My husband and I recently decided to cut our toy consumption by 95%! We didn’t come to this decision because we have too many toys (and we probably do), but because we noticed that our children’s expensive retail toys were continually being bypassed for the TOP 3 ORGANIC TOYS!
These 3 “toys” are free and available to each and every kid in the world!!!
3. Water. It has many applications. However, three uses are obvious and every kid understands them without ever being instructed: first, water can be splashed; next, water can be poured, and finally, water can get others wet. Enough said.
2. Sticks. I see sticks, but my kids see swords, spears, guns, wands, crutches, babies (my girls see babies everywhere), clubs, building material, and a million other things that only their imaginations could conceive.
And the Top Organic Toy is…
1. Dirt! Yep, it’s dirt and all dirt’s accessories – rocks, sand, grass, twigs, and worms. In fact, dirt is what first turned me on to this phenomenon. I have a yard full of toys – trucks, swing set, slide, bike, tricycle, jump rope, balls, chalk, bubbles, etc. and guess what I see all the preschool kids gathered around? Dirt! 
We have a garden and Dad left one of the hand shovels out. Sure enough, with all the other toys in the yard, the kids rushed to dig in the dirt. They shared the shovel and some dug with their hands. Then they piled up rocks. Then they buried the rocks. Then they dug the rocks up and called them “buried treasure.”
Then they discovered worms. They piled the worms, buried the worms, and made homes for the worms. They named the worms and it was only when they started piling the worms up on the back patio that I stepped in and ended the dirt extravaganza. But, it wasn’t over for good. The next time they went out, it was straight to the dirt. There was no shovel, so they constructed crude ones out of thick sticks. Finally, enough was enough.
No they didn’t grow tired of the dirt – I did!
I had grown tired of the muddy shoes, dirty hands, and explanations I had to give to the kids’ parents every day telling them how I had allowed their children to become so filthy under my watch. Yet, dirt never dies and when I am not careful I am sure to find the kids back at it.
So if you are feeling bad about getting rid of your kids commercial toys, don’t worry so much. Purge and declutter; your kids won’t miss it!
Please, leave a comment below telling us what you think is the top organic toy!
Linking up Here
Love it Janine! So true, you can put many different kinds of toys in front of children and they are always finding their own in creative ways. Boxes are always fun too, not really organic but good to recycle:)
Thanks Jeni, We will have to do one on the top recycled toys. The box will probably take the top spot. Its funny, you buy a bunch of toys for Christmas and what do they want to play with? They want to play with the boxes!
I have spent so much money on toys, toys that rarely see the light of day. I might be a toy shopaholic! I’m trying to rein myself in and let the kids play with the toys at the store for 5 minutes and leave them on the shelf where we found them, because realistically that first 5 minutes of play is about all a toy at my house sees. You are so right, the best “toys” are free! Jackson had already had 2 baths today because he just wants to play in the water!
That’s so funny. I’ll have to do that on the next rainy day; a free trip to the toy store just to let them play. I’m sure the toy stores will love me. lol.
Great reminder! Thanks for sharing this at the Kid’s Co-op.
Great Post. Thanks for linking up to fun frugal friday. My girls love water and rocks. They aren’t into dirt or sticks, but that’s okay. : )
I totally understand. My 2yr old is very clean too. She is always asking me to wash her hands, but she loves her pink princess gardening gloves and matching shovel.
I am finally getting time to read your blogs! Don’t ever worry about my kids getting dirty! My feeling is, the dirtier, the better! all our toys end up in the dirt…or the bath!
Thats good to know! I remember sending them home with mud all over their pants. I thought I might get the evil eye 😉
Hi! I got a big laugh on me. Are you serious about the number 1 organic toy? I’d like to add the leaves as number 4 organic toy. We share the same ideas. Dropping by from UBP.
I am totally serious. How many kids don’t like to play in the dirt?Leaves would fit right in! Thanks for stopping by.
You are so right….children love natural “toys” as much or more than manufactured toys. There was a time when Mr. Potato Head was an organic toy…originally they sold the features to push into a real potato…but that dates me for sure. I think water has to be #1 because it has so many uses for play.
I didn’t know that Mr. Potato Head was like that. That is too fun! A lot of people said that they would put water as #1 because dirt is too messy, but their kids would put dirt as #1. I don’t know why, but something about getting dirty makes kids happy.
Brilliant! What great advice & it will save a lot of money, thanks so much for adding this to the outdoor play link up this week,Kierna
Soooooo true! My kids are like that too. We are going through toys now and getting rid of the excess – of which there is sadly a lot! Thanks so much for sharing at Mom On Timeout!
I’ve been going through a lot of our toys too. I like to put them away and then bring them out again in a few months, but these 3 never get old. Thanks for stopping by!
Oh, I love it!! We love to play with your top 3. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!
So true. A high school guy told me recently that his favorite toys as a kid were all the various sticks and branches in his yard! Many forts were built out of fallen branches at my house growing up 🙂 Thanks for linking up at Thrifty Thursday!
What kid doesn’t like playing with stick right. Thanks for hosting.
Couldn’t agree more! As a culture, we’ve gotten so used to thinking that more stuff means more happiness, when what really makes my children’s day is time outside playing in the mud (and of course, the bath that comes afterward!)
Thanks for sharing at Thrifty Thursday!
True, I think it does the opposite. My kids love the bath too; a great time to play with #3.
Hi there! I found your blog via the Mom’s Mingle and am happy to be your newest follower! I would love for you to follow me back at http://www.two-in-diapers.blogspot.com. 🙂
This is great. Just make sure they dont touch their face or eyes after playing with worms – they”ll get pink eye!
Yes! We are always harping on them about that. Thanks for stopping by!
This is such a cute post!! We appreciate you linking up to our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday”. We hope you’ll be back soon! -The Sisters
What a great twist on organic! I love the use of ‘organic’ toys. I know that our boys would love the focus on playing with dirt, water, and sticks. Thank you for sharing with us on Saturday Show and Tell. I hope you’ll join us again this week!
-Mackenzie
http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com
You’ve been featured on this week’s Saturday Show & Tell @ Cheerios and Lattes!
I agree with your top 3. I would also add rocks, shells and sand to the list.
Cute posting! Thanks for sharing!
LOL! You are so right, most parents cut down on the toys because of space or an eco-philosophy but this is a great reason and oh so very true!!!
I agree with your top three whole-heartedly! Thank you for this contribution to Sofia’s Ideas {Magic of the Mundane}.
So glad you agree! They will never get old. Thanks for stopping by.
My kids love dirt. We have a hole in the backyard. It is in our designated dig spot. The rest of the yard is off limits for digging. I usually don’t let them mix water and dirt. Plain dirt is easy enough to brush off or wash off in the sink as needed. Add water and the bath is needed. We do have water time, too. My girls were also playing with freshly mowed grass today. It was the hay for their horses.
That is a great idea to have a dig site. I agree; mud is not my favorite. I love the smell of freshly mowed grass. Your daughters are so cute to thing of that!
I love this post! My little one loves splashing water and doing anything outside:)
I hope you have a nice day! Very good article, well written and very thought out. I am looking forward to reading more of your posts in the future. MyKidsGuide
Haha! So true.
My kids are older now, but when they were little my son could entertain himself all day long with a few sticks (magic wands, building race tracks, etc.) and my daughter just loved to run through the water from the sprinklers!