tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19346366.post2399502433928310133..comments2024-03-28T21:56:51.675-04:00Comments on Face to Face: Children's toys only based on existing mega-franchisesagnostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967177967469961883noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19346366.post-25856336869515760992013-06-23T20:14:30.808-04:002013-06-23T20:14:30.808-04:00Well, four and five year olds are a bit young for ...Well, four and five year olds are a bit young for model kits, even the snap-tite versions. The lego kits come with nice easy to follow instructions, mainly pictorial. We have a load of regular bricks as well. So, once the job's done, then he goes to town.<br /><br />A good analogy is poetry or music, where you have to learn the rules before you can really break the rules with success. That's overstating it a bit, but my point is that I don't really find the lego kits in and of themselves the problem. It's the environment the kids are in.Frontiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19346366.post-3818288992055933532013-06-21T11:04:40.956-04:002013-06-21T11:04:40.956-04:00I think my nephew has a set of lincoln logs that h...I think my nephew has a set of lincoln logs that he likes. But you could do so much more with Legos and Construx.<br /><br />I see what you mean about having an endpoint in sight, rather than just fooling around and perhaps having nothing to show for it. But I'd think model kits would be better for that. Or let us buy Legos of either type -- now it's just about only the paint-by-numbers type.agnostichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12967177967469961883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19346366.post-59125532278057340012013-06-21T10:14:57.210-04:002013-06-21T10:14:57.210-04:00I'm of two minds about the Lego sets. There i...I'm of two minds about the Lego sets. There is the creativity issue, but there is a sense of accomplishment when you finish the set. It provides a moment of self-discipline. What I do with my son is help him get it to "specs", then he feels free to experiment with the blocks.<br /><br />The most enduring toys he has, though, are a set of wooden blocks, tinker toys and lincoln logs. His grandmother got him these when he was in preschool, and four years later, they are still the go-to toys for indoor play.<br /><br />If you have child to buy gifts for, look into these. They have a few suggestions in the box, but once the kids get those out of their system, they go to town.Frontiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19346366.post-67623166369521869982013-06-19T20:47:52.872-04:002013-06-19T20:47:52.872-04:00Man I love your blog.
I think this phenomenon doe...Man I love your blog.<br /><br />I think this phenomenon doesn't hold true as much for girls (I have two, ages 10 and 13, so I've been buying toys for them for awhile). The one big example I can think of is the American Girl Dolls -- sure they are just dolls, but they have elaborate back stories and an entire cultural industry (books, movies, etc.) was created to support the toy -- not the other way around.<br /><br />Great comment about Legos -- my girls have a blast with my old Legos (which my Mom kept all these years) and create all sorts of wonderful, weird stuff. Meanwhile, when we buy them a new Lego set, they have to build the picture or they freak out -- it is just bizarre!<br /><br />The other new toy I see around the neighborhood and my girls are into is the "zip stick", which is sort of a modified skateboard. I like it because it gets them out and keeps them moving. Speaking of which, the best $100 I ever spent was on a used trampoline -- the girls are on that thing every day it is nice out.<br />Jeffrey S.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19346366.post-37302111552731245492013-06-19T10:30:06.979-04:002013-06-19T10:30:06.979-04:00I'm guessing it was marketed for girls then. I...I'm guessing it was marketed for girls then. I don't remember a movie, not really a TV show either... though it could have been one of those things that I caught a minute of and decided to change the channel.<br /><br />But boys still had a Care Bear.agnostichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12967177967469961883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19346366.post-57559712639589741792013-06-19T09:49:37.744-04:002013-06-19T09:49:37.744-04:00"Care bears" had a movie/tv show side to..."Care bears" had a movie/tv show side to it. I know this because I remember loving the movie and my Sunshine bear. <br /><br />asnoreply@blogger.com