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Today's Toys: |
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It may be time to take another look by Victor Kubik |
"Yank out alien organs dripping in
glowing alien blood." This cheery invitation greets children 7 and under from
the box of a toy called
Dissect-an-Alien. It's part of the popular Mad Scientist line of playthings made
by one of the nation's largest toy manufacturers.
Toys aren't what they used to be
Have you noticed what kinds of toys your children have been playing with lately? How are some of the new types of games and toys affecting them?
Toy manufacturing and marketing has boomed into a multibillion-dollar business. Toy makers not only follow the trends; they start them. Electronics and vivid graphics have added a new dimension to our children's toys.
But, with all that is available, are our children better off?
Benefits of playtime
When most of us reminisce about our childhood, we cannot help but think about our play with siblings, friends, pets and toys. I smile when I think about hiking to a waterfall in the woods with my dog or playing catch with my brother. On wintry Sunday afternoons, I remember playing chess for hours with my father.
Whether we had many toys or only a few, we all remember our favorite teddy bears, dolls, model cars or construction sets. Through toys children experiment, explore, express and discover themselves. They give their toys life, character, abilities and talents. With their imagination they project themselves into their play. Through make-believe they build a bridge with adulthood and look forward to growing up.
Play is important for a child's develop-ment. It is one way children learn about the world around them. How they relate to and play with toys helps them learn skills such as dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
Playing with other children helps a child with social development. He (or she) learns how to get along with, tolerate and share with other kids. By interacting with others, children learn how to solve problems.
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