Show Iff jg t t rw a t g Lt f fI I J NEW OWNER OWNER MANAGER MANAGER David Pedersen o of Specialized Automotive formerly Stewarts Stewart's Auto explains plans for lor the future of the shop TIMELY TIPS ON TOYS fly lly Dr Ur Virginia E. E Consultant Consul For Creative Playthings Children actually hale hate most action toys although they are prominently displayed displayed dis dis- played in stores heavily advertised and bought by millions of adults with excellent ex ex- excellent intentions Such toys are robots by manufacturers to do all the work Children are forced to conform conform con con- form to the theand toy and cannot can can- cannot not express their high lev lev- of creativity Consequently they resent the toy and resentment becomes becomes be be- comes hatred Action toys wiggle and jiggle light up or make noises when a key is wound a II button bullon is pushed a lever leveris is pressed or a string is pulled No further involvement involvement involve involve- ment is needed Adults are often fascinated fascinated fascinated fasci fasci- by action toys But adults are much more passive passive pas pas- sive than children They enjoy enjoy en en- joy sitting back as spectators for many hours and having their recreation force force fed fed to them Perhaps the classic example exam exam- example pIe of an action toy is the set of electric trains a father buys for his youngsters Studies have shown that fathers are really buying the trains for themselves Children Children Children Chil Chil- dren arent aren't willing to sit back and watch the action They must be part of it As a practicing pediatrician pediatrician cian with toys in my waiting room I 1 It recall one patient becoming angry with an action action ac tion toy It lit up after a button was and pushed did nothing els else After ten minutes the child became furious picked pick pick- ed cd up the toy and smashed it He yelled at the toy calling it stupid Children must be chal thai challenged longed stimulated and in involved involved in in- in everything they do That's why they are turned off by things that are too easy to turn on They rhey dont don't separate work and play as adults often do They love to learn and learning is fun But there is neither learning nor fun when all a child needs to todo todo todo do is turn a key or press pressa a button bullon Youngsters must be able to do many different things with toys They will often find ways to play with them which parents and manufacturers manufacturers haven't considered simply because children are more creative than adults Good toys have repetitive play value They help children children children chil chil- dren to mature because they must work to master the toys and that mastery must be exhibited in a variety of play situations That's Thais why this type lype of toy loy can be used until the child outgrows outgrows outgrows out out- grows it So whenever youre you're thinking thinking thinking think think- ing about about a II toy loy for your favorite youngster remember remember ber that its it's not nol what the toy loy can do for the child What's important is what the child can do with the toy |