The way toys should be! (Ikea)

Member Name: giksy21

Product:	Ikea
Date:	19/05/09 (39 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap, durable

Disadvantages: not as 'cool' as the modern day rubbish

At risk of being called a skinflint, I have long since been of the opinion that childrens toys have become rediculously expensive. My three are like all kids, they want the latest thing. But, have you noticed, as I have that the quality of these brand named toys is appallining. Quite recently, my five year old got a Hannah Montana dress up, and it fell apart within a couple of hours. I couldn't help thinking, that toys would not have had such poor longevity in my day. We simply would not have stood for it.

So, my kids were experiencing somewhat of a lull in the 'new toy' department for some time. That is, until I recently went to IKEA to buy a bookcase for our house. As we meandered round the store, along the little path laid out for you, we eventually came to a section laid out in the fashion of a kind of retro kids room. It was cool! Bright colours, soft toys, learning toys. Tough, durable toys, and not a tweenie, or tellytubby in sight! It was great, and my kids seemed to take to them. At first I thought that they would not look twice at these, seemingly boring playthings, but boy was I wrong!

It seems that these Swedes, as well as being an excellent accompaniment to your mashed potatoe, know about more than furniture. Sure, their furniture and their bits and pieces are sleek and funky, but it is apparent that they know a lot about kids too. They are great for toys from which a child can learn. Building blocks, and drawing boards are everywhere. They like wooden toys, which in turn last much better when your kid throws them down the stairs, or hits her sister with them! But also, they like to turn on your childs IMAGINATION! If a child is allowed to, they will make a game out of anything.

The wooden toys are everywhere. There are little tea sets, and peices of furniture that would be ideal in a dolls house. They have excellent value train sets, that will last forever. They have arrays of cuddly toys, which are cheap as chips. Little bribes (sorry, I mean gifts.) for your kids, for a matter of a few pence. Or big animals, in quite remarkable shapes and sizes. When I was there I found a twelve inch woodlouse. It was bizzarre, but at the same time, it was amazing.

The toys in Ikea, are functional, slightly retro, and really cheap. By cheap, I mean inexpensive because they are by no means poorly crafted. It puts a picture in my mind, of lovely family Christmases, from years gone by. There was no branding then, just good old fashioned toys like santa himself would have made. Maybe he was part Swedish?

Summary: A great alternative to modern day crap toys.