Toys ... is everything now related tom a TV show

WLM21

Although not just a Christmas related topic, this seems a good place to post my comment.

I was in a local toyshop today with my daughter and grandson. As a big kid (56) I've always loved toy shops.

Anyway, it seems 90% of toys that are now being sold have some connection with a TV programme, or film.

Sure, when I was a kid, these type of toys were available and I was given some too (gold 007 Goldfinger car, Avengers walking stick / sword) to name a couple but there were also very many non 'branded' items.

Even that famous 'block building' game ... many are related to TV shows. Buying a car or plane may be fun for a short while, but once a few pieces get lost, remaking the model becomes impossible. I remember having hundreds of blocks / roof pieces / windows / wheels and could spent hours making different things.

Am I just being a grumpy old man ?

Spendless

WLM21 wrote: »

Even that famous 'block building' game ... many are related to TV shows. Buying a car or plane may be fun for a short while, but once a few pieces get lost, remaking the model becomes impossible. I remember having hundreds of blocks / roof pieces / windows / wheels and could spent hours making different things.

You can still buy a generic set, or could a few years ago, as my 14yo son had them, still does in his bedroom though he grew out of making things a few years ago. He never had the kits, was never interested in following an instruction leaflet to someone else's design, he just used to make his own items.

A few years later a friend passed on some k'nex her sons had outgrown, they were kits but son used to cannibalise them and stick motors on them. I have fond memories of a crane he made that moved. He took it into school on the last day of term, and was asked by several kids where he'd bought it. I was convinced he was going to be an engineer of sorts based on how good he was as a younger child, but by the time he was taking his options at Secondary school his interests had changed.

gayleygoo

I've noticed this too, especially in supermarkets where most of their (overpriced) toys are TV character related. I try not to buy them - or anything with a character on it - unless I know my child really, really likes that character. The lego is annoying too, I agree that once the picture on the box has been built it just gets took apart and is never able to be made again, since all the pieces go into the big tub and some of them are ridiculously tiny. I started buying some normal blocks off ebay but that's not very cheap either!

Online shopping may be better? I got a catalouge from Mulberry Toys that I really liked the look of the toys in No character stuff, just lots of decent toys and traditional ones, as well as craft sets and science kits etc. Myriad online is good too, although expensive, but it sells very traditional things, hand-made, fair trade, some organic stuff etc. My children will probably get loads of charactery toys from other relatives at christmas (most of which I bin at the earliest opportunity) so I hope to get them things that will provide entertainment for longer than a day!

themull1

There are loads more kids tv programmes than there used to be, Barbie always churn something out every year, as do Disney, but i must be getting old because some of the kids toys available, i haven't even heard of the tv programmes!!

pigpen

toys r us stock generic sets of lego.. usually on their 3-4-2

Maryinside

If some of pieces get lost, you may always buy these pieces somewhere

vikki_louise

I read recently that a couple of years ago lego lost their patent on plain bricks which is why they push the kits these days. I don't know if that's true or not.

I don't understand the amount of baby clothes with tv characters on too, newborn stuff with toddler characters on


Edit- it is true that they don't have the patent on bricks and turned to branding http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/lego-you-are-dead-to-me/

Luckystar

There are more tv channels and shows now available all day every day, in the 'old' days before videos, let alone DVD and blu-ray kids tv was only on at certain times of day. However being a child born in the 70's I still had TV toys - Andy Pandy, Magic Roundabout and the Muppets being the ones I remember most. DH is a massive Star Wars fan and had toys from the original movie (still has some now). I do however think that you can't go anywhere at the moment without seeing something related to 'Frozen' - it's overkill IMO