Kids don't like toys anymore

[BadMoon]

Just an observation. A topic I thought would be of interest on a forum devoted to collecting action figures.

My point is, toy is a broad term. Kids today love toys. They play with them every day. I'm sure kids will continue to love toys as long as humans are still on this planet. That doesn't mean toys won't change. I guess I don't understand the topic? Is it kids don't like the same toys I played with?

 

[Boba Ben]

My point is, toy is a broad term. Kids today love toys. They play with them every day. I'm sure kids will continue to love toys as long as humans are still on this planet. That doesn't mean toys won't change. I guess I don't understand the topic? Is it kids don't like the same toys I played with?

There is an article that prompted the topic. It's linked in my original post. Toy manufacturers like Mattel and Hasbro are concerned because children are moving away from toys that can be played with in the physical sense like dolls and action figures and are moving toward a more digital form of play in cell phone apps and digital media. That's a pretty big change from how kids view toys and play, and something I think is interesting to discuss. Especially so for us that lived through the action figure collecting days and continue to collect into adulthood.

 

[BadMoon]

There is an article that prompted the topic. It's linked in my original post. Toy manufacturers like Mattel and Hasbro are concerned because children are moving away from toys that can be played with in the physical sense like dolls and action figures and are moving toward a more digital form of play in cell phone apps and digital media. That's a pretty big change from how kids view toys and play, and something I think is interesting to discuss. Especially so for us that lived through the action figure collecting days and continue to collect into adulthood.

Gotcha. I missed the article part.

 

[The Ween]

Dolls and action figures may be a thing of the past in the next few generations. I've seen this in the kids I interact with. They'd rather play on the computer or cell phone than play with toys.

https://news.yahoo.com/mattel-hasbro-said-terrified-more-kids-seek-high-210012405.html

And I'm betting most parents like it that way. I can't understand by people give their little kids cellphones or allow them to play video games or be on the computer as much as they do. They can control that, but they don't because they don't want to be bothered.

 

[The Ween]

when i was a kid i played with a rock and a stick

Is that what you called it?

 

[The Ween]

Doesn't help when you have dumb parents that buy their kids cellphones at 8 years old.
(or earlier)

"Hey Jimmy when i was a kid we used to have to walk to the store when we were done playing and put a quarter in the phone to call home to check in, Yeah right dad"

My daughter has actually asked me for an ipad and a cellphone.(11 yrs) I just laugh in her face. (with love) She has never once played with a barbie, but she plays with toy horses (preference) so thats good.

I never played with dolls much either. I preferred animals too.

 

[lava206]

I fondly remember getting both the red and black mighty morphin power rangers figures when I was younger for my birthday. Felt like I was the luckiest kid in the world. I think it's a bit of a shame kids aren't playing as much with action figures or dolls anymore as I have so many great memories of them from my youth, but I guess as long as they're having fun that's what it's all about!!

 

[Boba Ben]

Gotcha. I missed the article part.

It's alright. I should have pointed out the article more clearly in my post and I probably could have used a better title. I don't make too many threads, so there you have it.

 

[The Ween]

Little kids still play with toys, but over 5 or 6 and then you start losing them to the electronics. Kids don't play outside like they used to either. But then, parents don't play with their kids much either.

 

[The Skull]

It is an interesting topic to discuss boba ben, I noticed this tread a few years back already myself. I used to play with and then later collect gijoes from the 80's til the beginning for 2000, tranisition from playing to collecting started in my mid teens. This carryed on til I was in my mid twentys, when after about 2003 you could'nt really find any 12" figures in brick an mortar store much anymore.

I stopped collecting an moved on with life, getting married working and owning a home. I actually bought my first computer about 2007-2008 and eventually found hot toys an sideshow an started collecting again in about 2009.

Anyway long story short its true kids today will not play with what we did as much as we don't play with the same as are parents and so on. The newer collectors coming on the scene now want the older game consoles and games mib as you can see those are starting to climb in price.

This make sence as those toys we had back then like 3 3/4 joes we never keep on card as much as games were always opened. Times change an toys change, but one thing remains is kids will always want to play with something weather its a action figure or a game.

 

[fosing]

what are you freaks talking about!?

i played video games outside, in the mud and dirt.

 

[devilof76]

My nephew plays with toys (action figures, vehicles, toy guns, swords, etc.). His little sister is more into art type stuff, but she plays with dolls, and she plays hard (toys fear her, as do most inanimate objects and small animals ). Their older cousin loved toys up until she was about 10, but she's 12 now and much more interested in clothes. The two girls watch a lot of tv, and the boy plays PS2 when he gets a chance, but otherwise, I don't see a lot of difference between them and myself and my siblings at that age.

However (and this might be the dime it turns on) none of their parents are particularly wealthy. The older one is an only child, first grandchild, and her dad has been AWOL for years. Her mom works hard and makes good money, but she has her in a private school and extra money isn't abundant. The other two have both parents, and my mom lavishes what she can on them, but they're still middle income on a good day, and they just had a baby brother.

That also may have nothing to do with it. They all grew up in quiet neighborhoods with good backyards to play in. They've had each other to play with. They get a lot of attention from the adults around them.

So, who knows.

 

[thenammagazine]

My son is currently enjoying the hell out of his Imaginext Batman toys (I bought him the whole lot) and my daughter her Monster High dolls. My guess is if the parents are too busy with their faces buried in tablets, smartphones and computers, rather than spending time with their children and rely on TV/movies/videogames to raise their children, the children will follow suit.

 

[Voorhees27]

 

[devilof76]

 

[thenammagazine]

That pic is tragic.

 

[devilof76]

Catwoman will turn up and his night will be just fine.

 

[CelticPredator]

My son is currently enjoying the hell out of his Imaginext Batman toys (I bought him the whole lot) and my daughter her Monster High dolls. My guess is if the parents are too busy with their faces buried in tablets, smartphones and computers, rather than spending time with their children and rely on TV/movies/videogames to raise their children, the children will follow suit.

This quote should be the quote of the year.

 

[CelticPredator]

Toys will always be better then video games for children. Not for any sense of moral, or Media news esq reasonings....but because toys require imagination. Video games, phones, iphones, ipads, idontgivea****s, do not, in any way, require you to use your brain in a productive manner when you're a child.

Now, sure, I do use electronics. I do love the internet. But I wouldn't have any creativity if I never played with toys. Be it building blocks, action figures, legos, whatever. I created my own stories, my own situations, my own designs, whatever. I did. Not a console. Not a tablet. Me. My brain. Which is why this article makes me sad inside.

 

[DarthTrafford]

I remember getting Star Wars and gi joes for Xmas and spending that whole week of break In epic battles on my bed. Usually falling asleep in the middle of the carnage.

After we opened all our STAR WARS figures on Christmas morning my best friend would come over and the 3 of us,my twin brother too,would be outside with all the new toys until it got dark out!
We'd act out the movies and then just do our own adventures.
Today my twin brother and I went for one of our walks and there wasn't a single kid outside playing with a new toy or anything!
They were probably all inside on their new iPads playing angry birds star wars or some lame crap like that!