playing AND learning..

When I look at today's kids who hardly need company to amuse themselves I feel we were better off.

well yes I suppose you are right on that aspect, we had more social interaction.

how come you don't envy them? their toys are amazing compared to what i had!

I don't mind more recent history, but when I start hearing "aztecs" I want to run away..lol

oh no i loveeeeeeee it! we mad a shaduf in school haa! we made it from lollypop sticks and blue-tac etc lol! i don't know if you even know what it is but it was a water-pully system the aztecs used lol! i've attached a picture of one i found on the internet that someone made lol!

oh i LOVED history! that was my thing growing up! the egyptians, the aztecs, dinosaurs, the halocaust, i loved all that!!!

That was the same way that I was raised and the same way I raise my children. In fact, I think that the only time my children watched any television before the age of two or three years old is when I was putting in an interactive children's video to do with them ... you know, like the singing and dancing ones to help with speech, memory and coordination. Unfortunately, I know some parents stick their babies in front of the television and let them watch it for hours at a time just to keep the babies quite and occupied. On the other hand, I do really like the baby chairs like the ones from Baby Einstein where you can put the baby in the seat and the baby has a bunch of learning activities at his or her fingertips ... I think that is far more amusing and educational for a baby and will keep him or her entertained for longer than the television ever could.

well yes i agree about the tv aspect. we were often plonked infront of the tv whilst my parents were making dinner or doing the ironing and things like that, but when my parents were free i often remember colouring in and building things with my mum and dad, and going places etc.. i only ever remember the tv as a way of distracing us so they could get things done, never as a constant!

Oh completely. Even the television shows kids watch now-a-days. I thought the characters were just talking gobbley and I couldn’t understand why no one spoke real words, it was all noise and sounds, but I have since found out that scientists have proven that those noises, that we would wonder how on earth that teaches our children anything, actually teaches them more than hearing “grown-up” words they don’t understand.

i would never buy goofy toys again for anyone i know's children!

my partners nephew was the same.. he was able to read a book and read the entire book from cover to cover, when in actual fact he can only read about 50% of the words, he had actually memorized the book from it being read to him :)

oh yes I understand that learning toys have been around for a long time, and other toys that weren't entirely learning toys could still stimulate a child, but I'm talking about the likes of soft teddys, and dolls, that don't really do anything by way of learning..