Action figures and children today

[brannon86]

Yeah, I gave up toys around 12 probably, that late summer 1978. Of course I skateboarded all through the 70's and early 80's still.

[cjefferys]

I never gave up toys at all. I went seamlessly from playing with them (probably at a later age than most) right into collecting them.

I've tried, but my son has had practically zero interest in playing with action figures. Like others have mentioned, Legos are king in our house. But my son doesn't even care about the little Lego guys, he just likes building stuff with Lego motors and gears. My daughter likes playing with the Lego guys though.

[Figuremod73]

I couldnt think of a better toy for kids to be into though. Legos are a work of genius, i wish i had been into them when i was really young. (I guess they were around in the late seventies)

I was born in '73 so I would have been about 14 or 15. I had already given up on Heman and gijoe by that point. G1 transformers were real neat so i didnt want to give them up. Back then i would have never thought about just displaying them. They always ended up in a box when i finished. Should have never sold any of the stuff.

[jimsmegos]

My son (11 year old) has always enjoyed Legos while never really caring about action figures at all. Even when he was little I would get him some and he never got excited. He has however always liked some kind of board game / puzzle.

My 2 year old daughter however is so much like me its scary. She simple LOVES her action figures and dolls. She like to group them and line them up by type and step back look at 'em and smile, then of course start feeding them and getting them to sleep for a nap. It's cute watching Mego Hulk and Brick Mantooth ( who she will not allow to wear a shirt btw) snuggled up and tucked in under her Yo Gabba Gabba blanket.

[samurainoir]

Lego has done some really smart convergence by leveraging their brand into video games, the internet and mobile interactive experiences for the kids.

Also adding a gaming element with lego sets that add a board game element, or stuff like Ninjango taking it's cue from Bey Blades or Pokemon battling type toys.

Star Wars Clone Wars action figures also seem to have added in an element of gaming that is inspired to Hero Klicks or collectible card games.


Searching my memory banks, I actually think the Atari and Colecovision, as well as handheld video games, did signal an end to my days of playing with action figures, but it could also have been just the right timing with my age and yet-to-be-labelled-"tweens" when the video game explosion occurred and took me into my twenties (where I needed to go cold-turkey from playing video games for the sake of adult productivity).

[Captain Big Trousers]

My son still has the (movie) Star Trek 12" figures in boxes in his cupboard - never even made it out of their boxes.

So I guess that's it for him and toys. He never really played with his matchbox/hot wheels cars either - they're in a bag in the garage waiting to be donated (like new!).

He builds things with Lego if you take his electricity away, but otherwise he just moves from screen-to-screen (PS3-3DS-MacBook).

My daughter has a terrible history with Barbies. They would immediately be stripped of clothes and thrown on The Pile, where they stayed. She's nine now and we've just given her (unplayed with) dollhouse away.

That said, my kids make music, school presentations and storybooks/comics on their Macs, which is far more productive than playing with dolls.

[Nostalgiabuff]

my daughter, (youngest) is all about Monster High
my son loved action figures. he was all about star wars from about 2 - 8. with some GI Joe and re-Mego thrown in for good measure. however, in the end video games have won out. he still plays with 12" GI joe somtimes and still like the lego sets, but the rest have fallen by the wayside. he did ask for the RA Batman for his upcoming 11th birthday though so I am on the look out for that for him

[Saroyan]

My 4 year old plays with the famous covers heroes a little bit- but no more than any other toy he has. My 7year old doesn't really seem to like action figures- he would rather play with Legos- but I think Angry Birds on the I-Pad trumps all known toys at the moment.

[HardyGirl]

I donated 3 huge box fulls of used Vintage Star Wars vehicles as well as 1980 Gi Joe Toys to under priviledged kids in schools and I tell you what! "THEY LOVED THEM" even the girls! During Recess it was incredible seeing their happy faces and how they responded to the toys!

A week later I received this poster the kids made a huge poster thanking me for the toys and had their signatures on it. I still have it posted in my office! It is one of my favorite pieces!

so yes, they loves toys not just video games, texting, phones, etc.

I love stuff like this! I donated a custom Superman and Shazam figures to a toy drive that my school has every year. I only wish I could have seen the kids faces when they got them. The principal of the school we donate to is a former parent at my school and Zachary's mother, (remember, I made a Batcave and custom Batman figures for him?), and she told the kids all about me, and how special those figures were. This year, I want to give double sets of Batman and Robin and Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock. Maybe even some backdrops for added play value. I may ask her to video tape the kids getting the toys!

[Figuremod73]

How many people who have kids here like to display their toys?

[RickD]

I love stuff like this! I donated a custom Superman and Shazam figures to a toy drive that my school has every year. I only wish I could have seen the kids faces when they got them. The principal of the school we donate to is a former parent at my school and Zachary's mother, (remember, I made a Batcave and custom Batman figures for him?), and she told the kids all about me, and how special those figures were. This year, I want to give double sets of Batman and Robin and Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock. Maybe even some backdrops for added play value. I may ask her to video tape the kids getting the toys!

My mother-in law works at the school I donated those toys to and these kids barely have enough money to buy their lunches.

It is nice to give back. It brought me back to my childhood when I saw the kids playing with the big AT-AT and Xwing in the playground. One of the girls took the Gi Joe Truck and ran right in to the AT-AT.

Definitely a great thing!

[brannon86]

No, actually I did not forget about them, but by that time, I was a preteen, and was growing out of toys. Really loved the 2600.

[brannon86]

I understand why kids are more tech minded today. They should be. The world the way it is today, they need to be. we need to be. Its a different world, as we all know.

[Figuremod73]

^ I havent even tried using facebook. I can barely use a cell phone either

To my credit, im good with ms excel and other computer programs that came with the comp.

[Myoldtoys]

I got my daughter to watch Star Wars with me and I broke out the 12" Luke and C3PO for her. She had fun with them. The wife was worried that she would follow me to the dark side. Muhahahahah. But it was short-lived. She's 3 now and informed me that she wants girl things not boy things.

I've got a boatload of nephews. They were big in Lego bionicals which are kinda like action figures. They were also into kNex. The one nephew has bought dozens of knex sets online and at yard sales, and makes room sized roller coasters. He won the knex building contest twice for his age. They have the game systems and iPod touches, but they are still extremely creative.