Non electronic toys

[simbacatz]

I am sorry that this question isn't really regarding child behaviour. I know moms on this forum are very helpful, so I thought to give it a shot.
I am doing a research paper for my class about non electronic toys. And I need reasons why parents don't buy non electronic toys anymore? Why parents choose electronic toys over non electronic? Please give as many as possible reasons why you would choose electronic toys over non electronic? I would really appreciate your answers. Thanks

[frustrated mommy]

My children are 3 yrs and and 6 months.  I really don't think about the fact that a toy has batteries or not.  It has more to do with what my child ask for and that usually depends on how and to whom it is marketed.  An example would be our most recent toy purchase of Barbie as Elina in the Magic of the Rain bow movie.  She saw the preview for the movie and wanted it after seeing the movie she wanted the doll, the doll is also the remote for a dvd game.  She had no idea she just wanted it because it was in the movie.  My guess would be that the company is not marketing the non-electric toys as well as the electric.  I also believe that it has to do with todays technology.  I have found that my child wants a toy and likes it until she figures out how it works once she has mastered it, she loses interest.  with non-electric toys it can only be masters a few times.  With toys like video games and computers the posiblities are nearly endless.  It could also be the type of toy they are trying to sell, not sure if you have noticed but toy companies are now marketing to parents.  My child loves Strawberry shortcake, My Little Pony, and Care Bears.  Why because I buy them for her it is nostalgic for me.  My husband says that I use the children as an excuse to buy toys for myself
Hope it helps
    

[jd1419]

Here is a reason for buying the battery operated toys for your paper--The kids think they are cool--they light up and they are more interactive without adult help.

A way to show why they should buy the non-electronic toys--Note Use your imagination to design this guy (like in Legos), show the boys and girls pedaling their bikes outside--

During the summer months my boys use more non-electronic toys than during the winter.  We are couped up inside with feet of snow outside and cold weather--so it is the spongebob game or the battery operated trucks and flashlights.

We do try to teach them how to paly yahtzee and board games but they lose interest pretty fast.

Hope this helps, I always hated when they gave you a borad statement to try and figure out the way you wanted to right the paper to please the prof.  Good Luck

[anxiousmomtobe?]

Personally I avoid bettery operated toys.  We have a few, but we try to run a green home so they are not on our priority list.  I like to hear my son paying with his Thomas toys, making all the noises himself.  I think it encourages creativity and imagination.

I think parents feel pressure to buy electronic toys are they are marketed by making promises of making our kids smarter.  We all want our kids to do well and can feel we are holding them back without all these gadgets.

[Trialanderror]

Interesting question, even if it is broad. My 2 cents: I bought maybe a handful of kids` toys altogether that are battery operated, all else is the oldfashioned type.
- battery powered toys become almost useless when batteries are empty, child disappointed and I am the moron who has to keep up the battery supply, fiddle around with ridiculous screwdrivers etc.
- batteries are so bad for the environment, just imagine the tons and tons of lead that we are accumulating just to keep children "happy". And at the same time we are checking house paints and other items for lead content.
We are using re-chargeable batteries for some of the 4 or 5 toys but I know most people don`t.
- battery operated toys are usually way too noisy or crazy in some other way, something I would not impose on an infant. They stifle the child`s development imO.
- battery operated toys do not encourage a child to re-invent the use of the toy or to build something with it or to use their imagination. All they learn is press-button-something-happens. Well, in a way a good preparation for life. Click on the mouse and something happens. But it is all pre-programmed. Those toys are only a small part of the dilemma but they are part of turning us into consumers rather than inventors.
- finally, the majority of battery operated toys are made of plastic which would be alright if we would keep them for decades or forever but reality is that the appeal of all those blinking lights, blarring sounds and moving gadgets soon wears off and the whole thing with its batteries ends up in the garbage.
For your statistics - there are people who have nothing good to say about battery operated toys. Have fun with your study. I am quite curious hear about the outcome.

[RockRose]

Simba,  no worries,  I didn't spend 5 minutes on that post.  That's why it's so rough sounding.  ;D

I still think your assignment is headed in the wrong direction.  Parents ARE buying non electric toys.  In massive amounts.  

You've been given a falacy to defend.     Parents lap up classic toys.  Maybe that could be your paper,  to tell your toy company that they need to market very classic toys,  like puppets,  and look to the business model of "Toy Joy" in Austin.  (I'm sure you can google it).  

If your fictitious company is not succeeding because they are marketing their classic toys to the wrong population,  they've missed the HUGE market of vintage toys,  and the wealthy older parents who are trying to buy them.  

Best wishes.

[simbacatz]

I agree, it is harder dealing with battery opperated toys. You should have seen me last week, it took me forever to find a screw driver so I can insert batteries in my daughter's toy. Almost all her toys require a screwdriver to insert batteries.

[blondie72]

I think for me - It is a pain in the butt to buy batteries ALL THE TIME - They do NOT last long in toys that are played with A LOT - My son does have quite a few battery operated toys (he gets them as gifts LOL) but I would much rather buy NO battery toys - It's just easier - Sometimes it is just too hard to get to the battery compartment of a toy.   Sorry.

[Hazel30]

I dont know if this will help you but this is my opinion on your question.  I think all kids under one are facinated with lights and sounds so until my son was  1 he had many electronic toys that light up and sang songs or whatever.  Once he got a little older we got more into wooden puzzles and many wooden toys.  I feel that my son enjoys more to sit down with us and do fun and at the same time educational activities.  Now that he is  2 he is very much into cars.   Still cars or cars  that go  on their own(battery) but thats  because he's a boy and they move on their  own, he loves that.  He prefers  regualr toys  now over  electronic toys. But as the previous  post said that you will gather a lot of opinions rather then real answers so your  probobly  better off doing like a survey type and then gather your  info from based on the  answers.

[simbacatz]

You guys are very helpful. Thank you for being very nice. I think I should just go ahead and do the survey/questionnere thing. Thanks

[simbacatz]

I really appreciate the time and effort you put in my post. I am sorry I should have made it more clear.
It's a case study I am doing for my physcology class. Supposely, I work for a non electronic toy company that produces educational toys. But lately their business has been down because a lot of parents are not buying non electronic educational toys.
And one of the things I need to figure out is why parents are not buying their non electronic toys anymore?
It's not really happening, it's just a case study thing.
I am really sorry if I confused you guys in anyway. Thanks for the help.

[RockRose]

simba,  your question is way too broad to get a clear answer. Also,  it's leading,  and I think leading to a false conclusion.    I would suggest doing this in questionairre format instead of one broad question.  I don't think you're going to get a useful (or truthful)  answer with your question as it's written.     I used to design surveys,  so how about this.   This is off the top of my head,  redo it yourself.



1.  Check all the items you have bought for your children:

yoyos (non battery)
hula hoop
inflatable balls
pogo sticks
marbles
board games:
     candyland
     chutes and ladders
     checkers
      monopoly
wooden glider planes
jacks
skateboard
other riding toy besides bicycles
minnow or butterfly nets
bicycle
jigsaw puzzles
street chalk
water color paints
playdough
legos or similar small building pieces
wooden blocks
small toy cars
barbie dolls or other dolls
action figures  (includes power rangers,  GI Joe)
swimming pool toys (includes beach balls,  floats,  diving rings)
      


2.  Check the items you owned as a child:

(repeat the list)


3.  In general,  do you prefer to buy the newer,  electronic toys for your child?


4.  In general,  does your child prefer to play with electronic toys over non battery toys?  


5.  In the last week,  about what percent of your child's playtime has been spent playing with electric or battery toys (includes video games and computer games)?


What I think you'll find,  is that virtually all the kids now have all the toys their parents had as a child,  and also hundreds of dollars worth of newer,  electronic toys.    Toys are a HUGE industry,  spawning stores like Toys R Us,  which would have never survived 35 years ago,  kids simply didn't have that many toys.    

Then,  go to Walmart and walk down the aisles and make a list of about what percent of the toys are electric,  and what percent are mechanical.  

You'll be surprised if you think parents are only buying electronic toys.

Best wishes,  this sounds like an interesting topic.
      

[simbacatz]

Thanks for the reply. I am talking about any toy that uses batteries. I am actually doing a case study kind of thing.So I need reasons that would tell why non electronic toys aren't in demand that much anymore. I will note down your reason. Thanks again

[blondie72]

Where did you see that parents don't buy non-electric toys anymore and just what types are you talking about???  Are you talking about things like Leap Pads???  I know my son has things like a microphone and a couple train cars that take batteries but most of his things are NON-electronic and he is 2 1/2.  As a parent educator with parents as teachers I have actually made my son some of his toys and it works perfectly.  I feel electronic toys (even though my DD who is 8 had them) are just a convenient way for parents to teach their kids instead of actually having to sit with them and do so - Like I said since becoming a parent educator back in Novemeber I am very ANTI-electronic LOL!!!!!!!!   Hope that helps a little.