Nostalgia is a funny thing…a wistful longing for innocent days gone by. In 2009, though, there is a new breed of nostalgia. The youngest generation of parents were raised in a world with hundreds of channels on cable TV, remote controls galore and the explosion of media-linked toys that came with the deregulation of children’s television in the 1980’s. If they are feeling nostalgic, they can “relive the biggest moments in Nintendo History through classic Ninetendo Power articles” in a special collector’s edition of this gaming magazine.
Last week, when I wrote about the latest Transformer toys, I heard from parents who absolutely love Transformers. They grew up with them, remember them fondly, and buy them for their kids. It got me thinking about many things…such as cradle to grave marketing and the emotional components of buying and selling. It also made me think about my favorite toys and games growing up. I was born in the 1960’s and grew up before marketing to kids became the mega-industry it is today. Video games were just beginning to make their debut and I was in college before I saw VCRs and personal computers in someone’s home.
This week I received the June newsletter from Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. In it, coincidentally, they feature an essay called Games Grandpa Used to Play by Philip Starr. It got me thinking about older generations, and how their stories could help young parents learn more about creative and imaginative play – and how kids entertained themselves before the electronic and branded craze we live in now. I started to get excited about documenting these stories about play from folks I know who were born in the 1950’s or earlier. These stories could help guide young parents who are trying to make decisions about their own kids and what makes for lasting, happy memories and healthy emotional development – especially considering how quickly the world of play has changed.
This weekend, as many families gather for July 4th celebrations, it would be a wonderful opportunity to share some cross-generational stories of favorite games and toys. Perhaps youngsters will be inspired to get unplugged and go “old-school” for a bit!e
Wiffle ball and going in the pool were the first two things on his list of what he liked about playing with his cousin in Long Island this weekend. Pokimon card play was third and although neither of them really know how to play, they do enjoy it.
Bill
Two things about sidewalk chalk: we are playing with Crayola's giant brush with sidewalk paint and will try the "airbrush" one–I'm not so much on the rake–once you do it a couple of times, then what? Also–there is nothing my seniors like more than sidewalk drawing after all of their exhibitions and reviews are over–some of those drawings on Ipswich street have been inspired!
One other thing: we have watched the neighborhood kids, three households, four kids as they bang in and out of the houses and get into projects, sometimes mischief. This has made me think of trouble and perceived risk: getting into trouble that is not irreversible, like making mud where you shouldn't and digging holes that can be filled up. The beauty of getting into "trouble" and projects of your own making is that it builds intense kid culture and develops such a strong sense of self and group. They are making their own tribe, though they are from three very different-looking families: single mom, gay moms, mom and dad; African American and European.
They made their own T-shirts with sharpies and markers and have developed their own set of rules and expectations. They live outside, on different porches according to the weather and we are not anxious about being alone, making play dates, etc.
The other night Madeline turned to us and said "Wow, I'm not watching much TV these days". It's pretty cool and so important to us that she have this important time of her own making, different from school, different from camp.
Sidewalk chalk is one of my all-time favorite toys. I wrote about it on an earlier post. Thanks for the reminder! http://www.empoweredbyplay.org/2009/05/no-batteries-required.html
Summer fun when I was growing up in during the '70's in Brooklyn included going to the pool to swim during the day and catching fireflies at night with the neighbor kids while the grown-ups chatted on the porch.
"Old-school" winter fun included playing board games, card games and trading stationary.