Here's what our Highlights Parents' Panel said about how toys have changed since they were kids and how kids play now.
Parents' Favorite Toys:
Among the toys panelists described as childhood favorites were Barbie, Little People, stuffed animals, Legos, Lincoln Logs, Erector sets, puzzles and games such as Candyland, Simon, Scrabble, Trouble, and Pictionary. Others mentioned baseball, kickball, and bike riding as favorite activities. Still others mostly enjoyed nature, making mudpies, and climbing rocks.
How Panelists Said Play Has Changed:
Toys are all about technology now and education. They do not enable a child's imagination. Children don't play house, Barbies, school, etc., anymore, nor do they go outside and play a neighborhood game of ball. Everything they do involves a computer or a television set, or the sport has to be so competitive.
I think we played more street sports when we where kids, like Wiffle ball and just catching since there where less toys and less dangers then there are today, which is very sad. I wish I could just send my child out front to play with other kids but it is very scary.
The less active toys, such as computers, are not doing the job when it comes to activity and keeping the children slim. I feel like we as parents need to set limits
Many dolls have become way too "mature" looking...
It has become difficult, if not impossible, to find the simple baby toys that I had growing up and my older two had. The basic stacking rings and pop-up toys light up and play music! I feel very sad about that.
Excellent learning toys available now that weren't when I was young.
The one area where toys have changed is in the newer, more technological toys, such as hand-held computer type toys or toys that have computer chips imbedded into them so that dogs can respond to commands, for example. I feel that children should still be encouraged to play creatively and not get too dependant upon games that dictate the course of play for them.
Some of you described how your kids still do engage in imaginative play:
My 6-year-old daughter has quite the imagination. She and her brother and a gaggle of neighborhood kids created an elaborate village in the woods behind our neighbor's house. They had homes and stores and businesses. They used pinecones as money and played for hours each day.
Others said their kids play house, store, library, and school, and are involved with crafts, activities, and outdoor sports.