Alternatives to Commercialized Toys

Hand knit finger puppets from Peru, paper mache doll holding bird, hand knit doll from Kenya, small hand painted South American drum with beads

Orange wool porcupine from Nepal, wood blocks, African djembe drum

Today, young children are swamped by toys with licensed characters. Often, these personas are associated with television programs, movies, and many other products from bubble bath to food. Such branded merchandise is strongly targeted at children through the media and marketing, which only trains youngsters to be easily persuaded by the media. A large number of these toys foster passive engagement and deny children opportunities to be creative and to use their imagination.

Traditional toys are often a better option for children. Basic wood blocks, crayons and paper, molding clay, rag dolls, puppets and musical instruments encourage creativity and interaction.

Children are also fascinated by simple, handmade toys from different parts of the world. Such toys promote global awareness and pique a child's curiosity. Children and parents can discuss where the toy was made, what was used to make it, and how it is different or similar to play things that can be found at department stores.

Handmade, ethnic toys won't be found at your local Target or Toys R Us, but you can look for them at street fairs, specialty stores, and online. So, when building your child's collection, look for items that promote creativity, learning, and cultural awareness.


*When purchasing foreign toys, make certain that paint is lead free. You can do this by conducting a simple test that can be purchased at most hardware stores.