The possible shortage is being predicted because some many toys are being recalled and because companies have stepped up their safety testing.
Of course, if your home business is selling toys, then a potential shortage could be great news for you. Suddenly your product will be in more demand than they've ever been. You may want to step up your advertising efforts.
For those of use whose main interest in toys is as parents, a potential toy shortage doesn't have to spoil the season. First of all, remember that toy shortages are really nothing new. Each year, during the holiday season, parents line up to get that year's hottest toy for their little ones. Traditionally, some parents (and kids) have missed out on getting that year's latest and greatest toy.
Confidentially, we're an "after the trend" family. If our kids get the trendy toys it's months after the holidays - maybe for a birthday - and the toy is usually on sale when we buy it.Here are five tips to keep any potential toy shortages from spoiling the holiday season for your kids:
- Holiday discussions - A toy shortage could provide an excellent opportunity to discuss the true meaning of the holiday season with your children. (Chances are that it is not about toys.) Encourage your child to look into the history of your holiday by reading books and articles.
- Save for later - Put aside some of their toys now. As my mom would have said, "how many toys can they play with at one time anyway?" If your kids are like mine, they probably have too many toys anyway. Toys put aside now and brought out in a few months will seem new to younger children.
- Outward focus - Teach your kids to focus on others. Remind them that not everybody is as fortunate as they are during the holidays. Some ways to teach children compassion are to participate in a program like the Salvation Army's Angel Tree or to volunteer as a family at a soup kitchen.
- Go crafty - Give homemade items this year. There are many patterns for homemade toys. If you start now, you can have gifts ready by the time the holidays start. Older kids may enjoy helping you create gift items.
- Environmental focus - Go green for Christmas, literally. Instead of giving as many traditional toys this year, you can plant a tree in your yard for each child. Make a point to tell them that it is "their tree." Over the years, the child can track the growth and progress of the tree that they planted.
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If your children are anything like my daughter, they're more interested in the boxes and pretty paper anyway. For one great gift, why not try going to Wal-Mart or some other large store and asking for one or several of the huge boxes they just break down and throw away? Add in white butcher paper, tape, parental help with scissors, and crayons. Then you'd be giving your child their very own DIY rocket ship, or boat, or play house, or whatever their little minds conjure up.
Plus, there's always the "custom coupon" option. What child wouldn't enjoy receiving a booklet of coupons redeemable for such and such amount of one on one time with Mom and Dad, automatic scheduling of their favorite activity, or their favorite meal?
Posted by: Misses E. | October 10, 2007 11:21 AM | Permalink to Comment