| My son Jack had been quietly playing with his | | | | course crafts require creativity. |
| Meccano set when we heard him scream, sweet! | | | | |
| | | | I think that's a bit too technical for my |
| What a cool toy, my friend Dave said, it's a | | | | son, said Dave. Well, why don't you start |
| ferris wheel. It's a solar powered ferris | | | | with some magic. Most tricks are scientific |
| wheel, said Jack. | | | | illusions that require planning and practice. |
| | | | Or how about simply building a plane,train |
| Dave asked me, How did you get him to play | | | | or automobile with him, a real mechanical |
| with educational toys, my son only wants to | | | | toy. This way he can see how all the pieces |
| play video games. I asked Dave whether he | | | | interconnect to achieve a common goal, like a |
| had ever played educational games or built | | | | team of components. |
| rockets or space toys with his son. I'm not | | | | |
| really a hands on guy was his answer. So I | | | | My son likes to collect baseball cards, said |
| proceeded to demonstrate to Dave that | | | | Dave. Well how about starting a bug |
| educational toys teach skills that all | | | | collection or rock collection. It just |
| successful adults use in everyday life. I | | | | might inspire him to be a geologist or |
| told him that construction toys require | | | | entomologist. Of course you could always get |
| imagination and planning. Robots require the | | | | him some anatomy models, so he can be a |
| use of logic. Strategy games require | | | | surgeon like his dad. |
| competitiveness and forethought. And of | | | | |