Old-fashioned gifts include vintage toys, which may be more effective at developing creativity and enhancing imagination in children. Developmental psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek researches children's play and learning at the Infant Lab at Temple University. She reports that traditional toys outweigh modern electronic ones because they offer children more control.
“Old-fashioned retro toys, such as red rubber balls, simple building blocks, clay and crayons that don’t cost so much and are usually hidden in the back shelves are usually much healthier for children than the electronic educational toys that have fancier boxes and cost $89.99,” says Hirsh-Pasek.
Roberta Golinkoff is a researcher at the Infant Language Project at the University of Delaware. She collaborates with Hirsh-Pasek in researching child's play and learning. Golinkoff says, “The irony is that the real educational toys are not the flashy gadgets and gismos with big promises, but the staples that have built creative thinkers for decades.” Vintage toys make for healthy play.
How Retro Toys Develop Creativity in Children
Children learn through active play, not passive exposure to flashing lights and blinking numbers. Modern electronic toys that ask questions don’t teach kids how to explore or be creative. Vintage toys enhance healthy play because they're more likely to require interaction and involvement. That is, they require children to manipulate them – not passively answer a series of questions.
Hirsh-Pasek and Golinkoff co-wrote Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Our Children Really Learn – And Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less. This book for parents has received numerous positive reviews.
“Don’t waste your money on flash cards, high-tech toys, and computer programs designed to teach your child how to read, write, and add,” says Laurence Steinberg, Ph. D., Distinguished University Professor of Psychology at Temple University. “The advice in this book will do more to help your child grow up to be happy, healthy and smart than anything you can buy in an educational toy store. A tour de force and much-needed wake-up call for today’s parents.”
Vintage Toys for Healthy Play
If you’re buying a birthday or holiday gift for kids, don’t discount the old-fashioned presents. Vintage or retro gifts include red wagons, crayons, balls, and building blocks.
- Be wary of false promises. “Look carefully at the pictures and promises on the box,” Hirsh-Pasek says. “If the toy is promising that your child is going to be smarter, it’s a red flag. If it is promising that your child is going to be bilingual or learn calculus by playing with it, the chances are high that this is not going to happen – even with a tremendous amount of parental intervention.” Vintage toys for healthy play don't usually come with false promises.
- Look for toys that kids play with together. Playing with blocks, wagons, or other vintage toys with another child or two improves socialization skills. Kids learn how to negotiate, which comes in handy later in life. Old-fashioned gifts may be less expensive, too.
- Buy “construction toys.” Toys that allow kids to build castles, forts and playhouses with creative materials enhance their imagination. For instance, puzzles and big storybooks with beautiful illustrations are retro toys that allow kids to explore and grow.
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For more information on retro play and how vintage toys increase learning and imagination, Visit the official Einstein Never Used Flashcards website.
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen is a full-time writer and blogger in Vancouver, BC, and the creator of the Quips and Tips blog series.
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