My last post may have left the wrong impression. I want to fix that.
I don't think children require any special materials in order to grow and learn. What they need are caregivers who give them lots of time and love. That's it.
Children who don't watch television or play with plastic toys do not grow up to be smarter or kinder than children who do. It's LOVE that nurtures a child's heart.
A child doesn't need video games to learn and grow. So, if you don't have money to buy them, don't sweat it. But, a child who has lots of video games will also learn and grow. You are not a bad parent if you allow them. (My kids have LOADS of them!)
A child can be entertained for hours by a cardboard box. The same child can also be entertained by Barbie dolls and G.I. Joe's. My kids have ALL of these things, and I am not ashamed of it.
In my previous post, I tried to create a list of common, inexpensive materials that are available to most children in most households. Children need a minimum of things, but they need lots of love. However, having more things won't hurt children etiher.
There is so much that parents need to truly be concerned about in raising children, but worrying about things shouldn't be one of them. Whether I let my daughter play with Barbies or not doesn't make me a better or worse parent.
And, that's what troubles me. I sometimes sense an ugly competitiveness among parents these days. Aren't we all in this together? Aren't we all trying to make the best choices we can for our kids? Wooden toys may makes sense to you, plastic ones may make sense to me. There is no bad or good involved. Toys aren't evil. But, the way we treat each other, well...