Simple Toys

On a recent trip to (very warm and sunny) Los Angeles, I visited friends who have three children: a girl (age 5) and two boys (ages 8 and 13.)  In addition to being excited to see my friends and to see how much their children have grown, I thought it was a good chance to do some toy “research” and see, as they say, what the kids are into these days. 



When I arrived, no one heard me at the front door because the whole family was in the backyard playing Lazer Tag (check.)  Once inside, the kids wanted me to see their newly-installed basketball hoop (check.)  There was also a RipStik (check), a couple of bikes (double check) and a jump rope (check.)  That’s when it got creative.  After I tried to ride the RipStik (and failed miserably) the boys started riding it while shooting hoops.  Then the jump rope got tied to a bike and the boys pulled their little sister around on it.  Then it turned into all of us just jumping rope…for almost an hour.  (Do kids ever get tired?)  It surprised me that with all the technology and pricey toys out there, the one that can get the most use is the simplest (and cheapest) one of all. — E. Christian Moore