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Toys

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Toys and the Senses
 
 
 
Toys are tactile. In size and shape they lend themselves to
handling by a child. Toys are responsive to handling. They
provide feedback to subtle changes in behaviour.
For example, slippery wooden blocks require a particular kind
of hand control. They are not 'foolproof' products which always
do the 'right' thing no matter how they are handled; toys react,
to demonstrate that behaviour matters.
 
Noise or vibration is appealing to children; extra noise is
welcome, as with playing cards fluttering against bicycle
spokes. Noise alone can be toy-like. Few children (and many
adults) can resist clattering a stick along a picket fence in
passing.
 
Children's candies are sometimes shaped like toys. Smell,
once a feature of ancient Japanese toys, has been added to
recent Western toys, with coloured markers that smell like
fruits.
 
All of the senses can be engaged with toys. The best stimulate
as many of the senses as possible at the same time. Even the
simplest toy offers tactile surfaces in combination with
visually attractive forms and bright colours.

 

© 1993- 1995 Alexander Manu ©1995 Danish Design Centre "ToolToys - Tools with an Element of Play "
The author grants permission to make a digital or hard copy of part or all of this work for personal use provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit. The copyright notice and the title of the publication must appear on all printed copies.