I had a blast tonight showing my two sons some of the old toys and games me and my brothers played with when we were kids. They included G.I. Joe, Matt Mason astronauts and The Thing Maker which let you create creepy crawlers, bugs and other fun things.
I was startled when my oldest asked, “You played with dolls, dad and of course they had their long belly laughs at their old man’s expense. I eventually corrected them by saying they weren’t dolls but “Action Figures!” Hmph! (Yea, well, to be honest with you, I think they’re right actually. They WERE dolls! argh!!!)
Anyway, I think it’s not only fun but a wonderful way to bond with your children when you share your favorite toys and games from youth. Include their uncles and aunts which will make things even more fun and entertaining. It also teaches them that their parents and other adults in their lives were all kids at one point in their lives. It’s also a great way for each of us to get back in touch with the child still living inside each and every one of us.
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My mom worked at Hasbro (GI Joe’s manufacturer) when I was a child and believe it or not, my sister and I used to play with them. They had to suffer dating our Barbies because Ken just wasn’t tough enough. I wish I had kept a couple of them for my kids today, but many classic games have made their way back like Sorry, Connect Four, and Battleship. We play those with the kids all the time. Same goes with movies like Willie Wonka (the original w/Gene Wilder), Mary Poppins, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I love sharing the fact that we played with these toys and watched the same movies they are now watching. I notice the sense of pride on my kids’ faces when I tell them Mom & Dad used to do this too. Kids need a solid foundation, and people to look up to. Childhood games and stories are wonderful ways to bring children closer to their roots as well fade the generation gaps. My parents were from “the old country” and I never had that type of bond with them because that’s just how the culture was. You learn from that both good and bad – I did develop the strong sense of family but couldn’t relate to my parents the way my kids relate to me. But that is OK.
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My mom worked at Hasbro (GI Joe’s manufacturer) when I was a child and believe it or not, my sister and I used to play with them. They had to suffer dating our Barbies because Ken just wasn’t tough enough. I wish I had kept a couple of them for my kids today, but many classic games have made their way back like Sorry, Connect Four, and Battleship. We play those with the kids all the time. Same goes with movies like Willie Wonka (the original w/Gene Wilder), Mary Poppins, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I love sharing the fact that we played with these toys and watched the same movies they are now watching. I notice the sense of pride on my kids’ faces when I tell them Mom & Dad used to do this too. Kids need a solid foundation, and people to look up to. Childhood games and stories are wonderful ways to bring children closer to their roots as well fade the generation gaps. My parents were from “the old country” and I never had that type of bond with them because that’s just how the culture was. You learn from that both good and bad – I did develop the strong sense of family but couldn’t relate to my parents the way my kids relate to me. But that is OK.
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I am an older Dad, 61, and my first born, who is now 11, doesn’t believe me when I tell him we did not have running water in our farm house when I was pre-school age, and he also struggles with my liking rock and roll. He hasn’t discovered yet though that I am not a metal fan, though, other than Led Zeppelin or AC/DC. He was never big on action figures, went right to video games. Thanks for the memories.
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I am an older Dad, 61, and my first born, who is now 11, doesn't believe me when I tell him we did not have running water in our farm house when I was pre-school age, and he also struggles with my liking rock and roll. He hasn't discovered yet though that I am not a metal fan, though, other than Led Zeppelin or AC/DC. He was never big on action figures, went right to video games. Thanks for the memories.
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I am an older Dad, 61, and my first born, who is now 11, doesn't believe me when I tell him we did not have running water in our farm house when I was pre-school age, and he also struggles with my liking rock and roll. He hasn't discovered yet though that I am not a metal fan, though, other than Led Zeppelin or AC/DC. He was never big on action figures, went right to video games. Thanks for the memories.
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I am an older Dad, 61, and my first born, who is now 11, doesn't believe me when I tell him we did not have running water in our farm house when I was pre-school age, and he also struggles with my liking rock and roll. He hasn't discovered yet though that I am not a metal fan, though, other than Led Zeppelin or AC/DC. He was never big on action figures, went right to video games. Thanks for the memories.
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I am an older Dad, 61, and my first born, who is now 11, doesn't believe me when I tell him we did not have running water in our farm house when I was pre-school age, and he also struggles with my liking rock and roll. He hasn't discovered yet though that I am not a metal fan, though, other than Led Zeppelin or AC/DC. He was never big on action figures, went right to video games. Thanks for the memories.