Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site oliven.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!glacier!oliveb!oliven!barb
From: barb@oliven.UUCP (Barbara Jernigan)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: Responses to inspirational toys inquiry
Message-ID: <486@oliven.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 21-Jan-86 19:43:50 EST
Article-I.D.: oliven.486
Posted: Tue Jan 21 19:43:50 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 23-Jan-86 21:19:35 EST
References: <1336@mhuxt.UUCP>
Organization: Olivetti ATC; Cupertino, Ca
Lines: 24

> Subject: Stimulating Toys

My very, very favorite toy isn't made anymore.  American Bricks.  They're
like Leggos but made of wood -- and MUCH more satisfactory.  Leggos (to me)
are too difficult to get apart, therefore frustrating.  (Of course, I'm
no longer a child ;-)  I would spend hours building complexes with temples
and mazelike interiors -- a world for a  multitude of small plastic toys
(mostly horses) (you buy them by the bag in dime-stores).

The same plastic creatures also proved playmates in every child's dream --
a dirt pile.  Great for tunnelling and road building.  Perhaps not 'educational'
per se, but I practiced/learned a lot of creativity.

Finally, a pad of paper.  My best friend and I used to set up WWII sea
scenarios, with ships, planes, and submarines -- then proceed to destroy
them.  Paper Airplane wars were also entertaining.  Five hours to design
the things, fifteen minutes (if that) to destroy them.

Mostly, if the "toy" encouraged free, creative thought (a blank pad of
paper vs. a coloring book)(I was *terrible* at coloring books), it was 
'educational' enough for me.  (I since have a degree, (BA) in Art, minored in 
English, and am a Software QA Engineer.)

Barb