The stick may be the world’s oldest toy. Animals play with sticks, and we use them to play fetch with our dogs. Children find sticks an endless source of make-believe fun. Sticks can turn into swords, magic wands, majorette batons, fishing poles, and light sabers. When children pretend with sticks, they cultivate their creativity and develop their imaginations. They explore as they search outdoors for just the right one. Children build with sticks, bat balls with them, and walk with them. They are the original building blocks for creative play. Sticks also promote free play—the freedom to invent and discover. They encourage playing outside instead of inside. Sticks are all around us; they are natural and free. And playing with sticks isn’t just for children and animals. Adult artists, crafters, decorators, and architects all make use of sticks in sculptures, wreaths, furniture, and building design. Few adults or children can resist simple play with sticks—from drawing in the sand on the beach, to building a campfire and then toasting marshmallows. Sticks are not only possibly the oldest toys, they’re possibly the best!
theWet_Bandits on March 8th, 2021 at 14:39 UTC »
I’ve been to this museum. It’s in my hometown (Rochester). Super nostalgic. I would definitely recommend going if you ever find yourself for some reason in Rochester.
EDC_CCW on March 8th, 2021 at 14:32 UTC »
In elementary recess, the boys and I would go back to the seedy part of the school where all the big trees were. There, we recreated Lord of the Rings, Saving Private Ryan, etc. all with sticks. I will always let my kids play with sticks as their creativity blooms with each iteration of play.
PikesPique on March 8th, 2021 at 14:26 UTC »
Other inductees into the Toy Hall of Fame include Play-Dough, the Ataria 2600 Game System, little green army men, the paper airplane and the cardboard box. https://www.toyhalloffame.org/toys/year