A Time and Place for All Children’s Toys
The Editors of the Gainesville Times are lamenting the state of children’s leisure activities. They complain that unlike Lego, Tinkertoy, and Lincoln Logs, electronic toys and games limit:
- Creativity
- Hand-eye coordination
- A sense of accomplishment
- Attention span
- Patience
- Diligence
I’d have to disagree. I think kids are more innovative than we give them credit for. They’re able to assimilate all the various experiences of their daily life to create stories and thoughts that adults can’t remember doing from their childhood. And it takes all of those characteristics to figure out how to play video games successfully.
I’m not saying we should be parked in front of the computer, which is all too easy to do. But I don’t believe in villifying electronic toys and deifying construction or other toys of yore. They all have their place in a child’s environment.
Here’s where I do agree with the Editors:
Too many children don’t read, which is like calisthenics for the mind. Too many don’t spend enough time building things from blocks or modeling clay, drawing pictures or creating something that is uniquely their own.
A life of balance. That’s what we should all aim for.
Technorati Tags: games, video games, lego, tinkertoy, lincoln logs, toys, children, kids
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Children's Toys, Computer Games for Kids, News and Links about Children's Things, Video Games for Kids
7 opinions for A Time and Place for All Children’s Toys
Kerri
Jun 29, 2006 at 12:16 pm
I can think of nothing more painfully boring and frustrating than sitting down with a pile of Legos or Tinker Toys, or anything else that takes advantage of spacial abilities, because I have none! I used to feel like such a freak as a kid, because everyone else could create such cool things with them, but I was totally at a loss. I know now it’s just not the way my brain was made! Fortunately for the kids, Bald Man LOVES Legos and all things spacial, so they aren’t deprived of such things!
Hsien-Hsien Lei
Jun 29, 2006 at 12:30 pm
Kerri: Yes, I know about your playing deficiencies. hehee
Bald Man
Jun 29, 2006 at 12:38 pm
The author has clearly not played a video game since the days of Pong.
Kerri,
That’s why we need to clean out the toys. I want the kids need some new LEGO sets.
Bald Man
Jun 29, 2006 at 12:39 pm
Hmmm. The fun little strikethrough I was attempting above didn’t work. Without it… not so funny.
Kerri
Jun 29, 2006 at 12:43 pm
Nope. Just illiterate. ;)
Hsien-Hsien Lei
Jun 29, 2006 at 12:45 pm
Bald Man: Darn. I get your meaning. hehe
Play Library » Carnival of Family Life #9 at Of the Princess and the Pea
Jul 12, 2006 at 12:25 pm
[...] Hey everyone! Last week, Play Library submitted a post to our first ever blog carnival. We hope to start a trend here, and so submit our second post to this week’s Carnival of Family Life #9, hosted by Of the Princess and the Pea. [...]
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: