Well, here we are. E is already almost 6 months old and while we have attempted to only provide her with Montessori-type toys, the inevitable baby electronics with loud noises, beeps, spinny things, Spanish option switches, ect. have already somehow crept into our home. In some ways I am so tempted to think they may be beneficial; with Mozart's Piano Sonata screaming out at her with a push of a button, or learning cause and effect with the plastic piano notes that blare out the key color in English (or Spanish!). But are they? Can't I just tell her the color? I have to say its been great to plop her in front of some of these plastic wonderlands as I am loading the dishwasher or running to the bathroom. But somewhere inside me there is guilt. Couldn't she be finding just as much joy in banging her wooden rattle against her wooden Gnome? Probably not. But maybe in these moments, rather than getting immediate gratification from an electronic toy, she would be forced to create new entertainment with simpler toys or the environment around her. Still, somehow, I can't help but wonder... if I take away these fancy, plastic, spinning, singing toys, will she get behind? Will she not learn how to spin a clear wheel full of beads or how to pull down rather than push to get a plastic guitar to sing to her? What about the piano keys? I don't have the answer, but it is something I have struggled with.
My decision is to regift these gifts. To be honest, E is already loosing interest in most of these anyway - she quickly learned how to make noise with each and we just brought them out for the first time a week ago. So, bye bye plastic wonderlands, loud beeps, and frantic entertainment. A child with no toys will be thrilled to have you.
