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From: suze@terak.UUCP (Suzanne Barnett)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: educational toys that inspired you...
Message-ID: <975@terak.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 9-Jan-86 11:20:36 EST
Article-I.D.: terak.975
Posted: Thu Jan  9 11:20:36 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 14-Jan-86 04:09:17 EST
References: <1330@mhuxt.UUCP>
Organization: Calcomp Display Products Division, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Lines: 86

> Once again my wife and I have supplied our nieces (ages 6 and 8) with lenses,
> tools, prisms, and the like and one again we have been told by other
> relatives that we should stick to more traditional toys (Cabbage Patch dolls
> and other very sex-rolled objects). Based on an admittedly small sampling
> it seems like many people who have ended up in technical work remember
> wonderful mechanical toys, puzzles, and the like. I would like to hear 
> comments (particularly from women) on toys that "made a difference." My
> wife fondly remembers a small microscope, old clocks (junkers to play with)
> and tools. I built telescopes and model airplanes. What did you do? What
> are kids doing today? 
> 
> send me mail and I'll post a summary...
> 
> 	Steve Crandall
> 	mhuxt!evans

I always liked the simple toys best: jacks, marbles, slinkies,
dolls, toy handguns (western style), jigsaw puzzles, books, doctor
& nurse kits, "little people" (tiny plastic, wooden and/or
porcelin figures of people & animals), legos, lincoln logs, etc.
I wanted something on which I could loose my imagination.

I don't care much for the "stickers" that are currently
popular, and though I think Cabbage Patch dolls aren't the
greatest thing since sliced bread, they are a good doll for
children in that they are soft (comfortable), a good size for
playing, and have a large wardrobe available (its
educational from the standpoints of developing a child's
dexterity by dressing/undressing the doll and also of invoking
the child's imagination).

I don't think that toys previous generations viewed as sex
roled need be. For example, my 7 year old stepson is
extremely fond of stuffed animals, and will happily sit down
to a doll tea party with his sisters. He is equally delighted to
play with a race cars, trucks, toy guns, trains and other typically
"boy" toys. My stepdaughters are the same. In fact, I think
Robyn enjoyed my Christmas gift to John, race cars,
better than he did.

The best toy to get for a child depends on the child's age and
likes. Two ten year old girls will not appreciate the same
thing equally: one might prefer a book, while the other would
prefer a puzzle. You have to consider the child's individual
personality, the types of things he enjoys and doesn't care
for.

If you aren't well acquainted with the child, I think the
toys, games and books that have been around for years and
years are probably the
best choice, simply because thousands of children have had the
chance to try them and have liked them enough that they
continue in existance (if they weren't liked, they wouldn't
sell, and the toy companies would quit making them).

I think the toys you mentioned as getting for your nieces
sound like fun. You say you were critisized by other
relatives; was it because the children didn't play with the things
you gave them? Or, was it because they were something the
parents didn't want the child to have, either from a safety or
a "we don't want to raise our children this way" standpoint?

If the relatives who critisized are not the parents, I would
ignore their remarks and continue as you have, if the children
seem to enjoy your gifts to them. If the children don't, you may
want to reconsider your gift choices.

I don't believe anyone other than the parents have a right to
object to the gifts you choose. For example, many people do
not look with favor on toy guns, believing it encourages
violence, or at least tolerance of violence. If the parents
believe this, you shouldn't get their children toy guns, or
the like. Some parents may prefer to raise their children is
strictly stereotyped roles, I don't think this is too likely
to work as they intend, but they do have a right to rear their
children as they choose. There are a lot of toys that are
traditionally for both boys and girls, paints, clay, books,
board games, etc. These might be happier choices for all
concerned if the parents don't want their daughters to play
with "boy" toys.
-- 
Suzanne Barnett-Scott
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CalComp/Sanders Display Products Division
14151 N 76th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(602) 998-4800