Our consumerist culture often pushes us to buy the latest and greatest, especially when it comes to toys. Here’s a list of six great reasons to buck the trend and buy your toys used.

 It Saves Money

Let’s get the obvious out of the way- used toys are cheaper than their new counterparts. There’s no shame in scrimping, especially in this economy. Even a toy from last year can be cheaper than the newest model, particularly in electronics. Not to mention most used toys are not broken or lost their play value, in most situations a child has just out grown it. So buying used toys is really the only way to go!

 It’s Environmentally Friendly

Buying used toys keeps them out of the landfills. It’s a simple way to cut down on waste while also saving money! The plastic and heavy metals in modern toys are harmful to the environment, so it really helps to keep them in use.

This is a great way to take a green approach to your child’s play habits and how you are going to supply them. By reusing already bought and used toys you are keeping one less toy that will inevitably end up in a landfill.

It Encourages Play Diversity

Many used toys are durable, meant to be used outdoors and in sports. This is excellent to pull kids away from their electronic devices and out into the fresh air. A simple baseball and pair of gloves can be found used anywhere, and will introduce kids to the world of sports.

It Allows for Cross-Generational Play

Buying old used toys means that you can get a toy that the kids will love and their parents and grandparents cherished. It might be hard for kids to relate to their older relatives, but bonding over a toy is a great way to start. This is especially true for grandparents, who may have trouble engaging with the electronics that contemporary kids enjoy. This is also a way to get kids to play with others, so it has social benefits as well!

It Preserves Cherished Toys

Many old toys have had a long history of enjoyment. Every toy has delighted a child at some point- buying them used will, in a sense, allow the toy to carry on, forging new memories for a new generation. This is particularly true for tough old toys that still have a lot of use left in them- there’s no need to let them go to waste.

It’s Easy To Repair Toys

Buying used toys or toy parts is a way to get your hands dirty with some DIY work. Whether it’s simple repairs, like swapping out a genuine Power Wheels replacement battery, or more advanced, such as putting together a wooden horse, you can find used toys and their parts online, such as at MendingShed.com.

Kids grow at such a rapid pace, there are different toys that are appropriate for each age group and that means there is a lot of growing out of perfectly good toys in no time. By reusing or buying used you can save so much money on toys that were simply grown out of.

 Author Bio:

Brionna Kennedy is native to the Pacific Northwest, growing up in Washington, then moving down to Oregon for college. She enjoys writing on fashion and business, but any subject will do, she loves to learn about new topics. When she isn’t writing, she lives for the outdoors. Oregon has been the perfect setting to indulge her love of kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking.