the christmas toys
This is how I find Bee most mornings.. downstairs in the family room playing with our Christmas toys, still in her pajamas. Breaking out the Christmas boxes is always fun, the kids love to see the ornaments and the lights and our growing collection of Christmas books (we add one new book each year). But the most anticipated boxes are the ones which hold our Christmas toys.
My sister-in-law has started a lovely tradition, which I believe was started in her family a while back. Each year, around the first week in December she sends our family a package that reads "Do not wait until Christmas! Open immediately!". And inside is some sort of Christmas toy. When my children were smaller she gave us a new Little People set each year, first the nativity.. then Santa and his reindeer, next the Christmas village. (Word to the wise: Most of these play music of some sort, so we have an Only-One-Toy-Has-Batteries-at-a-Time Rule. Trust me, you'll want to do likewise.) This year she sent the Playmobil nativity set (which I have had my eye on for quite a while.. it is awesome!).
The kids love their Christmas toys, perhaps because they are only out for a few weeks each December and are then packed away with the other decorations. (And I love that the kids are happily occupied for a bit so I can get a few items crossed off my To Do list!)
12.12.2010
Reader Comments (15)
We have similar tradition with Chanukah and Passover toys and books. They come out about a week before their respective holidays and stay in the living room, where we usually don't keep toys. This makes them super, ultra special. At the close of the holiday we pack them up to wait another year. There aren't a ton of Chanukah or Passover toys that aren't total schlock, so we usually add a book or two to our collections each year.
Lovely tradition, and the Playmobile nativity scene is great...you aren't the only one who has coveted it. Last year we went to our next door neighbor's holiday party, and somehow the Mary doll found its way back to our house in my daughter's pocket.
This is so cute! I love the nativity set that you have!
When I was growing up we had a plastic nativity that we were allowed to play with and we absolutely LOVED it. I think you're right, something about only having it to play with for a little while each year made it more special.
Wonderful tradition. Can't wait for my little guy to be old enough to really understand the whole concept.
i bought the little people nativity set for my daughter this year. i can't wait to start a tradition like this!
i love those!
we have the playmobil set and it's so cute to watch them play with it.:)
what a wonderful tradition! i love that! i think i'm going to have to find a way to include that in our "new traditions". my kids love breaking out the ornaments every year as well and i revel in their stories about who bought or made each ornament, details that only they can remember. it would be great fun to also bring out special games or something that we only play this month. hmmm. i'll have to put some thought into this. thank you for the inspiration! :::
Avimom! could you share what hannukah and passover toys you recommend? would love some suggestions. thanks.
That playmobile set is one of the best parts of our holiday season. We love it. We also got the playmobile woodland advent calendar this year and it is really lovely as well.
she is adorable! - and this is a ridiculously silly questions, but where did you get her pajamas? i absolutely ♥♥ them!
Keren,
There's a Little People hanukkah set, which I bought online directly from Fisher Price, and a play menorah that Pottery Barn Kids used to sell, but most of our things are wooden ritual sets. I've found them at oytoys.com and moderntribe.com. There's a hanukkah set with a hanukkiah, candles, latkes and frying pan, and gelt. There's a Pesach set with seder plate and items, matzah, wine, haggadah, and afikomen. We also have a shabbat set with candles and candlesticks, challah, and cutting board and knife.
Synagogue gift shops are also good places to look for toys. We get a bunch of silly things that don't last more than a year, like bouncing, singing dreidels and paper placemats.
Thanks Avimom for answering that one! I don't have much experience in the Hanukkah department!
Despite your religious beliefs, this is a really cute set. The figures are very colorful and adaptable. Great for kids to learn what Christmas is all about.
Your article is great