The Best Modern Battery-Powered Toys versus The Best Traditional Toys

Learning Potential

Traditional toys often tended to focus on creativity, pretend-play or puzzle-solving. Creating new worlds, building playsets from scratch and inventing characters certainly fuelled the imagination of previous generations. Moving parts were normally wound or hand-operated.

Modern toys have enabled children to work in a whole new way with their toys which are more interactive, and with increasing levels of functionality every year. Sensory development in babies is assisted by the vast array of colors, sounds and actions available in their modern toys. Learning through play with toys able to sing the alphabet, count numbers, and name objects does have a positive impact on children’s development.

In fact, both styles of toys offer great learning potential to kids, just in different areas. Toy lines, such as Lego, have re-evolved and released a traditional toy with a modern twist. And with great success.

Staying Power

If there is a constant supply of batteries or a continual power source then most modern toys can function for as long as their working parts will allow. For the most part, they are made of better, more durable plastics or materials but, on the downside, there are often delicate pieces which even if the batteries keep going, may end up broken through rough use.

Traditional toys break as well, of course. But in general, they are not as intricate as their newer counterparts and so do rate better in the staying power department.

Value for Money

Traditional toys are making a comeback in popularity. However, since they have a kind-of old-school chic image these days, they aren’t necessarily cheaper as people look for hand-made and hand-painted versions. Having said that, a basic set of wooden blocks, a coloring set or a model car can still cost you next to nothing.

Modern toys cover the entire range of prices, from little toy figures to enormous monsters to pretty dolls, with moving parts, speech, lights and sounds. Much of today’s selection is made of plastic and in China so, depending on what your child wants, you can find something for any budget.

Even just thirty years ago, a walking, talking, laughing toy would have set you back a good amount of hard-earned cash. Comparatively, it is amazing what you can get for your money these days.

Exercisability

The computer age is at its peak, especially amongst older children. Without a doubt, children understand the workings of a games console better than the vast majority of adults but with the exception of the more interactive versions, such as the Wii, exercise is not required. Computers are so good nowadays, with amazing learning opportunities included, that running around seems less attractive than it used to.

Maybe we look back with nostalgia but there seemed to be more children out on their bikes, making camps and playing with skipping ropes with friends in the past. Traditional toys were often carried about, taken outside or to friends houses, and promoted more exercise and group play.

The children of today are fortunate indeed. They have got the best of both worlds. Parents of these youngsters may choose to ensure that their offspring are provided with a basic combination of both traditional and modern toys, with a view to mixing playing and learning styles. Exposing children to one type of toy alone may not be detrimental, but one thing is for certain, some dedicated playtime is necessary for all children.

Having two children of my own, I fully intend to introduce them to a combination of the best modern and traditional toys, as far as possible. My own preference would be to focus on traditional toys, as I love the creativity they allow, but I can fully see the benefits of keeping the kids as up-to-date as their peers will be and me keeping abreast of what is available for them.