Press Releases
Toy Fair, January 24 2007
A message from the toybox
What impact have your toys had on your life since childhood?
Research released today by the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) at the Toy Fair in London suggests as many as one in ten of us reveal something about our future careers in childhood play. Over three hundred adults across all age ranges responded to an online survey (1) over the Christmas period that asked people the following questions:
- What games or toys did you most enjoy as a child?
- What impact or influence, if any, did those toys or games have on your adult life?
10 percent of respondents to the BTHA survey made a connection between favourite types of childhood play and the path they have followed in their careers. A wide range of careers was cited and a still wider range of games and toys highlighted as key influences. Although no one type of game or toy dominated the picture, it was interesting to note that for over half of those who could see a connection, a form of imaginative role play was given as the key influence (2). Examples included a policeman who enjoyed ‘cops and robbers’ as a child and a hairdresser who played at styling her dolls’ hair.
Roland Earl, Deputy Director General of the BTHA, commented: “Was it really the game or toy that led to the career in these instances or was there always a budding interest that made the toy so attractive in the first place? No one can really know for sure, of course.“
For many years psychologists have been interested in the long-term influence of play. Animal play is varied and complex and may help them learn and broaden their physical skills (3). With humans, play with objects also helps us adapt to new circumstances (4). Imaginative play is a powerful means for understanding and learning in child development (5). Professor Jeffrey Goldstein added: “We don’t know if the effect is causal but there are many positive relationships between children’s play and the adults they later become. Studies point to evidence that children who play more and who engage in much imaginative play tend to be more successful as adults (6).”
The survey also raised some other interesting results. 20 percent of people said that they still enjoyed the pastimes and play of their childhood – in many cases over half a century later (7). A further 23 percent of respondents identified a myriad of different ways that they thought their favourite games or toys had taught them skills or lessons that they had found useful later in life (8).
Roland Earl of the BTHA added: “Where people could establish a link between the pastimes of their childhood and their lives as adults, it is enlightening to see the variety of lessons they learnt through so many different types of play. Play is sometimes seen as a distraction from ‘getting on’ and that is a pity. It is so much more than that.”
Ends
References:
- The online survey was completed in December 2006 and received 337 responses from readers of www.sixtyplusurfers.co.uk . 34% of the respondents were male and 66% were female. 33% were over the age of 60; 37% were aged between 45 and 60; 30% were under 45.
- 54% gave an example of imaginative role play. A wide variety of careers
were cited. These included the following examples:
- Illustration and art
- Engineering
- Construction
- Teaching
- Nursing care and hospital work
- Post Office
- Work with children
- The armed services
- Animal play is varied and complex “and may function to facilitate the acquisition of motor skills and to increase behavioural variability” (p.53)”Play and exploration in children and animals”, Thomas Power - 2000, Erlbaum, London.
- Play with objects “appears to have been a major way in which Homo Sapiens developed the flexibility to adapt to a range of environments” (p.103) “Play and exploration in children and animals”, Thomas Power - 2000, Erlbaum, London.
- “Imaginative play lays the foundation for a foundation for a fundamental human capacity of lifelong value – the capacity for thinking about the possible, for wondering ‘might this be?’ The ability to transform objects or settings into possible alternatives is crucial for adult thought, planning and creativity.” (p.3) “Imaginative play and adaptive development”, Jerome L. Singer in “Toys, play and child development”, J.Goldstein (Ed) – 1994, Cambridge University Press.
- “Play materials and intellectual development” by Robert H. Bradley in “Play interactions: The role of toys and parental involvement in children’s development”, C.Caldwell Brown and A.W. Gottfried (Eds) – Johnson & Johnson.
- Whether or not people thought their childhood toys had had any
lasting impact on their lives, respondents listed a huge range of pastimes
and toys they had enjoyed. 20% of the survey pointed out that they
still enjoyed the toys and games they played as a child today.
The most popular group of items were family and board games, including puzzles and card games. In many cases people stated that they played these games with their children or grandchildren. Craft activities such as making models or doing embroidery were also popular. A wide range of active pursuits ranging from ball games to skipping and horse riding were also cited. Some example quotes are given below:- “At the age of 69 I still get out my skipping rope and skip in the garden or in the kitchen”, Mrs X, 69
- “I enjoy cards but have learned to play on the internet”, Mrs Y, 66
- “Love sewing, do all my sewing for my children now”, Mrs Z, 60
- 23% of the respondents pointed to life skills they thought they
had learned through childhood play. The range of responses was very
wide. Here are just a few example quotes, plus two general ones at
the end of the list:
- “Skipping with other kids helped me overcome my crippling shyness”, Mrs X, 65
- “Dolls helped me to develop my imagination to write short stories”, Mrs Y, 63
- “I like to make things”, Mr X, 48 and a half
- “Taught me to share and to enjoy the company of others”, Mrs Y, 48
- “Scrabble helped my spelling”, Ms. Z, 37
- “As I was disabled I was determined to ride my bike no matter how many times I fell off and I am still determined to lead as normal a life as a I possibly can”, Ms. X, 38
- (On ‘Hide and Seek’) “No influence. Well maybe hiding from my ex if I see him on the street”, Ms Y, 63
- “You just learned to have patience”, Mrs Z, 61
- “Football made me aware of the importance of being a team player”, Mr X, 63
- “The value of playing to the rules”, Mr Y, 67
- (On ‘Cluedo’) “Always been inquisitive”, Ms Z, 46
- “I am glad I have not treated my children as I did my dolls … dramatic haircuts, body piercings and dismembered limbs”, Mrs X, 60
- “I most enjoyed Monopoly. It has had no influence – I am neither a millionaire nor a bankrupt and have never been to prison or passed go”, Mrs Y, age unspecified.
Notes to Editors
Established in 1944 the British Toy & Hobby Association’s principal objectives are to represent its members to the UK government, public bodies, the media and opinion formers – and to promote the industry and its products. The Association’s uppermost concern is that toys are manufactured safely. Its members account for over 90% of toys sold on the UK market.
For further information and to request an interview please call the Toy Fair press office on 020 7069 6200.