Articles on Toys | Topics: toys, toy
by Sidney Underwood
In spite of the recent movement to neutralize the gender gap in the kinds of playthings we will permit our children to entertain themselves with, there are some toys which just naturally seem to draw more of a male crowd while leaving female would-be-players at the sidelines somewhat disinterested. Here is a list of these toys that seem to spell fun and entertainment for boys.
• Have you ever heard of Robosapien? Becoming a bit of a cult item in 2004, this toy is well known for realistic movement and behavior. The inventor, former NASA physicist Dr Mark Tilden, has since stepped up and introduced the next generation of this toy: Robosapien V2.
• For the racing enthusiast there are the rubber band racers. After encouraging the boys to paint their own wooden cards, they may be raced with the help of a rubber band.
• A relatively newcomer on the scene is the California Chariot which is touted to be a mix of the BMX biking experience of old and the thrill of skateboarding. This unusual contraption features three wheels, and two footboards, and BMX style handlebars. Boys have been seen using it in the same was as a skateboard and it is said to provide a similar thrill.
• While Lego blocks enjoy a huge following of both girls and boys, there are some themes and storylines the manufacturers of Lego have developed that seem to exclusively appeal to the boys in the audience. One example of such a toy is the Bionicle series, which features futuristic creatures that may be changed with the simple addition of some connecting pieces.
• Radio controlled toys are a big hit with boys. Whether it is a radio-controlled car, ship, airplane, or simply a radio-controlled rat, these toys are a sure winner with boys.
| Bit of History |
Scarfs, garters, gold, amuse his riper stage,
And beads and prayer-books are the toys of age:
Pleased with this bauble still, as that before;
‘Till tired he sleeps, and life’s poor play is o’er.
| —Alexander Pope (1688–1744) |
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• In the wake of the Star Wars sequels and prequels, light sabers are a new crowd pleaser. They come in a variety of colors and modes of durability, and little boys as well as adolescents love to recreate the legendary battles of the Jedi and the dark side of the force.
• Two-way radios have been en vogue for the longest time. Boys love to pretend play secrete missions and run around in the backyard with a pair of binoculars and a walkie-talkie. While some have a tinny sound and only range for very short distances, others will actually permit the children to separate for a long distance.
• Boys love football (also known as soccer in some parts of the world) and it is no surprise that the football tables are the craze with them! While these tables are traditionally placed in bars and other establishments that underage children are not allowed to attend, they may now be purchase for the home basement and even for the backyard!
As you can see, there are a large number of toys that are specifically geared just for boys. Even though there may be some girls, who will enjoy playing with them as well, by and large it is the male population, which will be the driving force behind the sales figures. Does this mean that the moves to gender neutralize the games and toys are losing a foothold in today's society? It certainly appears that the times of political correctness with respect to toys and games is indeed limited. No matter how hard parents may try to convince junior to play with a cabbage patch doll, or no matter how hard they try to get their little princess to get excited about Bionicle, it does appear like this movement is doomed. For a while it may have flourished, but in the long run the boys would not be denied and have demanded toys and games that are created and crafted with the specific gender differences in mind. Not surprisingly, these differences embrace the agility, aggressiveness, and strength that seem to set the pace with toys and games between the genders. So go ahead and be politically incorrect; buy your boys something they will enjoy since it appeals to them simply because of the things that make them different rather than forcing them to play with things that neither challenge nor interest them.
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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Terrific Toys Geared for Just Boys" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by ToysGiftsPresents.com. |
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