More Than Child’s Play: The Technological Evolution of Children’s Toys and Their Impact on Child Upbringing

Ja’Sean HolmesScience, Technology, and Society Program, Colby College,

Waterville, MEReflecting the Technological Demands of Society

Pre-Industrial Revolution: Simply Rags and Sticks

Prior to the 1800s, childhood was not distinct from adulthood; the responsibilities of children expanded by age seven when parents required their children to contribute to the maintenance of the home, develop their domestic skills, and to prepare themselves for roles such as servants and apprentices. The law of the time permitted children to marry as early as age twelve and begin families of their own. The realm of children’s toys in those times was confined to mostly rag puppets, stilts, and simple games involving rocks and sticks. In truth, children utilized the same toys, games, and folk tales as adults for entertainment.

Early Twentieth Century: The Rise of Consumerism

The toy market continued to rise until the outbreak of First World War in 1914. The two World Wars were disruptive to the production of toys in that less toys were made due to the shortage of materials needed to participate in war. Before World War I, toys such as the Meccano construction set, Crayola crayons, the yo-yo, Raggedy Ann doll, and teddy bear were leading the market. Electricity revolutionized family life with inventions like the radio, jukebox, and motion pictures, all of which gave rise to popular culture. Due to thriving economy of the 1920s, families were immersed in the world of consumerism. Parents adopted the “companionate” mode of family in which children were viewed as companions rather than workable adults. This idea lead families to purchase copious amenities (including the latest toys) for the emotional care of their children. By the end of the 1930s, child labor laws lead to more children attending school.

The Industrial Revolution changed the character of toys. This period involved new energy sources, the rise of factories, and advancements in communication and transportation. Prior to this change, most toys were heirlooms passed down to each generation, for they were generally made by hand with a great deal of labor. Factories produced toys at exponential speeds. Thus, the prices of toys declined, increasing their overall demand. To appease these high demands, manufacturers created new forms of toys, which initiated the rise of business centered on toy development. Porcelain dolls, the jack-in-the-box, spinning tops, and clockwork trains helped redefine child’s play. However, the Industrial Revolution created a huge demand for child labor. Children often worked for more than twelve hours per day. Still, their work was largely seasonal; they did have occasional playtime. Nonetheless, the nature of toys was galvanized by the Industrial Revolution.

Industrial Revolution: The Very First Toy Market

Late Twentieth Century: Toys in the Digital Age

Fundamental steps in computer science were made in the 1970s, including the development of the first general microprocessor and the C programming language. Prominent toys of the decade include the Paddington Bear, Baby Alive doll, and the Nerf indoor football. It soon became a necessity for toys to be electronic in some manner, even with educational toys such as the Speak & Spell. The Hot Wheels electric race tracks, talking phones, and electric pinball are additional examples of electricity-enabled toys of the time.

The computer age excelled in the 1980s. Video games advanced from the basic Atari games to the Nintendo Game Boy. Among the most popular video games were Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros., Tetris, and Pac-Man. Almost all new toys in the 1980s were electronic, including the talking Teddy Ruxpin bear, Casey the Talking Robot, and the Fisher Price cassette tape player. Several non-electronic toys (e.g. Cabbage Patch Kids, Care Bears, Slap Bracelets), however, proved to be sensations among children.

Mid-Twentieth Century: A New Wave for the Boomers

World War II stimulated research in science and technology. Many of the inventions initially used for warfare became staple commodities for the public. Indeed, this wave of innovative technology was reflected in children’s toys, especially due to the new invention of synthetic plastic. By the end of 1940s, children had been introduced to the Slinky, Silly Putty, bubble solution, and the Magic 8 ball. In addition, board games grew in popularity with the debut of Candy Land, Chutes And Ladders, and Clue; as education continued to reform, children’s books became widely popular with the series Little Golden Books.

The 1950s was an even more transformative era during which the United States experienced a highly elevated birth rate giving rise to the baby boomer generation. As television grew in popularity, programming expanded to serve families. The most memorable toys of this decade include the Frisbee, Hula Hoop, Mr. Potato Head, and the Barbie doll.

Present Day: A Toy for Every Interest

In the 2000s, Internet usage increased around the world and, smaller, more powerful cell phones became common. Social networking websites like Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter grew in popularity. Today, Internet users obtain to a vast array of information on laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Moreover, artificial intelligence is acquiring a significant role in society, taking over more menial tasks and solving challenging problems in computer science.

Toys have indeed become highly specialized and now appeal to virtually any area of a child's interest. Most modern toys possess their own intelligence software. Toys that have dominated today’s market include robotic pets, remote-controlled drones, and a myriad of toys that are enabled by applications on smart devices. Video games are now exceptionally more advanced with several consoles that connect to the Internet. Due to the current state of technology, many of today’s toys serve interests in technology; numerous parents desire stronger academic success for their children (notably in science and mathematics) so that their children may succeed in college and beyond. As a result, children incorporate today’s advanced technology into the various devices and toys that they use for learning and play.

Literature Cited & Image Credits1. Clark. Toys and More, www.moah.org/toysnmore/toys.html?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=600&width=850 .2. A History of Toys, www.localhistories.org/toys.html. 3. “Pre-Industrial Toys.” Pre-Industrial Toys, xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/sund/dreamgirl/preind.html.4. Farrier, John. “Parenting through History: A Look at Childrearing in Five Historic Societies.”Neatorama.5. “Cars as Toys.” Cars as Toys - Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society, www.faqs.org/childhood/Bo-Ch/Cars-as-Toys.html. 6. “Must Have Toys 1900-1919.” V&A Museum of Childhood, www.vam.ac.uk/moc/collections/must-have-toys-1900-1919/. 7. Buchanan, Robert Angus. “History of Technology.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 5 Jan. 2018.8. “Women in the 1950s.” Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-us-history/period-8/apush-1950s-america/a/women-in-the-1950s. 9. “Children of the '80s Never Fear: Video Games Did Not Ruin Your Life.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 25 May 2017.10. “The '90s: Science and Technology.” National Geographic Channel, 8 June 2014, channel.nationalgeographic.com/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/articles/the-90s-science-and-technology/. 11. “Modern Technology Advantages And Disadvantages.” Use of Technology, 20 Feb. 2018.12. “Modern Technology Benefits.” Information Age, 21 Aug. 2017, www.information-age.com/modern-technology-benefits-123468070/. 13. Toys, Learning & Play Summit. “TOUCH SCREENS.” TOUCH SCREENS.14. “Solitude Is Going Extinct: The Stress of Modern Parenting.” Quiet Revolution, 30 Dec. 2015.15. Alchin, Linda. “1913-1928: WW1 & Prohibition.” Inventions That Shaped America ***, Siteseen Limited, 9 Jan. 2018.16. Meleen, Michele. “Family Life in the 1920s.” LoveToKnow, LoveToKnow Corp, family.lovetoknow.com/about-family-values/family-life-1920s.

Novelty alone does not drive the continual demand for children’s toys. The gradual technological advancement of society helps render the toy an integral yet endlessly changing part of primary education, parenting, and children’s social environments. Throughout history, toys have served as a reflection of society’s technological progress; they allow children to learn about the world in which we live, serving purposes such as discovering personal identity, aiding in physical growth, and assimilating to native cultures. The mere act of a child playing with toys is evidence for his or her adaptation to culture. Ultimately serving as the bridge between children and technology, toys have undergone a momentous evolution in response to technological advancement, and child upbringing has been modified concurrently with this evolution.