tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7938459117789143606.post5122869768385372994..comments2023-09-30T04:38:22.123-05:00Comments on Peter Von Brown: Should We Even -BE- "Toys 'R' Us" Kids?Peter Von Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15042839698693906854noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7938459117789143606.post-2752306823634256452008-12-06T15:06:00.000-06:002008-12-06T15:06:00.000-06:00I once heard a great story about a scientific stud...I once heard a great story about a scientific study reported on NPR. This post reminded me of it. The study showed that the prevalence of structured play (soccer practice, video games, ballet, piano lessons, etc.) robs kids of their creative ability and self-control... something they learn during independent, unstructured play. A child playing a video game, the study finds, reacts to the stimuli. A child involved in pretending with a friend, must stop and think- creating and following impromptu rules, improvising props and setting, devising story lines. While I don't think video games and structured play are inherently evil- I do wonder if we have lost something vital in regulating play. At any rate, I don't think it matters what dolls and toys kids play with- so long as they play freely....<BR/><BR/>Of course, a separate issue is the pathetically vulturistic (is that a word?) hunger of a toy industry that makes a kid think he NEEDS robodog or even a Han Solo doll.<BR/><BR/>Ah! I found a link to the article. Totally worth a perusal:<BR/>http://www (dot) npr (dot) org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=76838288Danielle Filashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17559045917532735660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7938459117789143606.post-47729247304822834972008-12-05T01:28:00.000-06:002008-12-05T01:28:00.000-06:00WOW! Such wonderful answers!Looks like you comple...WOW! Such wonderful answers!<BR/><BR/>Looks like you completely shot her down. (Whoever she happened to be... as I said, this aired too many years ago, when <I>Transformers</I> had been Old School. [Translation: In the late 80s] so I've no idea how to find out.)<BR/><BR/>Brava! You've tipped my scale entirely. And after all, a couple of my novels are derivations. So where would I be without being given the chance to water the roots?Peter Von Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15042839698693906854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7938459117789143606.post-14484859210717991222008-12-04T21:34:00.000-06:002008-12-04T21:34:00.000-06:00In all honesty, so much art has its roots in other...In all honesty, so much art has its roots in other sources, so why shouldn't play? Didn't someone once say that there were only so many "original" plotlines? And how fun for these kids to create stories that allow Han Solo to hang out with Batman? Or be reunited with his long lost twin, Indiana Jones? These storylines give the kids the safety of a "net" and then they can leap and discover their own paths of creative thought. Some kids need that safety of the familiar.<BR/><BR/>(And when I was a kid, I was Pinky Tuscadero's little sister, Orangey)Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17933349506129495734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7938459117789143606.post-43797452172746634702008-12-04T19:00:00.000-06:002008-12-04T19:00:00.000-06:00I don't think she's wrong in the sense that the st...I don't think she's wrong in the sense that the stories kids see or read will find expression in their play. I guess it just doesn't bother me because I think that you'd have to expose kids to a monstrous amount of TV to truly squash their innate creativity.<BR/><BR/>I also don't place a huge premium on the idea that you have to be 100% original to be creative. Shakespeare made masterpieces out of stories that he didn't invent, by putting his own creative spin on them.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03646697081398219704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7938459117789143606.post-92073363035179552762008-12-04T15:26:00.000-06:002008-12-04T15:26:00.000-06:00I had hoped you would chime in to this one, Jen. ...I had hoped you would chime in to this one, Jen. And your last statement, what a concept. (Meant both sarcastically and in praise.)<BR/><BR/>So you're essentially confirming my theory.<BR/><BR/>Nevertheless, though she may have overextended the truth of it, I do find it a "hmmm" moment in realizing that Imagination CAN be "pre-determined," so to speak.<BR/><BR/>Word: psying [A hybrid of psychic and lying?]Peter Von Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15042839698693906854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7938459117789143606.post-67711008199484734302008-12-04T14:51:00.000-06:002008-12-04T14:51:00.000-06:00I think this woman has too much time on her hands....I think this woman has too much time on her hands. Seriously.<BR/><BR/>What I have learned from observing my own little gaggle of boys is that they will put together whatever toys they have at hand in all kinds of ways if they have the liberty to do so. They like to have the framework of a story to work within, but they will definitely take it in their own direction (or mash two or more stories together for extra fun.) If you're worried about their play being overly dictated by a TV show, give them the toys and turn off the TV.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03646697081398219704noreply@blogger.com