CNN has good article today titled, “When toys were magical without being pricey“.  It is a reminder that sometimes the gifts with the most value are not always the most expensive gifts.  The writer reminds us of why we are so fond of childhood memories.

Be it a board game, marbles, a jump-rope or a pack of crayons, none of them cost more than $10. But if you think about it, I bet you remember the names of the kids with whom you played. I bet you remember a particularly intense game of Scrabble.

I remember that the joy wasn’t from the toy. It came from playing with people who loved me, like my mom, sister and grandma.

I’m not putting down the blinking, electronic $450 gizmos. I’m not saying your child won’t remember their hefty, creaky grandma playing Wii tennis with them three decades from now.

But try this. Go on and get Junior that pricey thing he just has to have. Then think about a great game from your childhood that didn’t cost as much as a monthly car payment. Throw in a jump-rope too, or a paddle ball.