Bicycles, Baby Dolls and Play-Doh Still Beat Video Games

I just hosted a birthday pool party for my 5 year old niece and nephew, formerly known as "the babies", now referred to as "the twins". I have noticed that each year it gets harder to figure out what to buy them for their birthday. My nephew has already become a semi-pro at all video games and loves to come over and play with the Wii at my house. My niece doesn't mind the video games, she is just not consumed by them. However, I made a rule that started last year with all the kids I buy gifts for, no more electronics, and definitely no more video games.

I'm not saying kids shouldn't be allowed to play video games at all. When I was a kid, Atari was the brand new sensation with the first game console that came out in 1977. However, I never actually owned one of those consoles and did not play Atari until I was 11 or 12. I still remember the first time I turned over Asteroids, meaning I got more than a million points. What I remember more from my childhood was playing tag with friends, riding our bikes in the neighborhood, making crazy things with Play-Doh and using our Sunday comics section to have some fun with my Silly Putty. My friends liked baby dolls and Barbie, I preferred the Slinky, Hot Wheels and Lite-Brite, but they were all fun ways to play and interact with each other.

This weekend thanks to Texas weather which produced rain for my pool party, the kids ages 5-18, were stuck inside for a while. We made the best of it, and though some went right for the Wii, I found that the older teenagers were more interested in a board game I had set out(not thinking anyone would actually play it). This game is called 'Would You Rather...?' and it is fun but not for the faint of heart. It asks a question and you have to pick one of two choices, and "neither" is not an option. It makes you think and teens and adults alike seem to enjoy it. It kept them occupied for over an hour, a regular old board game, not an IPOD or the cell phone, nor their video games, just a board game. I heard a lot of laughter coming from that table, so I knew I could turn my attention to the younger kids and see what fun they were having. My 5 year old niece came calling my name and wanted to know if she and my nephew could play with "our toys". She knows that I have a hall closet with books, papers, crayons, spider-man games and other age appropriate toys just for them. When they come to visit, I like to have games and activities I can sit and do with them, it helps me get to know them better and visa versa.

With my niece in tow, I pulled out their coloring books and pens and games and when I sat down with them, I watched how much fun they were having with simple things. My nephew decided he would draw a portrait of Aunt Sherri. He did a good job, even adding a dragon tattoo(which I don't have) because he likes dragons and thought I might like it too. He was kind enough to add hair because I pointed out that he left me bald! My niece and her cousin were coloring and laughing and being the adorable little girls that they are. Eventually they were able to get their suits on and go swimming, and then they came in later to open presents. My mom and I went in together to buy the twins gifts this year and we both agreed to go old school with the gifts. They each got an outfit because they are growing out of everything so quickly. Our other choice was activity books and Play-Doh play sets with extra cans of Play-Doh. I was half convinced that the kids might not even consider playing with it, but I hoped they would enjoy it as much as I did as a kid. They got great gifts, and my niece was especially thrilled at all the baby dolls and baby doll accessories she received. We had to have both kids close their eyes so that their mom could bring out their big surprise, new bicycles with training wheels. It was pure joy when they opened their eyes to see the new bikes! Both hopped on to give them a try, before deciding that riding inside the house was not the way to go.

A little later I saw my nephew sitting at my kitchen table, with his Play-Doh set. He was making hot dogs and hamburgers with the set and comparing them to what his Grandpa Charlie was making. I joined them for a bit, happy that he actually liked what we got him and thrilled to watch him create new things all by himself. I wandered off to see what my niece was up to, and I found her hiding in a corner a little upset that she could not go swimming again. I asked her if she would like to play with some of her toys with me, and she gave me the tentative head nod. We went in search of all the new baby dolls, the stroller and the car seat, and took them to the living room to have a tea party and coloring contest. Sitting on that floor I felt a lot closer to 4 than 40, and I think it may even be the first time I ever played with dolls! We had a good time, and soon she forgot what she was mad about.

Another thing kids seem to love are balloons and beach balls, and we had lots of both. We played beach ball volleyball (Aunt Katrina and I had to sit to make it fair), keep away and the old, "don't let the ball hit the ground" game. Pretty soon I had 3 kids chasing me and throwing all the blow up balls at me at the same time, not good odds for me. The smiles and the laughter made getting pelted with beach balls and balloons totally worth it. It all made me realize that I may be a little old school when it comes to what I think kids should be playing with, but I'm not old, yet.