| Toys are not only for kids. Adults need the | | | | Toys are not only for kids. Adults need the |
| relaxation and the memories beloved toys can | | | | relaxation and the memories beloved toys can |
| bring back to their memories. I still have in | | | | bring back to their memories. I still have in |
| my room the Rubik's Cube which I managed only | | | | my room the Rubik's Cube which I managed only |
| once to solve and numerous times I thought of | | | | once to solve and numerous times I thought of |
| taking off its colored rectangular stickers | | | | taking off its colored rectangular stickers |
| and placing each color on every side. I never | | | | and placing each color on every side. I never |
| actually did it because I was afraid of the | | | | actually did it because I was afraid of the |
| consequences if I destroyed my fathers | | | | consequences if I destroyed my fathers |
| favorite toy. When I understood that solving | | | | favorite toy. When I understood that solving |
| the cube requires some planning and | | | | the cube requires some planning and |
| problem-solving skills, I was determined to | | | | problem-solving skills, I was determined to |
| succeed and I still remember the joyful | | | | succeed and I still remember the joyful |
| screaming when I managed to "solve" its | | | | screaming when I managed to "solve" its |
| mystery; probably by accident. Since then, I | | | | mystery; probably by accident. Since then, I |
| have been catching myself thinking of my | | | | have been catching myself thinking of my |
| favorite old toys, like Lego and Playmobil, | | | | favorite old toys, like Lego and Playmobil, |
| not very girly I know, and recapturing the | | | | not very girly I know, and recapturing the |
| times I was playing in our then common room | | | | times I was playing in our then common room |
| with my brother. | | | | with my brother. |
| | | | |
| Toys are used in play by children, adults and | | | | Toys are used in play by children, adults and |
| pets. The difference a toy has from a game is | | | | pets. The difference a toy has from a game is |
| that toy play does not have clearly defined | | | | that toy play does not have clearly defined |
| goals; that is if you do not play with my | | | | goals; that is if you do not play with my |
| brother. Today, huge toy chains, like | | | | brother. Today, huge toy chains, like |
| "Toy-R-Us," carry a vast assortment of | | | | "Toy-R-Us," carry a vast assortment of |
| different toys for any age and background, | | | | different toys for any age and background, |
| covering the needs of children and parents. | | | | covering the needs of children and parents. |
| But while parents spend a small fortune on | | | | But while parents spend a small fortune on |
| acquiring the latest model of their son's | | | | acquiring the latest model of their son's |
| favorite car toy, the young boy will continue | | | | favorite car toy, the young boy will continue |
| to play with the old one and although he will | | | | to play with the old one and although he will |
| at the beginning be extremely happy with his | | | | at the beginning be extremely happy with his |
| new possession, the old car that misses a | | | | new possession, the old car that misses a |
| wheel and a door will never leave its bed. | | | | wheel and a door will never leave its bed. |
| | | | |
| The explanation for this type of behavior is | | | | The explanation for this type of behavior is |
| rather simple. In fact, if you try to recall | | | | rather simple. In fact, if you try to recall |
| your favorite toy while you were a kid, you | | | | your favorite toy while you were a kid, you |
| will probably remember that its prime time | | | | will probably remember that its prime time |
| had long passed, but you continued holding it | | | | had long passed, but you continued holding it |
| in your arms as you fell asleep. Some people | | | | in your arms as you fell asleep. Some people |
| state that their favorite 'toy' was not even | | | | state that their favorite 'toy' was not even |
| a regular purchased toy. Any item in the | | | | a regular purchased toy. Any item in the |
| house that a kid for some reason will pick | | | | house that a kid for some reason will pick |
| up, toss in the air or play around with can | | | | up, toss in the air or play around with can |
| become a toy. As long as children's | | | | become a toy. As long as children's |
| imagination is at work, even a rubber band or | | | | imagination is at work, even a rubber band or |
| a pillow can become a toy with which a child | | | | a pillow can become a toy with which a child |
| will feel a close connection. | | | | will feel a close connection. |
| | | | |
| Finally, today's commercialization has | | | | Finally, today's commercialization has |
| introduced another type of toys that are not | | | | introduced another type of toys that are not |
| intended as play toys, but rather as | | | | intended as play toys, but rather as |
| collector items for adults. People around the | | | | collector items for adults. People around the |
| globe collect these type of toys and | | | | globe collect these type of toys and |
| constitute a niche (specific target) market | | | | constitute a niche (specific target) market |
| audience for manufacturers. But whether you | | | | audience for manufacturers. But whether you |
| are currently a collector or not, remembering | | | | are currently a collector or not, remembering |
| your old toys and the enthusiasm with which | | | | your old toys and the enthusiasm with which |
| you played with them can only bring a smile | | | | you played with them can only bring a smile |
| to your face which will last as long as your | | | | to your face which will last as long as your |
| happy memory. | | | | happy memory. |
| | | | |
| Toys are not only for kids. Adults need the | | | | Toys are not only for kids. Adults need the |
| relaxation and the memories beloved toys can | | | | relaxation and the memories beloved toys can |
| bring back to their memories. I still have in | | | | bring back to their memories. I still have in |
| my room the Rubik's Cube which I managed only | | | | my room the Rubik's Cube which I managed only |
| once to solve and numerous times I thought of | | | | once to solve and numerous times I thought of |
| taking off its colored rectangular stickers | | | | taking off its colored rectangular stickers |
| and placing each color on every side. I never | | | | and placing each color on every side. I never |
| actually did it because I was afraid of the | | | | actually did it because I was afraid of the |
| consequences if I destroyed my fathers | | | | consequences if I destroyed my fathers |
| favorite toy. When I understood that solving | | | | favorite toy. When I understood that solving |
| the cube requires some planning and | | | | the cube requires some planning and |
| problem-solving skills, I was determined to | | | | problem-solving skills, I was determined to |
| succeed and I still remember the joyful | | | | succeed and I still remember the joyful |
| screaming when I managed to "solve" its | | | | screaming when I managed to "solve" its |
| mystery; probably by accident. Since then, I | | | | mystery; probably by accident. Since then, I |
| have been catching myself thinking of my | | | | have been catching myself thinking of my |
| favorite old toys, like Lego and Playmobil, | | | | favorite old toys, like Lego and Playmobil, |
| not very girly I know, and recapturing the | | | | not very girly I know, and recapturing the |
| times I was playing in our then common room | | | | times I was playing in our then common room |
| with my brother. | | | | with my brother. |
| | | | |
| Toys are used in play by children, adults and | | | | Toys are used in play by children, adults and |
| pets. The difference a toy has from a game is | | | | pets. The difference a toy has from a game is |
| that toy play does not have clearly defined | | | | that toy play does not have clearly defined |
| goals; that is if you do not play with my | | | | goals; that is if you do not play with my |
| brother. Today, huge toy chains, like | | | | brother. Today, huge toy chains, like |
| "Toy-R-Us," carry a vast assortment of | | | | "Toy-R-Us," carry a vast assortment of |
| different toys for any age and background, | | | | different toys for any age and background, |
| covering the needs of children and parents. | | | | covering the needs of children and parents. |
| But while parents spend a small fortune on | | | | But while parents spend a small fortune on |
| acquiring the latest model of their son's | | | | acquiring the latest model of their son's |
| favorite car toy, the young boy will continue | | | | favorite car toy, the young boy will continue |
| to play with the old one and although he will | | | | to play with the old one and although he will |
| at the beginning be extremely happy with his | | | | at the beginning be extremely happy with his |
| new possession, the old car that misses a | | | | new possession, the old car that misses a |
| wheel and a door will never leave its bed. | | | | wheel and a door will never leave its bed. |
| | | | |
| The explanation for this type of behavior is | | | | The explanation for this type of behavior is |
| rather simple. In fact, if you try to recall | | | | rather simple. In fact, if you try to recall |
| your favorite toy while you were a kid, you | | | | your favorite toy while you were a kid, you |
| will probably remember that its prime time | | | | will probably remember that its prime time |
| had long passed, but you continued holding it | | | | had long passed, but you continued holding it |
| in your arms as you fell asleep. Some people | | | | in your arms as you fell asleep. Some people |
| state that their favorite 'toy' was not even | | | | state that their favorite 'toy' was not even |
| a regular purchased toy. Any item in the | | | | a regular purchased toy. Any item in the |
| house that a kid for some reason will pick | | | | house that a kid for some reason will pick |
| up, toss in the air or play around with can | | | | up, toss in the air or play around with can |
| become a toy. As long as children's | | | | become a toy. As long as children's |
| imagination is at work, even a rubber band or | | | | imagination is at work, even a rubber band or |
| a pillow can become a toy with which a child | | | | a pillow can become a toy with which a child |
| will feel a close connection. | | | | will feel a close connection. |
| | | | |
| Finally, today's commercialization has | | | | Finally, today's commercialization has |
| introduced another type of toys that are not | | | | introduced another type of toys that are not |
| intended as play toys, but rather as | | | | intended as play toys, but rather as |
| collector items for adults. People around the | | | | collector items for adults. People around the |
| globe collect these type of toys and | | | | globe collect these type of toys and |
| constitute a niche (specific target) market | | | | constitute a niche (specific target) market |
| audience for manufacturers. But whether you | | | | audience for manufacturers. But whether you |
| are currently a collector or not, remembering | | | | are currently a collector or not, remembering |
| your old toys and the enthusiasm with which | | | | your old toys and the enthusiasm with which |
| you played with them can only bring a smile | | | | you played with them can only bring a smile |
| to your face which will last as long as your | | | | to your face which will last as long as your |
| happy memory. | | | | happy memory. |
| | | | |