I wish I would have had the foresight after our Memorial Day party to take a picture of all the broken toys I threw away. These are the latest from my bag of Summer goodies clean up. Right before our party I went and purchased a huge bag of toys to entertain the children coming over. I can’t even begin to tell you how many broke. This includes, jump ropes, hula hoops, water guns, etc. I made a choice right then and there not to get roped into the good old dollar store for toys. The quality of these items are so shoddy and just add to the tons of plastic trash created in the world.
Well-made toys don’t turn into junk they get passed down to other generations. They also don’t get replaced and create more trash. They last. Next time you are in a toy store take a look at all the toys available. Are you able to tell the difference between a well-made toy and one made of cheap plastic?
What Can You Do
1. Before you buy an item try to figure out how well it’s made and whether or not it will last or end up in the trash.
2. If you aren’t sure ask friends or someone working at the store about the quality of the item.
3. Take care of the toys you already own. I’ve had many a yard sale and have had people comment on how they look new. The better you take care f it the longer it lasts and the more your kids will enjoy it.
One very important thought: Don’t get drawn in to the disposable items and say, ” well, it’s only a dollar! ” Our kids don’t need every single gadget on the market. It won’t make them any happier. Especially if they learn that if if breaks we just buy another one. Think about the message that it sends.