Toying with ideas

COLOURFUL SHAKE-ME symphony rattle, "wobblin bobblin" turtle gleefully swimming in a water globe, whacky weasel wrestling and chasing a ball, electronic laser sword, G. I. Joe in myriad avatars, sophisticated Comp Quest Plus.... a revolution is on in the realm of toys and games and manufacturers are barraging children with a choice like never before.

As the indigenous snakes and ladder vie for display space with imported concepts like Scotland Yard ( a compelling detective game), parents too are in a tizzy. And yes. They have every reason to be so. Unlike bygone times, toys and games are now an entity by themselves. They demand exclusive shops, snazzy display, plenty of time and of course, bigger pockets.

With lifestyle, spending power and awareness improving by the day in (conservative?) Chennai, the city is a prospective market for kid's merchandise. Little wonder then that three up-market showrooms were opened recently - Kids Kemp (Mylapore), Toys Kemp ( T.Nagar) and Jus' Kidding (Spencer's Plaza). Some of the toys promise to take you on a cosmic cruise. But try a visit to the showroom first. You'd realise that there is enough adventure there.

Captivating names (squeaky buddies, digger the dog, hungry hippos, pictionary) and interesting details ( trivia game for children, this game develops hand-eye co-ordination etc.) are sure to hook attention.

According to Manu Chabria of Toys Kemp, "The toys are so attractively packaged and are educational that people do not think twice before spending. For instance, a gentleman walked in at closing time the other day. He decided upon the latest Barbie laptop with E-mail in less than 15 minutes. And guess how much it costs - Rs. 10,000. Such is the spontaneity when it comes to spending on children."

Walk into any of the shops that display toys - Landmark (Nungambakkam) or Odyssey (Adyar) which allots a chunk of its space for kid's paraphernalia, the collection will prove that barring a few local brands, a majority of the products are refined in terms of material and design. Toys for little ones particularly are safe with well-rounded edges and non-toxic. Funskool and Fisher Price seem to have a cool edge over the others.

A new dimension to the toys and games scene in Chennai was added when U.S.-based Little Tikes, came up with a whole new range of creative toys, juvenile furniture and a host of other play things. The colourful catalogue lists over hundred items, which will be brought to Chennai on order. True to its motto, the brand is sure to offer "fun that lasts."

Technological progress is unmistakably reflected in toy-making. From cars, trucks, fighter aeroplanes, space ships, construction sets with digger and cement mixer, walkie talkies, long range sonic explorer which detects sounds of Nature... the toys not only give the children a feel of technology but also kindle interest in such inventions.

Compact computer-based games for children have now hit the market. Electronic team concepts - a power printer that motivates children above the age of four to take out prints of graphics and notes. Priced Rs. 5,999, it is said to "develop computer skill and promote organisational thinking." CompQuest Plus on the other hand offers 38 sophisticated computer activities. There is a whole range of computer-based games that come with world clock, meteric conversions, multi-functional calculators, keyboard lessons and speed tests(Rs. 10,000). While these creations sharpen the child's technical acumen, there are many others to improve communicative skills like scrabble and upwords. Frequent use of such games will create confidence in the child about his abilities. If there is a flood of toys and games to kindle curiosity and ignite creativity, there is a deluge of violent toys that may not have a desirable impact on young minds. Parents often complain that children exposed to the electronic media take a fascination for guns and other weapons and become insensitive to violence. The cartoon characters too have a deep impact as some of the toys are modelled on them.

The all-time favourite of girls - soft toys and dolls too come with loads of innovation. From cuddly fluorescent turtles to life-like lions, these "passive" soft toys are sure to attract even adults. As for the dolls, the Western Barbie in desi attire doesn't seem to move well. For children are more fascinated with Barbie partying or playing the disc rather than possessing a dumb looking Swapna Sundari or Roopvathi Rajashthani in gaudy ghagras. Billie, Candy, Baby Huggy et al are the others in the dolls house. They do anything from singing to weeping.

A child's play is anchored in the present and is directed to the future...So isn't it time we gave it a serious thought - like the manufacturers who toy with ideas to conjure up fresh items to bait the child - and the parent?

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Simple do's and don'ts

``Today's toys are so attactive and educational that people do not think twice before spending on them.''

WHEN THE parent shows spontaneous empathy with the meaning any toy or game has for the child, it does a great deal for the child and their relationship.

Participate in your child's play. But do not dominate.

Allocate a play area/ room and allow the child freedom in its space. Train the child to sort out and pack up soon after play.

Let the child play with toys that he fancies, instead of the ones you would like him to play with.

Share the child's feeling of delight as he explores.

Convince him about the rules of the game and teach him to sportingly accept defeat.

Temper his demands during visits to toy shops.

Exercise patience. The knowledge which a child seeks through play is so crucial that he repeats the same action-query many times to feel sure of the answer.

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Not really child's play

PLAY IS a significant pursuit. And who else but a psychiatrist can explain the impact of toys and games on the child's mind?

According to Dr S. Viswanathan, Consultant Psychiatrist (child, adolescent and general), Child's Trust and Apollo Hospital, "There is more to toys than meets the eye. Children express manifold emotions through play. From the way a child plays, it is easy to see how he construes the world."

From a baby tossing its rattle out of its crib to a ten-year-old weilding the gun...play has a special meaning for the child. "Guns and automobiles tend to fascinate those with aggression, while dolls and soft toys attract the soft-natured."

However gender stereotyping has restricted the value of doll play to girls. Psycho-analytic treatments have shown how eagerly boys play with dolls to combat anxieties about themselves. If parents are worried that doll play might feminise boys, all they need to do is watch them play. Certainly there is more aggression and manipulation and it is usually shorter-lived than girls'.

As for gun-weilding tiny terrors, "the parents need not worry. Everything with the child is momentary. A child might pick up toy guns and shoot to rid himself of his aggression. Don't try to ruthlessly stop him. Try asking him who will look after him if he shoots you down and notice the change.

"Again, the type of toy a child chooses depends on his mental development, social background and fancies. Parents helping wards choose toys must go for those that stimulate constructive thinking. If a child is too demanding during shop visits, don't yield to his wants just because he creates a scene. Gently try to condition his mind into accepting that his choice is not suitable for your budget. Realisation will take place. The child is bound to stop crying once you leave the shop -it's just another fleeting moment in his life."

Regarding play as therapy, Dr. Viswanthan explains that toys and games help to overcome conditions such as "attention deficit hyperactivity", when a child is not able to focus attention on any particular thing. Toys are also the panacea for anxieties and systematic desensitisation. For instance, when a child is scared of dogs, you could buy him a soft toy pup and make him feel it and play with it gradually. He is sure to overcome his phobia."

T. KRITHIKA REDDY

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