Train Sets by Lionel

 Nothing says the holidays to me more than a train set. I spent hours under the Christmas tree with my grandfather and his collection. Every year they added new accessories, like houses and people, and my siblings and I would exercise our creativity as we made up all sorts of adventures. The little passengers took epic journeys, even though they were really just traveling an endless loop.

The only thing more exciting than the track coming out for the holidays was the time we got to visit the neighbor that had a permanent installation in his basement. His train didn’t just go in a simple loop; it went around hills and bends and over bridges. This guy had sections that were town and sections that were grass and tress. It was such a treat for our imaginations.

We learned at a young age that these weren’t for kids to play with alone, that they were breakable and if we did something wrong the line could stop running! We were never allowed to operate them without an adult watching us, and so we grew up knowing that these were a cross-generational family item. This thought is reiterated today just as strongly as it was back then, when even one of the main characters on the hit TV series The Big Bang Theory, loves them. Sheldon Cooper collects them, and even has his own conductor hat! Train sets will continue to be a  classic and awe-inspiring gift.

Classic Learning Resources Toys

Growing up, one of my favorite toys was my play cash register. I spent hours “selling” everything in the house to my parents and brothers, from food out of the market set set to my brother’s own plastic farm animals. It is exciting to see that sets like these that meant so much to me over 20 years ago are still popular today. Clearly the learning skills that are involved in these items are universal. The cash register helps children to not only learn how to count and sort money, but it also helps kids to understand that money is a limited resource, and once they have spent all of their “play” money they lose their purchasing power unless they can earn more! Early economics!

Of course, technology has advanced and the toys today have more features, such as voice recordings, other sounds, and interactive lights. They are also made bigger, so the money is the same size as real cash and coins. Many shoppers use coupons and credit cards today, and these devices accommodate both (something my decades old one did not). Don’t even get me started on how awesome the built-in scanner and scales are! These kids will be ready for their first retail job at the age of 4!

In addition to engaging the imagination and group play, these modern play cash registers also have built-in games, so children can be entertained for hours on end. Watch for many of these play cash registers to be featured Black Friday Toy Deals this year!

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