Ask Toy Tech

Toy Tech - The ToysPeriod Blog: Q and A, Guides, How To's and News, Covering LEGO, Model Railroading and Gadgets

What Makes a Great Toy?

Recently, I was visiting a neighbor, when their child approached and asked me a question that I had never considered. Leave it to children to formulate the very best questions.

The question boiled down to, "What is -- or makes -- a great toy?"

Sounds simple enough. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there isn't anything simple about the question at all.

At the time, I answered by sharing examples of great toys with the child, but, still, that didn't really answer the underlying question.

After some thought, I now have an answer, several really, that at least begins to satisfy. I hope the answer to the child's question will also go some distance in satisfying you, the reader, as well. Perhaps you could let me know what you think by leaving a comment below once you have absorbed this article.

Your ideas may help me to do a better job with the answer to this question the next time I'm asked.

When speaking of a great toy, I admit that I have biases.....

Continue reading Comments (5) Thursday, 10:33 pm | February 4th, 2010

An Environmentally Aware Toy Business: One Customer's Take

The Greening of Business
(A ToysPeriod Customer Eco-Evaluation)

This space, normally reserved for some aspect of toys or to celebrate a person or place, is being given over this week to me, a long time customer of ToysPeriod, to talk about a subject that is on the minds of millions throughout the world. That is, the Greening of Business.

By the Greening of Business, I mean the manner in which businesses are changing their ways of satisfying public demand. Not only are businesses continuing to respond to the needs of their clients, but many, if not yet the majority, are also doing their utmost to satisfy the modest requirements of Earth, as our small planet continues to faithfully provide its inhabitants, human and non-human alike, with the environment we need to flourish.

I especially want to discuss in this space how ToysPeriod has honored its commitment to ecological sustainability over and above the well known scholarships it sponsors every year for students majoring in eco-business. (For those who are unfamiliar with eco-business, briefly those are business college majors aimed at producing educated leaders, both commercial and social, who will, after graduation, make ongoing decisions with both the health of the Earth and future generations in mind.)

First, before I present you with specific information about ToysPeriod, let me clear up a question you may be asking yourself relative to my status with ToysPeriod. I am not a paid employee, therefore I have the freedom to say most anything I wish on this site short of fully trashing ToysPeriod, its products and services. So, please understand, I haven't been coached by ToysPeriod as I compose this essay. I suspect though that they understand my admiration for ToysPeriod's ecologically sensitive and intelligent methods of doing business.....

Continue reading Comments (4) Monday, 8:10 pm | January 25th, 2010

Saving Free Form Play Recesses

As many readers of the ToysPeriod Blog are aware, several public school districts in the United States are in the process of evaluating their ability to continue offering recess periods to their elementary school students.

Recess periods, for those not familiar with the term, are times during the school day when students are allowed free form play, that is, play formulated by their own imaginations, unfettered by adult preferences and direction.

The threat of recess cancellation has slipped into the potential category (from the heretofore impossible) as a result of lawsuits brought on behalf of families for playground incidents over which administrators and teachers, despite their diligence, had no real chance of preventing.

Playgrounds throughout history have been places where skinned knees and emotional challenges are presented to developing children in the context of their own imaginations.

With playground freedoms come a full range of experiences, some happy, some not so, but always with the goal of preparing the individual to eventually navigate an adult world.

Leading psychologists agree that free form interactive play is essential for the healthy development of all higher beings. Children, of course, are at the top of the developmental ladder. However, horses, dogs, cats, as well as bears and chimpanzees, also make mental, emotional and physical progress through play.

The more sophisticated the being, the more essential play becomes for establishing trust in self, developing confidence in taking initiative, and, mastering control of the body and its musculature.....

Continue reading Comments (4) Friday, 5:01 pm | January 15th, 2010