Birthday Gifts: Toys
Birthday Gift Toy Guide
I read an article on the net recently about a man who was asked to work on a Guide to the Best Toys for birthday gift ideas. When I saw the proposition I looked up from screen and started contemplating — wow, what a big chunk he is biting off. If you think about it, by what yardstick would you rate toys? On the one hand you can look for the most unique and unusual, or no, would you go for the best selling, or the most educational? Would you rate the classic toys higher because they have withstood the test of time, or would you say that the tech toys are inherently better because they are currently selling better?
I put my eyes back onto the screen and kept reading.
One of the things that caught my eye right away (even though it wasn’t the first paragraph) is that the author discovered that collectors are an excellent source of information about the best toys. At first thought, one would assume that collectors collect things because of their esoteric value and rarity, but after researching the matter it turns out that they really know what they are talking about. If I may quote, "Some tin toys, for example, go back decades, but are still as entertaining as ever. Robotic windup cars can be more fun than radio controlled cars for some people, and if something goes wrong with them they are easier to fix."
Still, it seems to me that one doesn’t have to ignore the value of the modern day electronic toys. Some of the high-tech toys are some of the best that were ever invented. Virtual pets, radio controlled vehicles, video game systems, toy robots, are some of the gadgets that have made our lives more entertaining. Many are very educational and stimulate creativity. Many parents wouldn’t relate to sound recording software as a toy, or digital cameras and digital photo editing software, but many teenagers consider these to be great toys.
I agree with the author’s motivation for accepting the assignment — that a good toy guide is really important, and for many reasons. A lot of the times, parents don’t know what to get their children for presents. The right educational toy at the right time, especially on a birthday, can inspire a child, and make a huge world of difference. A kite might not seem like much, but it can be a great way to bring a family together and give the children the special attention that they so need. An electronics projects kit might not be as high tech as the latest video game system, but it can help kids understand how things work and inspire passion for a high-technology career. The best toys inherently should both amuse and also inspire.
Boruch Rappaport
Tags: unique baby gift, unique gift ideas, family gift idea, holiday gift idea, unique gifts, gift ideas
