Toys have been an important part of growing up for both animals and humans, probably ever since the last real triceratops walked on our planet! But what makes one toy better than another? what justifies the high price tag that some toys demand? and what did children play with before they were lucky enough to have toys like Kota The Triceratops?
Well, Greek & Roman children played with balls, clay rattles, clay dolls, hand carts, hobby horses, hoops and spinning tops. Between the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages, when children were old enough to play they also learnt to work and use weapons and tools. They would play outdoor games using pebbles, knucklebones and barrel hoops. Some would have hand made wooden toys such as tops, hobby horses and puppets. Many of these early toys were made from natural materials such as wood, straw and clay - it would have been a modern-day health & safety nightmare!
Toys, like play itself, serve multiple purposes in both humans and animals. They provide entertainment while fulfilling an educational role. Toys enhance cognitive behavior and stimulate creativity. They aid in the development of physical and mental skills which are necessary in later life. Toys which arguably achieve these objectives more effectively, can therefore demand a high price tag by the manufacturers.
Toys such as Kota The Triceratops are excellent at providing both entertainment and education. Perhaps considered the modern-day rocking horse, Kota can enhance cognitive behavior in young children with his realistic movements, facial expressions and sounds. Kota is also great at stimulating creativity by using his sensors to actually react to a childs behaviour. Kota The Triceratops has been designed around the fundamental requirements of a young childs development.
Another feature of great toys is the longevity value. Many traditional toys would be a ‘fad’, and soon become obsolete by the child. They would get bored more easily of less stimulating toys such as a traditional rocking horse. More complex toys however, keep the child entertained for longer.
So despite the extra cost, some expensive toys may be worth the extra money if they provide more entertainment and fulfill a better educational role in the development of your child. Then again, a child’s imagination is a wonderful thing, and a child can arguably get more out of a simple toy car, than a all-singing, all-dancing toy like Kota the Triceratops?
It’d be great to hear your comments on this.
