For the Love of Toys

Why love toys?

One inch wooden blocks by
Maths Manipulatives

1. Toys teach us about the world

From a baby’s first rattle to a child’s beloved teddy bear, toys help children learn important concepts such as cause and effect, the laws of physics and the difference between make believe and reality. Children also come to understand who they are (and are not) through toys that allow them ‘try on’ different roles and personalities. 

Star Wars figure from
Hasbro's 2013 collection

2.  Toys are entertaining

Toys bring people together in ways that are fun and relaxing. With toys, people can create and control environments where they can explore, imagine and dream.  

3. Toys are cool

Wooden racing car by Vilac

Many toys are pleasing to look at and satisfying to touch. They represent good design and are built to last. 

Blue Furby, by Hasbro

4.  Toys can be hot

Hot toys are the toys that everyone wants and needs because everyone else has them. The very hottest toys spark crazes that ultimately define generations. 

5. Toys can be timeless

1950's Barbie by Mattel.  
Photo by Kathy Fly

Timeless toys are those rare toys that create a sensation when they are introduced and stand the test of time because of their design. Timeless toys not only define generations – they unite them.

Why another blog about toys?

Already countless blogs exist about toys. This is no surprise, given their popularity. After all – toys are big business, representing annual sales of over $21 billion in the United States alone. However, most blogs are about the buying and selling of toys – not about the reasons why people love them in the first place.

Hello Kitty by Martin Kühn

And that’s what makes this blog different. Each weekly post will highlight a specific toy or manufacturer. Entries will include popular mainstays such as Lego, Barbie and Hot Wheels – as well as newer, lesser known toys like Moshi Monsters and Beanie Boos. Adult vinyl and collector toys, like Blythe, Domo and Uglydoll will also get attention, as will internationally famous toys, such as Cheburashka and Hello Kitty.

Woody & Buzz Lightyear figures
from Toy Story.  Photo by Bierhoff

All entries will include a brief overview of the toy's history – highlighting why the toy is hot, cool, educational or entertaining. This will be followed by a list of links to other websites where curious visitors can find more detailed information about the toy. In some instances, there will also be information about the value of the toy, but only when there is a strong collector’s market for it.

Domo Rush Home! by Grana Padano

Finally – and this is what will make this blog unique – is that all posts will include loads of fantastic photographs that will illustrate exactly why the toy is great. With the advent of photo sharing sites, such as Flickr and Pinterest, there is now an endless supply of wonderful toy photographs available. Unfortunately, there are even more bad toy photos out there,  meaning that surfers need to wade through a ton of bad stuff before they find the good stuff. The aim of this blog is to save visitors this hassle by providing a coffee table book experience that will bring out the best in each toy. So sit back, relax and let your scrolling finger take you on a journey through non-stop toy joy.



Where can I find out more?

Time Magazine's 100 greatest toys: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2049243,00.html

Toys on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy

Review of the New York 2013 Toy Fair:
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2013/02/20/why-the-toy-industry-isnt-having-any-fun/

Interview with game creator Tim Walsh:
http://forcesofgood.blogspot.co.uk/2005/10/timeless-toys-interview-with-author.html

Psychology Today article about the importance of pretend play:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beautiful-minds/201203/the-need-pretend-play-in-child-development