So often, toys are associated with children. Toys are a child’s ultimate gift for birthdays and holidays. Later, that same child will discard toys around the house, declaring he or she are ready for new ones. Then, gifts slowly shift from flashy games to clothes and childhood is regrettably over. Even if someone is too old for playing with a yo-yo, though, this does not mean that person is too old for playing in general. People are never too old for toys. It just may require a redefinition.
Toys are synonymous with fun and relaxation. When we are children, toys are more traditional. The list is seemingly never-ending: dolls, games, cars, puzzles, skateboards, blocks, and so on, with specific sub-categories for each item. They are things we use in time of leisure, which is why a motorcycle may be a “toy” to an adult.
As we grow older, toys—at least traditional ones—become less active and more passive. As children, we acquire toys so we can put together stories. We have Ninja Turtles playing with Transformers because we are able to invent stories. When we grow older, though, we lose some free time, and those toys become more collectible than playthings. Does this mean adults lose creativity or imagination over time? For some, this is quite possibly true. On the other hand, a positive way to consider this is that, as adults, we appreciate the original medium the toy represents. As a fan of Star Wars, for an easy example, a child may use toys act out scenes or create new ones, while an adult buys because they enjoy the original story.
Another evolution of toys as we age is the price. What we spend on toys increases over time. This applies to both traditional toys (such as high-end reproductions of action figures) to what else we may refer to as a toy (like a motorcycle). This is because when we are young, we have to rely on others getting toys for us. Then, when we have a disposable income, we can turn it into an investment in our leisure. Almost anyone would likely say, however, that the monetary value cannot replace the sentimental value of toys from youth.
Equally as exciting as the toys themselves are the commercials that sell them. Over time, the technology of toys has certainly changed. Of course, the sheer mechanics of toys now are far more advanced than generations past. At the same time, advertisements for toys become more state-of-the-art. Regardless of how old a person is—and this may speak more to the effectiveness of marketing—toy commercial never fail to captivate. Toy commercials are emblematic of the generation of their release.
Some may view picking up a skateboard at 27 as a sign of immaturity. Possibly, it seems like a partway-through-life crisis. Whatever the case may be, people need a way to express themselves in times of leisure. Whether that is a traditional toy for children like an action figure or a “toy” for adults like an electric guitar, it is important to have a way to play.
