It's Important for Children to Play Issue 22 Home Page   Home Page

Traditional Toys vs. High-Tech Toys Coromoto Michelangeli from Venezuela Photo: Rubén Vargas Children apparently don't like to play with traditional toys anymore; so even though you can still see the classic toys in the toy stores, they don't beat out their high-tech rivals.   Children are influenced by their early experiences, and appropriate toys can stimulate their imagination. Some classic toys that have been all-time favorites include: yoyos, hula hoops, rag dolls, marbles, and tops. High-tech toys, the so-called "smart toys" include: dolls that grow and learn to talk, video-game systems and remote-controlled pets. According to many child psychologists, there are important differences in how children play with traditional toys and high-tech toys. Classic toys provide fun and stimulate creativity. Interactive toys seem to encourage solitary play. However, children apparently don't like to play with traditional toys anymore; so even though you can still see the classic toys in the toy stores, they don't beat out their high-tech rivals. We need to give our children the possibility to face experiences that will make them more creative and appreciative of lifetime hobbies.  More on the importance of children playing: I Was a So-Called Tomboy | Let's Play Outdoors! | The Toys I Played With My Favorite Toy Was a Doll | How Do—and Did—Children Play? | Return to: It's Important for Children to Play | Issue 22 | Home Page TOPICS Online Magazine - ©1997-2007 - topics.mag@gmail.com - Sandy and Thomas Peters