home to live in, never go without food, and have the "luxury" to think about what I'm going to spend this gift card on.

If my FIL wasn't asking what we spent the money on, I would probably just get the art supplies and kitchen stuff for them and spend the rest on some food for the family, but I have a feeling that won't fly.

Do any of you "dare" to let people know your preferences for playthings, etc.. for your children, or ever share your online wishlists with others?

[muttix2]

My family and close friends know my preferences. In fact within my family we go so far as to say specific things we'd like for the holidays. For example, I really wanted a teapot, rice cooker, and breadmaker this year. I told my family and I got the rice cooker and teapot along with other gifts I prefer it this way as none of us has a ton of money to waste and this way the gifts are what we actually need/want. I told them no MIC toys and though a few got through, they were ones I approved beforehand.

With others, it is harder. I just take their gifts with a smile and a thanks. If they aren't things I approve of, my children can't have them. They are young enough right now that they don't notice when/if toys go missing so this works out. In the future years I'll probably make more of an effort to exchange the items instead of just donating them but for now, it isn't worth the hassle to get what would likely be just a few dollars in exchange value.

[operamommy]

Originally Posted by serenetabbie

OT but... Does Walmart really take items back w/o receipts?

Wal-Mart will take back just about anything, with or without receipt.

True story: a few years ago we bought one of those big inflatable pools for our older kiddos. We had it about a month, and it was just a PITA. Dh decides to return it. I'm like "WTF? No way they're going to take a used pool back!" He drains it, folds it up (it actually still had DIRT on the bottom of it), and returns it - no box, no receipt.

They took the d@mn thing back. :

[Kirsten]

How far do they live from you? Could you take the toys to grampa's house for the boys to play with them there?

And I am really curious as to what the toys were...

Because it sounds like the grampa was excited to hear how the boys liked the toys, do you think they could keep them? I think of it as them eating a purple goldfish cracker at a friend's house - we don't eat that here, and a little now and then won't be the end of the world.

If you are choosing 90% of their toys, would the few things that he bought for Xmas really be terrible to keep for a few months - then put in the garage sale box?

I remember when my dd1 was little, I spent a fair amount of emotional energy banning Barbies, then later Bratz. My girls eventually got Barbies, and were gifted a couple of Bratz dolls. My style - no. And they were all excited about them at first (probably because I didn't want them to have them, and hadn't let them up til that point). But now they are long forgotten, and in the toy bin somewhere.

I don't buy things that I don't find productive. But they do have a few things that aren't my favorite. We've all gotten through it.

Only thing I would really put my foot down about is MIC and/or recalled items.

[ollineeba]

I would use the gift card for a family board game or something like that.. playdoh, crayons, etc.

[MariposaMami]

Originally Posted by Kirsten

How far do they live from you? Could you take the toys to grampa's house for the boys to play with them there?

He lives about 4 hours away and we don't see him but once every few months.

[/QUOTE]And I am really curious as to what the toys were... [/QUOTE]

Toy #1: Digital Art Studio by Fisher Price. They need to use the computer for that. I really do not want to go through the effort of setting up that whole ordeal. I'd rather they explore making art with tangible materials, before going into the digital realm

Toy#2: Star Station Entertainment System by Fisher Price. They need a television to use it (It's some kind of karaoke toy). We don't own a t.v. as of Lent (about March) of 2007!

Toy#3: Baby Jamz Dance Mat complete with Ghettorriffic renditions of songs such as "Hush little baby" and "Mary had a little lamb"! I used to want to be a break dancer. Honest! When I was about 4, my brother used to hold competitions in our garage in Chicago. I have nothing against poetic hip hop, but these songs are honestly "Ghettoriffic", and totally not my style! I just ordered Elizabeth Mitchell's "Little Bird" CD for the boys. They are totally worlds apart! http://youaremyflower.org/home.html

[/QUOTE] I don't buy things that I don't find productive. But they do have a few things that aren't my favorite. We've all gotten through it.[/QUOTE]

I agree with you. I definitely shouldn't sweat it. There's plenty to worry about in life! I just hate having excess around, especially unwanted excess. We're about to have our 5th baby in 6 1/2 years of marriage and I just really want to simplify things around the house, you know? Maybe I'm being a bit over the top cause of the pregnancy hormones? Don't tell my husband I said that though!

[rere]

Originally Posted by MariposaMami

I agree with you. I definitely shouldn't sweat it. There's plenty to worry about in life! I just hate having excess around, especially unwanted excess. We're about to have our 5th baby in 6 1/2 years of marriage and I just really want to simplify things around the house, you know? Maybe I'm being a bit over the top cause of the pregnancy hormones? Don't tell my husband I said that though!

I don't think you're being over the top.

It's a shame your in-laws wasted money on stuff that so obviously doesn't fit your lifestyle or parenting choices.Hopefully your husband can figure out a way to talk to them about it so they stop wasting their money.

[serenetabbie]

Well, thank you for answering my OT Q operamommy!

I got a bunch of stuff brand new stuff I was going to donate, but we could really use the GC... so much so that I am willing to swallow my objections to WM and trade the stuff in for underpants for the kids.

[CallMeKelly]

Originally Posted by Kirsten

...
Only thing I would really put my foot down about is MIC and/or recalled items.

If it is sold in Walmart it's MIC. At least 99.99999% of the things sold there are.

Even some yarns.... "made in China, processed in Canada" WTH?

I had the same problem. Not a single elect. toy in the house but the H/O train set and then bam... couple of really awful toys... so let kids play with them, called grandparents let them hear the kids playing and since they really were having fun, told gp's how much fun they were having and thanks. Last week found the already forgotten toy at the bottom of a toy bin and donated it to Goodwill, next week plan to do the same with another one and so on until they are gone. If I knew they were bought somewhere like Walmart I'd take them back, for sure. It isn't that I don't like the toys, but like MariposaMami I just don't need the clutter. I get rid of unplayed with pretty wood toys as well.


I would get cloth to make curtains and tents and things with (because that is what we need ) but if I didn't need that I would get: digital kids camera... I think any age is good for photography... musical instruments... they have some sometimes, I think. Like real flutes/guitars/drums. And like pp's ... art supplies/baskets etc.

[MariposaMami]

Ok, went to Walmart yesterday. What a nightmare! They told me they couldn't give me a Gift Card without a receipt, but that they would make an exception and let me exchange the stuff right on the spot. So basically I had to go and pick out $96 worth of stuff right then and there.
Here's what we got for the boys:
-3 chopping boards of various sizes for independent snack prep
-A Berry Colander so the boys can rinse berries, beans, etc..
-A Vegetable brush (They're so excited about scrubbing potatoes!)
-A Cereal Dispenser for the boys to serve themselves more easily
-Modeling Clay
-Construction Paper
-4 pairs of slippers
-Multi Colored Yarn
-Yarn Storage Jar with hole on top
-Lap Harp Musical Instrument
-And.. a potty chair!
TaDa!

The boys are so happy with their stuff! My oldest couldn't wait to get in the kitchen and start using his very own stuff. We made room our "buffet area" as we call it, so he and his brothers could have their very own drawer and shelf to store their mini sized food prep stuff!

Everything has been such a great hit. I'm really happy that my boys can make the best out of and enjoy the simpler things in life.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. By the way, if you are thinking of getting your child a musical instrument, I would totally recommend the lap harp! It's awesome, portable and easy to use! Even my 18 month old has enjoyed using it.

As for Walmart, I won't go in there ever again if I really don't have to. (It's been like that for a long time now and I like it like that!) When I brought all my stuff back to the CS desk, they told me they couldn't do the exchange after all! I was like, "You guys are doing this exchange and that's that, so get to it pronto!". I'm pregnant and I ain't haven' it!

[rere]

WOW!What great stuff you got for them.I'm so glad it worked out in the end.Good for you for sticking with it and getting stuff they'll actually use.

My brother and I had a lap harp when we were kids and loved it!I thought about getting one for my daughter for Christmas but since her father is a musician she already has access to quite a few instruments(like her own bass and full sized drum kit which is a funny sight).They're so easily rewarding though.I think lap harps are great for little kids(big kids too).