Toys and Creativity

by Cheryl Erwin/>, M.A, CPDA
Broadcast in November on KUNR-FM in Reno/>/>, Nevada/>/>/>/> (www.kunr.org).

I do a lot of work with children. And because children usually aren’t able to express themselves fully in words, therapists like me do something called "play therapy" with children. We have a room stocked with simple toys, and we watch while children play, sometimes talking with them and explori/>ng what we see happening. It’s an effective way to help children deal with trauma and family problems—but since kids are kids, it’s occasionally necessary to replace well-worn toys.

So not long ago, I wandered into a large local toy store, looking for toys appropriate for play therapy. This means that the toys aren’t tied to a cartoon show, aren’t unnecessarily violent, and draw out the creativity in children. I was shocked at how hard it was to find simple, neutral toys. Everything, it seems, has a marketing tie-in. The kitchen and food sets are all branded with fast-food names. Board/> games have been tied to trading card games like Pokemon. Almost every toy is derived from a cartoon show, a movie, or some other commercial enterprise. It’s been more than a decade since I shopped for toys for my own son, so I confess I’m a bit out of touch. But when did our children become guinea pigs for the advertising industry?

The problem with toys today goes deeper than marketing tie-ins, however. Somewhere along the line, some genius or other decided kids shouldn’t have to do any of the work when they play. Nowadays, the toys do all the work for you. Toy cell phones ring and play recorded messages. Toy ovens beep and talk to you. Guns go "pow pow" or make laser sounds, dolls talk, and fire engines produce their own sirens. Almost every toy requires a battery so it can beep, ring, explode, flash, or talk. What’s left for children to do?

You may wonder why I’m being such a curmudgeon about toys, but I do have a point here. Play is a young child’s work. Children learn about their own bodies, about relationships, and about their place in the world by playing, by making noises and inventing games, and by creating story lines for their toys to follow. Everything in our children’s lives is a learning experience for them. What happens to a child’s budding creativity and ingenuity when all the plot lines, sound effects, and imagination are supplied for them?

Parents often complain to me that their children can’t seem to entertain themselves. They constantly need attention and to be kept busy by something outside themselves, either their parents, a video game, or the television. Children tell me that books and school are boring, and no wonder—there are no special effects, noises, and flashing colors to entertain them.

So, not surprisingly, I have a couple of suggestions. I think children are healthier when they learn to think, to imagine, and to do things for themselves. I think children are more successful in school and in life when they’ve learned to read, to think things through, and to pay attention to the world around them. I am not convinced that toys, games, and entertainment that do all the work are in anyone’s long-term best interests.

The next time you make a trip to the toy store, consider what you want your child to learn or experience when she plays. You might consider toys that invite her to role play and pretend. Perhaps books would be a good idea; if your child is too young to read to herself, you can take time to read to her. Old-fashioned board games can be fun for the entire family. Old clothes are great for dress-up. Art supplies, clay, crayons, and paints remain favorites with many children. Yes, these toys take parental time and attention. They may even be messy. But sometimes children need room to be messy, to experiment, and to make noise. It’s not always convenient for busy parents—but it is vitally important.

When they’re allowed to, children can have a wonderful time with simple, unexpected items. My little brother (who's no longer so little) spent hours playing with what he called his "pink rifle"—the handle from an old-fashioned sweeper. It didn’t beep or make exploding noises. But it could become almost anything when my brother played with it.

What did play mean to you when you were a child? What are your best memories, your favorite toys, the things you remember loving to play with when you were young? What will your children remember? There’s a place for video games and the occasional movie tie-in action figure. But you might want to make sure your children have room to stretch their minds and their imaginations, too. Those will last long after the toy batteries have died. For KUNR, this is Cheryl Erwin/>.

Cheryl Erwin/> is a Family/> Therapist in Reno/>, NV/>/>, and a Certified Positive Discipline Associate