Toys

Boys stuff is also a lot more elaborate. But they usually follow the instructions for a while and then it just all gets mixed up. Earlier a naughty toy (a fierman) was robbing chocolate from the police station build from different blocks and bits of stable and fire station sets. He was chased by two policemen (a pilot and a boy figure).

I actually dislike it how all the toys have to be educational. Children won't get phd in maths if their electronic rattle tells them numbers when they are six months old. Tbh at the moment I'm just grateful if the toy keeps them occupied for a while.

bluewolf wrote: »

I don't know, I was nearly "forced" into my cello lessons for years but when I got into early teens, I very much appreciated them and it turned into a passion. It's dull and boring playing something when you sound like you're killing a cat, just have to tough it out
I think music is wonderful and there could be worse than trying to stimulate their creative side that way. Needs to go hand in hand with an appreciation of listening to classical music as well though
(I'm not sure where there is a "failure" of the parent there either?)

I'd say you'd be the exception to the rule.

I grew up with three people (classmates / friends) who were pushed by their parents into stuff they didn't want to do.

One chap was put into drama classes from a young age. He got quite good and in his teens was on Fair City in extras roles, a few lines here and there. Yet he confided in myself and a few people over the years that he hated doing it. He genuinely despised acting but didn't want to let his parents down.

Another girl had thousands spent on piano lessons over a few years. She reached 15 and just refused to go anymore.

I think if a kid shows an interest then it should be nurtured. But there's loads of parents who push their kids into hobbies that make them look good in front of other parents / appear to be a model family.

I need this^^^. Screw the kids, its for me. Where did you get it?

Very interesting thread and discussion, maybe I'll bring it to live again

I'm from the younger part of the millennial generation (born 1988) and I don't remember toys in my day being as clearly divided by gender as they are now. They weren't pink and blue, they didn't have "for girls" or "for boys" labels. Thanks to the fact that there were no labels, boys were not ashamed to play with us girls, Barbie or at home, e.g. washing, ironing, cooking dinner. We got social skills maybe, but there was not such pressure to treat toys as an educational help.

Toys are thankfully changing a lot lately and becoming more educational (although looking after the house and playing adult is also part of the education). Some time ago we were at a Lego workshop combined with a building exhibition and even for me, an adult, it was an amazing experience and fun. At the workshop you could rebuild your old sets (like a Lego car) into a bicycle or scooter according to Green Instructions, and at the same time listen to lectures on the environment adapted to children.

I played with blocks when I was 5-8 years old, but nobody ever suggested to me that this could be an introduction to something more, to an interest in engineering or technology. Girls at a certain stage of development were even discouraged from developing in these directions, as if it was reserved for one sex. I remember at school a teacher waving his hand when asking girls and giving them a grade of D or E. He didn't see the potential in us. I envy the kids now that they have such opportunities, that everyone is literally standing on their heads to show them that climate change (and any other too) is up to them, to push them to be active, to explore the world themselves. Back in my school days, teachers mainly cared about surviving until 3-4 PM, assigning tasks and going home.