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Thursday, 05 February 2009 08:22 |
Posted February 5, 2009
I maintain that toys are profoundly important to the world. Not just to children, but to the advancement of society. I believe that toys are the most important category of product, period. Other products may serve a useful function, but only toys inspire us to change the world as adults.
The Wright Brothers played with a toy airplane given to them by their father, and credit that toy with their interest in flight. And they pioneered powered flight. Frank Lloyd Wright played with a set of wooden blocks that he credits with inspiring him to become an architect, and even inspired the aesthetic of his designs. Brosterman’s book, “Inventing Kindergarten” powerfully illustrates the profound effect of playthings on the life’s work of many of the 20th century’s greatest designers and artists, including Bucky Fuller, Mondrian and others. The evidence, both anecdotal and scientific, is compelling. But no one knows it, not the Toy Industry, or the general public. Spread the word.
Playing games teaches us cooperation, competition, strategizing, the perils of cheating and other life lessons not readily learned elsewhere. Playing with toys allows us to explore and learn about the world around us, as well as develop creative thought and imaginative thinking.
And this is the message we in the toy industry need to internalize, that the creation of new toys and games is important work, what we do matters, and we have the opportunity and responsibility to create great products that will influence and inspire the lives of the next generation and the future of our culture. As an industry we need to get this message out to the public, that we believe, and it is well documented, that toys matter very much. And if we create great products, they will come, the consumer will buy and we will survive tough times, and thrive again in good times.
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Bruce Lund, Founder
Lund and Company Invention, L.L.C.
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