Kids these days play video games practically everywhere. They have their own little noise-making devices that they carry around and annoy the heck out of people in restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters, everywhere. Oh, I get that as a parent, these types of “toys” provide the perfect distraction and keep those little minds busy and perhaps their mouths quiet. Quiet is a precious commodity when you have little ones after all.
Now, back in my day, when my mom wanted quiet in the house, she wouldn’t set us down in front of a video screen, no, she’d shoo us outside and we had to make our own entertainment. This . . .
was not playing when I grew up. Playing, in my opinion, is not holding an electronic device in your hands. Playing involves some blood, sweat and tears. It often results in skinned knees and bruises. It involves sunshine. And dirt. Lots of dirt.
Physical activity is involved. Yeah, sure, it might require hand-eye coordination, too, and possibly holding something in your hands.
But, sitting still and staring at a video screen does not constitute “playing” in my world. Perhaps a form of entertainment, but definitely not playing.
I remember when I was a kid, it didn’t take a lot of money to provide my mind with some sort of distraction. In fact, it was often the simplest, cheapest toys that provided the most amusement. Like kites. I was not the most coordinated person so flying a kite took some patience, but I remember every summer being overjoyed when my mom – after several moments of whining, begging and promising all sorts of stuff I probably never followed through on – would buy me a kite.
Now I’m not talking kites like we see today; ones that require a 12-man team, a cargo van to transport, and acres of open space to operate.
No, I’m talking the good old-fashioned cheap flimsy kites, like this:
Remember these? I had hours of fun (and frustration) trying to get those things airborne. But when they rose above the tree-line – WOW!
And, who remembers throwing these bad boys up in the air for a different kind of flight?
What a stupid little toy (not to mention a horrible choking hazard), but how much fun did I have with those little rubber army men and their thin plastic parachutes! If I wanted sound effects with this toy, I had to make my own.
And, of course, no kid of my generation made it to adulthood without winding up the rubber band propeller on one of these babies:
Remember those balsa wood gliders? No batteries required, just twist up that rubber band and let ‘er rip. Hours of exciting entertainment for me and my brother.
But, I’ve got to say, nothing, except maybe a jump rope (another low tech and inexpensive toy), provided more hours of quiet entertainment than these beauties:
I managed to reach almost professional levels with my little bouncy super balls and shiny little sharp-edged jacks. I’d sit for hours on the kitchen linoleum floor next to the avocado green appliances, dropping my bright red super ball and scooping up jacks like a demon-possessed child. I miss these things. Can you even buy them anywhere any more?
What low tech toys from your youth bring back fond memories? Did you play video games or did you play outside? What was your favorite childhood toy?
Word of the Day: Flocculate
Fun fact about me: I used to love playing with Tonka trucks.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, September 2016. Photos courtesy Google Images.
You always give me a chuckle, thanks. As for low tech toys I remember them well – the balsa planes always lasted about a day, then they were destroyed. But we had fun with them. BTW – you have a high tech word! I actually knew this word – without looking it up. Water treatment plants add a chemical to fresh water to bind the suspended particles and ‘clean the water’ – the process is called flocculation. Have a wonderful week fall is finally here and the cooler temps arrived last night. Hope your world is cooling down in temps – at least.
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I love it when my readers know my words of the day!
I’m glad you got an early morning chuckle before heading off to school. I try to be upbeat, positive and fun here at the Edge of Eternity. I’m glad you appreciate it.
Here’s to the kids who played with low tech toys even if they fell apart right away. I didn’t say they were made to last, just cheap.
As always, have a wonderful week and thanks for visiting.
Patricia
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I loved playing jacks. I’d play for hours in our front entryway on the tile. My girlie seems to get most of her entertainment from Barbies, books and dollhouses. I say, right on. She watches movies and likes to play games on her Kindle Fire, but that’s not her main form of entertainment. Thank God. Low tech toys are the best!!
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Jacks were the bomb! Until you lost the super ball.
I’m glad your kiddo likes to actually play. I loved my Barbies, too. I’d imagine myself a fashion designer and change their clothes all the time, trying different outfits and shoes. Those were the good old days.
Oh – and remember coloring books! I LOVED to color. Still do.
Have a great week.
Patricia
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I have a box of hats for you. I’ll be sure to send on a coloring book as well. You haven’t lived until you’ve colored in My Little Pony. 🙂
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Never knew how to play jacks, and I sucked at jump rope. My favorite toys as a kid were paper and crayons (later markers), and Barbie dolls. Also Hot Wheels!
Flocculate is such a great word! Sounds like something totally nasty, LOL.
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“Flocculate is such a great word! Sounds like something totally nasty . . . ” It kind of does now that you mention it.
I liked playing with my Barbie dolls, too. And paper dolls. Did you ever have paper dolls? My mom got me the coloring book of paper dolls and clothes so I got to color first and then play with the dolls. So much fun.
Have a great week, Jennette and try not to flocculate. At least in public.
Patricia
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You’re so right! I think all the video games, etc., while I can’t totally dislike them, stunt creative play time and imagination. I used to just go outside and make my own fun. Of course, we had horses, so that helped. Ah, the good ol’ days!
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Ah, the good ol’ days indeed. I miss them. Having horses would definitely help and the added bonus, kids learn responsibility if you are required to clean up after them and feed them, etc. An entirely different kind of “toy.” And, not a cheap one, I might add.
So good to see you this happy Monday morning. Have a wonderful week.
Patricia
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You are so right. Colouring and reading comic books worked for me! I never did master Jacks! (Full disclosure ~ this is the first time I’ve admitted my failure at Jacks on social media. There, it’s out!)
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Oh, Patricia, thanks for letting it all go. Now you breathe easier that you little secret is out. Whew.
Hey, not everybody is good at everything. I’m sure you had your skills as a child.
Coloring – everybody’s favorite passtime.
Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the rest of your week.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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Wow, you brought back memories Patricia. I did not have video games since that came a wee bit later during my children’s childhood. I came from the Barbie era. I apparently had a first generation Barbie, but back in the day I had no clue what its value would be later and trashed it. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Oh well. And of course there were Crayola crayons. You were really cool if you had the 64 crayon box! I had Paper Dolls, and like Jenny, I mastered Jacks, with lots of bike riding and roller skating in-between. And I loved to play with my brither’s Matchbox cars. So it really wasn’t a bad childhood even though it didn’t include all the electronic stuff. 😊
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Doesn’t sound like a bad childhood at all. Matchbox cars were cool. Did you and your brother have the electronic race cars also? With the plastic, snap together track. Oh my gosh, my brother and I played for hours with that racetrack and cars.
Definitely was a different time. Good memories.
Thanks or stopping by and sharing. Have a great rest of the week.
Patricia
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