I have a son that just turned one about three months ago. We had a small party for our friends and family, and my wife and I told everyone that he did not need any more toys, because he had enough. Did anyone listen? No. We still received more toys than we know what to do with. We got some simple toys like books, and stuffed animals, but we also received all different types of toys that light up, sing, and even dance. These toys were great, but some of them did not have any educational value, and some of them did not last very long in the hands of a very hyperactive one year old boy.

What ever happened to the old school toys that we used to have when we were kids? I decided to search for heirloom children's toys on the internet, and to my surprise many of the toys I played with when I was a kid were still available.

My wife and I decided that it would be great if we could find an old fashioned name set shaped like a train to put up on his wall. I looked online and I found about four different versions of this old train set that would have been perfect on his wall. We decided on one and then when it arrived we put it on his wall immediately. We have gotten more compliments and inquiries on that train set than any other item in his room. For my son's birthday we also received two different plastic block sets, but they did not have anything written on them, so to me they did not have any educational value whatsoever.

Then I remembered that I used to have a wooden block set when I was a kid that had numbers, letters, and pictures of animals on them. I thought this would be a great set of blocks for my son, so I once again went online to try to find this old toy. Luckily I was able to find one of these sets for less than $50, so I bought it and it became one of my son's favorite toys. These days there are many different children's toys available, but to me the best toys you can get for your children are heirloom children's toys, because they are more educational and durable than a lot of toys made today.