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Robbing Imaginations

ARE HIGH-TECH TOYS ROBBING CHILDREN'S IMAGINATIONS?

Whatever happened to toys? Real toys like dolls and model airplanes? A recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that half of all 4- to 6-year-olds have played video games, a quarter of them regularly.
Ref. https://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C...08513%2C00.html

Imaginations Robbing

As I have spent significant time in the elementary classroom studying to be a teacher myself, I have noticed that children who have fewer gadgets are significantly more happy and well-adjusted. Many of the students I observe are the children of migrant workers, and they have very little money to spend on toys or video games. According to the world's standard, they have a right to be miserable; yet, when they receive even a small gift, like a pencil or a small piece of candy, they are happy and grateful. These children are also creative, and they learn to entertain themselves without the aid of X-Box. I am fortunate to have grown up in a house where TV was not the focal point of the home, and it has truly helped me to become functional and creative.

Robbing Imaginations Reviews Consumer & Travel Family Culture

Being a parent, I believe certain things influence all children differently. One of my kids has to be taken away from TV or Video Games to read and play boardgames and the like, another takes his fill of gadgets and then is coloring, drawing, or playing with toys. I think there has to be a balance in anything someone does, and some can balance that easily and others have to be guided as children.

Imaginations Robbing

When I was 6 or 7 years old, the computers weren't that popular yet, the only things I did with computers was some paint shops, and some math games (yes, math games. You try catching a goblin with your net, and if you do, you get a math problem. If you solve it correctly, the goblin gives you a prize, if not, he escapes.)

I remember spending a lot of time reading at that age. I read a lot of Rauld Dahl and 'Wizard of Oz' es. I also liked play hide and seek, draw and solve puzzles, and build towers with my cubes.

Now, my brother, he is now four years old. Most of the time, he plays make believe and hide and seek with me, although he hadn't yet gotten the concept of hide and seeks - before he hides he tells me where and if I'm to find him or not.

He likes to draw a lot, and he's an amazing painter for his age, if I might add, and play with his puzzles and building blocks and K'nex.

Of course, he is more into the digital world than I was, mainly because I once needed to babysit him in the middle of a game I played, so I talked him into playing with me. I don't think it did something to him, though, but as Narrock said, some can balance easily, and others need guidance.