They [iPads] have overtaken dolls, action figures, board games and other traditional toys–and experts say their popularity is still rocketing. ~Mark Prigg, “How the iPad Replaced the Toy Chest: Researchers Find Children Play with Touchscreens More than Traditional Toys.” Daily Mail. February 21, 2014.
With the announcement that Toys ‘R’ Us is filing for bankruptcy, and taking measures to redefine itself, the overlooked concern is that children are no longer keen on toys. They prefer iPads.
This is certainly troubling when it comes to child development. If it’s hard to believe, here are quotes from both America and the UK as evidence:
- Toys ‘R’ Us kids made the store great, Toys ‘R’ Us grandkids aren’t shopping there anymore. Instead, they’re shopping online — and when they do it’s for electronics, not games, dolls and gizmos. Daily News. September 19, 2017
- And children are increasingly moving more toward mobile devices as playthings. “For many children, electronics have become a replacement or a substitute for traditional toys….” Chicago Tribune. September 19, 2017.
- More than half of the young children in the U.S. now have access to an iPad, iPhone or similar touch-screen device. For parents, their children’s love of these devices raises a lot of questions. The Wall Street Journal. May 22, 2012.
- Touchscreen devices got the most overall playtime according to the poll, with more than 60 percent of parents claiming that their child uses a touchscreen ‘often’ and roughly 38 percent claiming ‘very often.” Touchscreens are the primary play activity now…” Daily Mail. February 21, 2014.
- Have you ever seen a 4-year-old play with an iPhone? It’s actually kind of shocking. Kids take to the iPhone’s multitouch user interface like they do trucks or dolls. They instinctively know that the iPhone is a toy, and they nag, cajole and harass their parents into letting them play with it. “Why iPad is the Children’s Toy of the Year.” PCWorld. March 11, 2010.
Toys ‘R’ Us is the main supplier of toys. You may not like them. Most of their toys are made in China. Many were disappointed when Toys ‘R’ Us acquired FAO Schwarz and shut down the NYC store. And, of course, going bankrupt doesn’t mean they’re closing for good. Their restructuring plans are all over business media.
And adults and children seem materialistic and unhinged when nothing will do but the latest Elmo doll (I’ve been there).
But this isn’t about any of that.
Toys! How can a child not love toys? These gentlemen want to know! Surely children haven’t forgotten them!
Blame the iPads!
Toys are important to children and how they grow. Good development comes about from playing with toys. Toys are the critical tools and instruments of play. If children no longer care about toys, chances are they aren’t playing either!
Toys involve games, blocks. Lincoln Logs, puzzles, Legos, hula hoops, jump ropes, stuffed animals, dolls, doll houses, tops, wagons, models, pogo sticks, you name it.
Toys involve clutter. Parents are forever stepping on Legos and tripping over Lincoln Logs. You can cuss at those toys all you want, but do not deny you child the chance to play with toys.
By the way, we know it’s fine to give a child a Lego kit to build and follow directions, but it’s also good to let them build whatever they want without following any directions! Kids don’t always play with toys in a coordinated matter. They mix up the dolls with blocks and the Legos with the Lincoln logs. They use their imagination.
And don’t scoff at Barbie. Have you ever tried dressing one? It takes more fine motor skill than an engineer putting together a circuit board! It’s also nice to see that Barbie is out in a variety of skin, cultures and body types.
I still have my Barbie and Midge dolls because my grandmother made their clothes. Still can’t believe the time it took for her to do that for me.
While it’s true that iPads are neat and will mesmerize a child, question whether that trance known as the “flow experience,” meaning ultimate engagement, is good for a toddler or preschooler on a device. Should children be so deeply involved on their tablet that they are not aware of their surroundings? Of course not!
It’s time to put those tablets aside and ensure that children are developmentally learning with toys and play.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) discuss toys, and they provide a link describing toys for children at different developmental stages. They also provide a link about research concerning gender-type toys.
What is a favorite toy you remember? Can you describe examples of homemade toys? What items around the house can safely be used as toys?
One of my favorites is Bug Out Bob. I used it to help one of my students with physical disabilities work on her grasp. It challenged her. But mostly it made us laugh.
We cannot give up on toys for children. It will be giving up on childhood itself. What toys did you play with as a child?
References
Prigg, Mark. “How the iPad Replaced the Toy Chest: Researchers Find Children Play with Touchscreens More than Traditional Toys.” Daily Mail. February 21, 2014.
“Toys ‘R’ Us Files for Bankruptcy, but Keeps Stores Open. Daily Mail. September 19, 2017.
D’Innocenzio, Anne and Bill Cormier. “Toys ‘R’ Us Files for Bankruptcy but Keeps Stores Open. Chicago Tribune. September 19, 2017.
Dziemianowiz, Joe. “Toys ‘R’ Us Kids Grew Up, and Their Children Shop Online. Daily News. September 19, 2017.
Worthen, Ben. “What Happens When Toddlers Zone Out With an iPad?” The Wall Street Journal. May 22, 2012.
Elgan, Mike. “Why iPad Is the ‘Children’s Toy of the Year.” PCWorld. March 11,2010.
I agree wholeheartedly, Nancy. Beyond missing out on the benefits of actual toys, there is the harm of potential addiction to the device, to the detriment of social relationships. Parents are enabling the tech companies to addict their children to screens, encouraging them to embrace consumerism, and exposing them to wifi radiation as well as invasion of privacy. This is a tragedy in the making, because of the inherent lure of the screens and the lack of attention to the voices warning of the pitfalls. There is too much money and hubris involved.
Viewing and not doing. Children need activity…even as they get older. Thanks, Sheila. Your writing is always welcome here because it embellishes so well what I try to get across.
It is sad that parents don’t have time or take time to cultivate “play” in their children. It takes time. I was lucky to be a stay at home Mom. My own mother criticized my house keeping saying I spent too much time on the floor or in the dirt in the yard with my young sons, one who was on the autism spectrum with delays. It was time well spent. Both of my sons could entertain themselves at a young age with manipulatives, books, creative play toys, art supplies,, digging for treasure in an area of our yard that stocked with polished gems, fossils, plastic dinosaurs. My boys were the ones with the giant play kitchen, train table and slide in the living room. One of my son’s did turn to his computer, video games, 3D printer projects by 7th grade. he has amassed a large collection of vintage video game systems and a ridiculously large retro game collection. The older kid, now 16 still has a hefty obsession with Lego. “Play dates” still happen at our house, more often than at other friend’s homes. While the younger one,, 14 and friends may play video games for a while, they are also found in the backyard with my least favorite toy-nerf guns-they are just as likely to be gathered around the table playing a board game. Play is the work of children.
Sounds like you did right in my book, Claudette! You don’t create memories housecleaning! But interacting with your children is the best. Thank you for sharing and glad to see your older kids are still engaged in creative play! It is “the work of children.” I love that!
I cannot get my sixth grader to do anything on an iPad. She is too busy writing poetry in a spiral notebook. We have to restrict her reading time if she starts her homework late.
I would be ok with writing poetry on an electronic medium. But it does not feel good like a pencil, or so she says. Her tactile nature is cultivated by years of playing with rocks and stuffed animals.
Sounds cool to me, Roy!
Yes, electronic devices are taking up a lot of time but do not forget the prices of toys at Toys R Us are more expensive. With the internet, one can easily find the same toy as a different store for less.
Toys r us sells horrible quality products as well as toys that do all the work for the child. Think all those light up toys and toys that make sounds. Play food that is essentially an empty box with a label on it.
My kids actually don’t play with toys anymore -because they are too busy outside climbing trees and swinging on vines. They go on hunts in the woods and bamboo forests close to our home. They chase the ducks around the yard. Think mud pies. Think of skipping rocks. Think of watching the leaves dance in the wind. Think of finding a king snake and learning that these are the snakes we want in our yard, so leave them be. Think true exploration.
I have been to my local toys r us lately, several times, and leave empty handed. I would rather my kids not play with toys but there are some types of toys that do benefit the child.
But these toys can’t be found at your store.
Hi Jessica,
I agree with you that playing outside is great!
In my post I state that it is not an endorsement of Toys ‘R’ Us and I list reasons why many don’t like the store.
My concern is that children are spending too much time on the computer.
I do like certain toys however and many are good learning tools…blocks, Legos, dolls, etc.
But thank you for sharing. There is nothing like the great outdoors!
Thank You for this list. It is wonderful. I have to take my children with me to work quite a bit and not only are these activities for stay-at-home moms but they keep my daughter quite while I am sitting at work playing the piano. I have been esp. looking for letter and number activities and you have so many great ones to change up the ones that I have been doing.
My children (aged 6 & 9) are into their iPods, my iPad & our wii, but I’m very aware of how much time they spend on them. It does start to bother me when I feel they’ve had long enough. Yesterday we got the paints out & they painted some lovely pictures. Other times we might take our dog to the park with our Wellies on. Playing games is another good option (they played Twister the other day) or getting out the box of jigsaw puzzles. You have to make a concientious decision as a parent to make sure they don’t play on electronic gadgets too much.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2565061/How-iPad-replaced-toy-chest-Researchers-children-play-touchscreens-traditional-toys.html#ixzz58XjqFYo5
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In a way, I am not surprised. You have only to look at some of the mothers and already they resemble zombies themselves.
4 1/2 years later from the last comment, it’s gotten a lot worse!