Farming toys and nature or nuture?
Obviously, living on a farm means that N is obsessed with farms. He watches Tractor Ted, knows more than me about different farming vehicles and what they do (admittedly not hard), and is gradually building up his collection of farming toys.
You’d think they’d fade into insignificance given that he could just go outside and see them in real life, but no, it’s essential to have the right farm vehicles in his toy collection. It’s not really helped because there’s lots of farm animal books, farming based clothing and more. So from the newborn stage, you can never resist an item that reflects your life and I admit he did look really cute in his red tractor sleepsuit.
He was also given a beautiful personalised baby blanket on a farming theme. That’s definitely a keepsake for the future. Even now, we do have some clothes with agriculture based motifs, indeed I’ve only recently bought a wonderful Frugi Land Rover hoody in the sales.
But toys are really what it’s all about. From N’s second hand faded ride on tractor for outdoor play, to the smart John Deere ride on tractor that is indoors only. Then all the various farm models and vehicles he has. The only downside is all the mess from them being left out in his play layout.
The tractor timeline of toys
2 years old
When N was two he was given his first Bruder vehicles. What’s great about most of the tractor toys out there is that they’re all to scale. The Bruder vehicles are large enough to have survived his play, even though they’re plastic. Obviously he had to have a John Deere and trailer, because they’re the tractors we have on the farm, and a Fastrac as well (like the contractor down the road).
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3 years old
Of course, N needed to increase his tractors. He couldn’t live with just the 2 he had, so Christmas came bringing with it a Bruder combine harvester. It seems that combines are the real deal and an essential for playing farms. I was a bit worried that there were more fragile extending arms to be broken, but a year later and it’s still going strong. It’s always the toy that other children head for when they come to play, as well as the ride on tractor.
The only problem with loving combine harvesters was when N was asked by Father Christmas what he wanted for Christmas…a combine harvester (but a real one).
He was also given a telehandler, which has been religiously used to move around ‘bales’. Nothing like a good selection of vehicles to work. And not forgetting, bugging his dad by saying they needed to buy a telehandler and a combine harvester from the shop for on the farm.
4 years old
Ever since N has been really young, he’s loved playing with the old farm toys over at the farm. Many are broken, sellotaped together, missing wheels, but that doesn’t stop him. They’re mostly old die cast Britains farm toys from his dad’s childhood. I love that they’ve lasted so long. All the older cousins have enjoyed playing with them, and I can see them lasting a while yet too.
My brother also collected and played with Britains farm toys when he was a boy, although his old toys are more immaculate. They used to be at our mum’s house, and everytime N goes over there, he’d get them out and play with them…then leave them out. My brother was getting annoyed with putting them away (I just never remember he’s had them out), so instead of buying N a birthday present, the 6 boxes of Britains farm toys were passed on to him.
For his birthday he also got given a Britains John Deere tractor, a livestock trailer just like the ones on the farm, a Fastrac and a baler which is what he really wanted. It’s so funny seeing him playing with tractors of different sizes together, but he doesn’t see it as a problem at all.
N absolutely loves them. I’m not sure I’m enjoying the mess all over the floor all the time. He tends to get everything out, make fields and then refuse to put them away. I’m thinking standing on some of these small farm pieces might hurt almost as much as standing on Lego.
It is fairly obvious that N would be into tractors because of the day to day proximity, in contrast he’s not fussed about cars at all. But I’m amazed at how long he can play with his tractors for. He’ll combine toys from other sets, building an entire farm and making up jobs and activities to play. Hopefully the die cast models will last for years, and potentially still be around for him to pass on to his children.
I’m wondering what he’ll move onto next in his imaginative farming world.
Have you passed on any of your toys to your children?
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It’s darling that you bought your son toys to match the agricultural machinery you use on your farm. Ever since we visited a farm a few years ago, my son has likewise been incredibly fascinated with farming supplies and tools. Tractors are his favorite, and his is also taped back together, since he plays with it so often. That being said, do you have any advice on how to help him learn more about farming? He insists he wants to be a farmer, and I want to do all I can to help his dream come true, at least while it’s still his dream.
I’d take him to open days, check out any dvds that are about farming, and just learn about it until he’s old enough to find a farm to visit and see if he can get work experience on.
I’ve never heard of Open days before, but I sounds like something he would enjoy! Thank you for your suggestions about the dvds as well. He’ll be thrilled to know that a real farmer shared these tips with him. Thanks again!
My goodness, he really does love tractors – that is SO lovely. Grace was obsessed with her dolls and she still turns to them, even now. What a lovely post. Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo x
Nice when they’ve got something they love and it sees them through several years of play. I was never that interested in dolls, but did have a few, mostly because of friends having them. Thanks for stopping by Vicky
It’s always fascinating what kids are into. Mine have decided preferences too, and with very little input from us or the outside world as far as I can see.
Except the Elsa love. I know where that came from…
#PoCoLo
Interesting when you get a totally random interest. Made me snort when I scrolled down and read your Elsa line. I know that feeling and N hasn’t even seen the film. I blame both nurserires.
My son loves (is obsess with) train and traffic signs probably because we drive around and we ride the train. I think that our environment influence us and our kids =)
#pocolo
I agree. It’s so obvious with N and his tractors, and his friends who like cars. Although some have no links but still veer towards specific toys.
My little one is also quite agriculturally inclined. Diggers first, closely followed by all farm machinery. We have combine harvestors, handlers etc. I get told off if I call them the wrong thing. The likes of the Bruder ones, are really good, though a bit pricey, but as you say they seem to last quite well, and hopefully will have many more hours of fun in them yet! #pocolo
I’m not the one who buys the Bruder ones but I was surprised when I first saw how much they are. We have bought a couple of tractors at nearly new sales which have looked new, and have done the job too. It’s great when you find bargains like that (although they don’t fit the same trailers). Thanks for stopping by Mel.
How lovely that he enjoys playing with all the farm toys and brilliant that he gets to play with his Dads too 🙂 mine have a few of my old teddies and Jack has Daddies old lego! #PoCoLo.xx
Yes, Lego seems to be a popular one to hand down, as is wooden railway stuff. N has one of my rag dolls and one Barbie which didn’t sell at a car boot. I thought it was a bit odd he wanted either of these, but he wouldn’t let me get rid. He never plays with them though – apart from using the Barbie as a hitch for his tractor and trailer.