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High Tech Hanukka
Have you noticed something unsettling about your kids' Hanukka wish lists this year? A Maccabean je ne sais quois that transcends the standard sticker shock? Might it be that the latest crop of hot holiday "toys" are not actually toys at all?
There's the IM Me, a $70 wireless, handheld gizmo that enables tweens to instant message from anywhere in the house; the Polaroid Pixie SD, an $80 bubble-gum pink digital video camera; the Senario Torpedo, a $160 digital projector that promises to turn a kid's room into a professional-style home theater or a giant game room; and, of course, the toy that doesn't even pretend to be a toy: the crown jewel of 2007's high-tech Hanukka hauls — the $400 iPod Touch.
Unfortunately, many child development experts fear that modern kids' obsession with their parents' stuff could cheat them out of their one and only go-round at childhood.
I must ask you this, my fellow 21st-century parents: Have you ever wondered why archaeologists find baby dolls wrapped up with ancient Egyptian mummies, toy-sized chariots that date back to the days of Julius Caesar, and cavern walls decorated with the prehistoric equivalent to crayons? It is because these objects are the timeless tools of childhood.
Wooden blocks, toy cars, and dolls are not just charming shelf-warmers in the "retro" aisle of Toys R' Us; they are essential springboards for learning about the way the world works. They are vehicles of exploration and experimentation, props with which to practice being mommies, daddies, firefighters, and schoolteachers.
Childhood is a learning process by design, and traditional toys are a central part of the curriculum. As these core elements disappear from the scene like black squiggles on an Etch-a-Sketch board, experts worry about the long-term repercussions for millennial kids. Current research warns of stifled imaginations, poor interpersonal skills, and underdeveloped problem-solving abilities; but only time will tell the full impact.
Unfortunately, there's not much we modern parents can do to impede the evolution of "Babes in Toyland" to "Kids in the Electronics Aisle." But we can stake out middle ground. The following round-up of just released electronic contenders — plucked straight from Toy Wishes Magazine's Top Dozen Toys for 2007 — promises to satisfy your kids' high-tech hankerings while preserving a few precious embers of Hanukka wish lists past:
- Fisher Price Smart Cycle ($99.99) — This clever, albeit pricy, riding toy/video game fusion will have preschoolers pedaling their way through miles of digital landscape and educational activities.
- American Idol Talent Challenge ($49.99) — With a working karaoke-style microphone that plugs into the television and a virtual Randy, Paula, and Simon, this hot new toy is a child's American Idol dream come true.
- Eye-Clops ($49.99) — An electronic magnifier that plugs into the TV set and magnifies anything to 200 times its original size, this funky gadget turns a television screen into a science lab.
- Barbie Girls ($59.99) — Part doll, partMP3 player, part interactive on-line game, this perfectly proportioned plaything connects to the computer and unlocks a virtual fashion nirvana.
- SwypeOut Online Battle Racing ($19.99) — Toy Wishes calls this toy, which enables kids to swipe collectible trading cards onto a secure Web site and participate in action-packed cyber-races, "a breakthrough in action, adventure, and excitement."
- Hannah Montana Pop Star Stage ($49.99) — With Hannah Montana appearances being sold out from coast to coast, this toy lets kids bring the concert into their own home. The stage — which plugs into an iPod — comes with a working microphone, backstage pass, and roses to give the split personality singing sensation after her performance. (Hannah Montana doll sold separately.)
- Rubik's Revolution ($19.99) — This newfangled version of the Rubik's Cube puzzle includes six fast-paced, entertaining electronic games that foster higher level thinking skills to boot.
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