I like this guy!

[Reegs]

[Jesla]

What cool little find......

[btaylor]

Yes Sir! A great read, and a perfect philosophy! More parents should think this way.
Memories are made from toys like these! especially the slot sets.
Bob

[dreinecke]

I absolutely believe Legos had something to do with my son becoming an engineer and me being so handy (couldn't get the handsome part!). Slots are also a big part of that no doubt.

More kids need toys like these. My wife is a pre-k teacher and these kids that grow up on electronic devices are becoming completely incapable of amusing themselves, playing by themselves, or using their imagination.

[turbokev]

We don't have any 'glowing rectangles' under the tree for our boys, 8 and 10..
They do get some limited time on our old iPhones each day to play Angry Birds or Sonic.. but
we don't have an Xbox or such thing..

I was glad to see a few of this years gifts are on that guys list.. Lego sets, Spirograph, snap circuits,
board game (Stratego) and of course a couple slot cars..

My oldests 'big' gift this year is a microscope and a kit of slides to go with it.. My 8 year old isn't
getting one 'big' gift, but 2 smaller ones that add up to about the same value.. a large remote
control Mustang, and a model of a working 4 cylinder engine.

We'll have plenty to do together Christmas vacation, and it won't involve headphones or video games :D

[dreinecke]

I have no issue with technology, but believe it needs to be tempered with real toys. The effect that 100% electronics has on kids is astonishing.

[dreinecke]

Oh, and Shotgun Dave's kids are awesome!

[ElSecundo]

Great article, well-written, and solid suggestions. Really worth the read -- thanks for posting. :)

These are the kinds of things that kids are lacking today, things that get their imaginations going, and that bring out real-world skills. It starts with parents who realize that their kids need this.