All right, I have a question for you. Do your children have a toy that drives you crazy? If so, what is it? And why do you let them play with it?
I’ll kick things off by answering in the comments. Won’t you join me?
Earnest Parenting: help for parents of children with annoying toys.
This is actually a difficult one to answer, because there’s more than one toy that annoys.
My current top annoying toy is the humble balloon. I do think they’re fun to play with, but the constant bouncing, squeaking, and then the explosive pop drives me crazy. Oh, and the spit that flies everywhere when they blow them up and then let them blast around the room? Ewww. Gives me shivers just thinking about it.
As to why I let them play with them…..I’m not sure. Is the insanity defense still available?
Oh yes, David just had his 3rd birthday and his father got him this battery powered drill set. Has the drill bits, all plastic kinda thing, “just like Papa’s”, oh it drives me insane. It’s loud and he can’t just push it and let go, nooo he has to push it and hhooooollllllddddd it. I tried to hide it, but he was very quick to find it. It even managed to make it’s way on vacation with us.
Why do I let him play with it? Well I did send hubby birthday shopping, and he does love it. I ration it, let him play with it outside (yes he’s only 3 and that doesn’t work to well, but I try). Hide it when I can. He’s good though he finds it when I’m not looking.
Well, first I have a brother (with no kids), and he is determined to be that “cool” uncle that buys all of the cool toys that I prefer not to purchase . . . aka the reall annoying ones.
Thanks to my brother we now have a collection of light up noise making lightsabers. Every time the things get bumped or move when turned on they make this awful “shwing!” noise. We also have a couple of super soakers, and I always end up being a target within five steps of walking out of my house. Oh well, they are good kids, and my brother likes to treat them . . .
Oh yes we have several different ones but currently there is one that is very annoying. Pinkney got a car that makes awsome sounds of firetruck. Well it wouldn’t be bad except at night if not put away properly on a high shelf you hit it at all and off it goes with a high pitch siren sound and wakes up the kids. It has no off switch either.
My 13 month old has a Little Tikes guitar that plays the same three tunes over and over and over again…as long as you press the buttons. She hasn’t figured out how to do it, so I get to do it for her.
As to why I let her play with it…she loves it. I think it’s because she loves hearing and watching her older brother play his guitar. And I find it less annoying than his bass booster in his car! But that’s another story.
Oh my word, Jen. 3?? Already? Wow!! Is there anything you can do to reduce the sound output? We’ve been known to disable speakers or at least stuff them with something to quiet things down.
Johann, you are very patient. Don’t forget your chances for revenge if your brother ever has kids! Just smile sweetly and pay for the LOUDEST things you can find. LOL
Crissy that’s awful about no off switch! I still remember the heart attacks when we first had kids…I wasn’t used to toys on the floor and trying to walk quietly after bedtime was always a trick. I finally learned to just clear a path before going to bed every night.
Wendy I think you win the prize for biggest masochist! It’s all about making memories, isn’t it? Even when they drive us crazy, we miss it once the phase has passed.
Although I think the whole balloon hatred thing will be with me for a while. They’re such an incentive to get wild, and I’m constantly thinking that someone will get hurt.
I dont have chidren yet, wiss me luck ok 🙂
Wheat Free Foods: good luck!!! How many children would you like to have?
Maybe 3 children, small family 🙂
I cannot stand children playing with spoons and vessels and similar clanging stuff taking it to be a drum set. It really drives you crazy. But they seem to enjoy the noise(for them music!) that comes out of it.
It’s funny you say 3 is a small family. Growing up, that was considered large! I’ve been noticing lately people having more children again, and larger families are more common.
Roofer, yes that really drives me nuts too. Interestingly all of my boys will leave the area if we’re making loud noises. Hubby was running an electric sander today and Captain Earthquake fled the scene. Give him the chance to make his own racket though, and that boy will go for hours. It doesn’t make sense to me!
I usually give them anything they want… only if they learn to be a good child while growing up. 😐
Air Jordans, so lots of noise and the like doesn’t bother you? I ask this question with the full knowledge that I bought my boys a drum set a few weeks ago and it’ll be in use sometime soon. 😀
For me, my daughter’s doll but it does not drive me crazy. Instead, i love it when she play with it because she is turning mature. lol! She pretends to be a mommy.
Shopping Gurl, awwwwww! That’s so sweet. I have no experience with girls, lol. Enjoy her to the fullest!
My solution for annoying toys is to give them to the kids of my brother: to pay him back for annoying me as a kid. Just kidding 🙂
Lindsay, I think that’s why many people give loud annoying toys. Don’t forget, revenge is a dish best served cold. If you ever have kids that policy will come back to haunt you. 🙂