At what age do you think you stopped liking the good, simple toys?

I still like making forts out of couch cushions. I’m 32 years old.

For me it wasn’t until maybe 12 / 13. However I never owned a console or gameboy or anything. Perhaps this was the reason I stayed creative.
I think these days it would be about as soon as a child can hold a controller, they’re even marketing ‘childrens’ games that plug into the TV and you interact with the, WTF!

:: edit :: I’m with Ryan, I just need to be on some sort of substance when making forts / smashing pots and pans

@johnpowell Woohoo!

@joeysefika I will reply with a clear response when I can think straight…rain check. :)

@joeysefika As a Gamer, I am seriously sick of the bad rap video games get. I started at age seven with a single game and I was always a B+ if not higher student, did well in my art classes, and not to sound egotistical here, but sometimes I knew small bits of info the teachers didn’t. As a matter of fact, many of the more creative, intelligent, and talented people I’ve known have at least been casual gamers at some point. So please, don’t knock it before you try it.

I’d say around 15 because that’s the age I was at when my little brother got over them so I no longer had a reason to look at them anymore.

I don’t really remember switching. I remember doing both at the same time when I was younger. I had “standard” toys like the EasyBake oven the LiteBrite at the same time I made spaceships out of cardboard. As I got older, though, it became less of the “simple toys” as I got more interested in games (board games, computer games, video games) and musical instruments. And then later on, it was computers and hi-tech gadgets. :)

I still like all the other stuff, though.

@Resonantscythe I agree about video games. Some of the most creative people I knew were gamers. Same with the people considered “nerds” who were very intelligent and frequently got good grades. This is coming from someone who doesn’t “game” beyond Kirby…

I still play with simple toys. I can go for hours with legos if given the chance. I think I started enjoying more ‘complicated’ or electronic toys around 12. That was when I got my Commodore.

I remember getting over Barbies at a very young age, however, I never got over books. Do books count as “good, simple toys”?

Really, the best way to keep me happy as a small child (and now, I’m sad to say) is to put me in a corner with a good book (has to be a good book) and I’ll stay silent and still for hours. Really. Until I’m done with the book. :P

@DominicX Ever try the last one that came out for the ds? Nice little mix of short kirby games there

Lots of parents get on kids about “making a mess” and that seems to discourage interest in playing with cardboard boxes, making forts, etc. Around middle school age, the competition to be in the cool group by getting the cool gift intensifies. It’s unfortunate, because unstructured play and building is important to academic performance.

I think there was a back and forth dynamic between unstructured play and commercial toys for both me and my kids. Certainly, as they watched television more (age4–5ish?), they were increasingly attracted by toys that were advertised on t.v., but they always did a lot of running around, made-up play, too. I do think the pots and pans stage was more of a toddler thing and dropped off fairly early.

I played with my barnies till I was about 13, I played with them in a different way, making clothes out of old material, putting on fashion shows etc..

Put a box of Lego’s, K’NEX, or Lite Brite in front of me and I’ll make something awesome. Simple toys still rock.

I wanna go home and make a fort out of couch cushions, sheets, blankets and pillows right now!

If I’m in a room with adults and kids (whilst visiting family/friends), and there’s Lego, I tend to grab a pile of Lego pieces and create something. Or, if there are coloring books, I grab one, some crayons and color away whilst chatting with the adults. I can’t help it.

Never!

@Resonantscythe and @DominicX, I don’t have anything against video game, I love them. I’m on the computer playing quite a bit of the time. I’m just saying that as a child not playing video game gave me time for other things. I knew lots of people who would do nothing but play PS1 when they were kids. However i also think that having siblings helps too, I always noticed as a child that most of the kids who had consoles and who played on the constantly were only children. Because they had no one else to play with on a regular basis?

@joeysefika Okay, that’s different.
It does help having siblings. Like I stated, I spent time playing with my brother, and that kept me on the simple toys longer than I would have alone.

As we are growing now we feel like we should give up toys usually happens after Year 18.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Force-Factor-Reviews---Dont-Buy-Until-You-Read-This-Review&id=3016296

Actually after eighteen year we don’t think about toys.we think about sex and more girlfriends.
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/advanced-acai-review-does-advanced-acai-really-work-1778693.html

when we crossed the age of 18 years then we did not think about toys because its time to enjoy with girls.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Force-Factor-Reviews---Dont-Buy-Until-You-Read-This-Review&id=3016296