It’s a Simple Message and I’m Leaving Out the Whistles and Bells

Posted on 10 10, 2009 under Stuff by schneidermike | View Comments

dump_truck

This past rainy, New England,
Columbus day,
we decided to get a jump on this year's Christmas shopping.  After brief stops at the craft store, the
shoe warehouse and Marshall’s,
we landed at the “Worlds Biggest Toy store”, Toys R Us.

After about 30 minutes in the place, I noticed a disturbing
trend.  Nearly all of the toys have some
kind of button that makes it talk, plays a song or causes some kind of
movement.  After extrapolation of all possible
outcomes, I was gripped by fear. My fear was that if I continued to buy my kids
the toys that they like, they are never going to have to use their imaginations
the way that I did as a kid.

Come on! That fact that I had to make the sound effects when
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker transformed really built character.  I was responsible for the afterburners on my
COBRA Rattler. And if I wanted a backup beeping sound on my backhoe loader, I
beeped. 
 

I even saw something one step shy of a real light saber today
(complete with idle hum and 119 dollar price tag).  Sure this was exactly what I dreamed about
every night between ages 7 and last night, but would actually having it been
better than wanting it? Does it take some of the shine off of the fantasy? 
 

I am either jealous that my kids will have stuff that I
always dreamed of, or I am a grouchy old
in-my-day-we-walked-ten-miles-up-hill-in-the-snow-barefoot-both-ways coot.
Maybe it is a little of both and maybe the fact that they do not have to worry
about using their imagination the way that I did opens them up to use it in
ways that I could not imagine.  I am not
sure if this is typical old-man-sour-grapes because my kids toys are cooler
than mine were or if maybe my dad had some of these same feelings, but
yesterday I had a thought that gave me a newfound sense of clarity and quelled
my fears for now.  All I need to do is
wait until the batteries run out of the toys and see if my kids still play with
them.  If they find enjoyment in them
without the sound affects, then their imaginations are intact and better than I
give them credit for. 

Related Posts

  • That Sounds interesting, i agree with you. Please keep at your good work, I would come back

    often.*
  • mathrys83
    im 26 almost 27, with a as of the 29th of this month 1 year old baby girl and yes she is growing up fast they all do. Over the past 10 years i have noticed what that lack of imagination has done to kids, they dont go outside and just play, a trek threw the local wood is the furthest thing from there minds, they would rather watch shows like iCarly or hannah montannah or some other such crap that shows them that whining for something will get you what you want, so i say DAMN THE TOYS wanting is def better than having while growing up, if gives you a reason to desire and want
  • Just stumbled across your blog...love the voice and could not agree more that today's toys leave little to the imagination. Our son is only 4 months old and I have already worried about this type of thing and how being provided with the sound effects or the exact replica of a dream toy could make it lose some of its magic. Kind of like how thanks to cell phones/constant internet access, he'll never have to wrack his brain for a movie title or song lyrics. There is something intangibly cool with figuring that stuff out on your own.
  • debralynn
    I wish I could tell everyone buying gifts for my kids to get them something without a battery. They actually like and play with most of their non-battery operated toys more. Plus the noises the other ones make drive me crazy. Give us legos, a handmade toy or something stackable that utilizes their imagination anyday over that other stuff.
  • foodad
    Libby,

    That sounds a little too extreme for me. I am going to make sure that there is some balance though.

    foodad
  • Libby Tweet
    better yet go green and buy eco-friendly, non-plastic toys that are safer for your kids and allow them to use their imaginations. I have started ridding our house of plastic, including toys, and for b-days and the impending Christmas I have purchased fantastic toys from a website called Oompa. They gaurantee that none of their toys, talk, dance, light up, etc. My daughter celebrated her birthday this past weekend and I bought her a wooden frog pull toy, although I am sure that she will love this toy soon enough, it is her older sister who hasn\'t put it down for two days. She does everything with \"Frogalina\" which she named herself, eat, sleep, go gracery shopping--I love it! This website, as well as, ebeanstalk.com gaurantees lead-free, non-toxic, socially responsible, toys mostly made in Europe. If they are made in China they are done so under strict guidelines and under fair conditions! Gotta love that!! Check them out, you won\'t regret it. Oh and the price tag can be a bit higher on these higher quality toys but do what we do and buy a few really great toys for the same amount of money that you would spend on too many one-dimensional toys.
  • Noodad
    Take the batteries out before they get them. If they are young enough to not read yet, they will not know the difference.
blog comments powered by Disqus