>>8856766>Instead of imagining their own personalities and imposing them onto the toys, kids feel obligated to follow the "correct" storyline (this figure is marketed as the villain, so he's the villain, etc.).This is why I like to buy secondhand toys. You have an opportunity to dodge all that crap and get the one you think looks coolest, then build your own story for them and make shit up as you go along.
It also helps to limit yourself. When you collect a bunch of toys and have the ability to buy whichever one you want at the drop of a hat, you run the risk of spreading yourself too thin. Kids often don't have as much spending power or agency in their purchases, so they have to make do with what they've got. Pick a few toys you like, and stick with them. Necessity is the mother of invention, and limitation breeds imagination.
