Grown Up Toys
By bookmarkAP in Entertainment | 5 comments
Have you ever noticed that many adults’ hobbies are just grown-up versions of the toys they played with when they were kids?
Take airsoft, for example. An airsoft gun is really nothing more than a toy gun for grown ups. And adults play with them just like kids, too — setting up elaborate games of “pretend” such as MilSim and historical reenactments, and playing competitive games such as Capture the Flag.
Airsoft people get really excited about their guns, collecting them much as hunters and marksmen collect regular weapons. Most guns from high quality manufacturers, such as Echo1 Airsoft, closely resemble real weapons — so much so that they are sometimes used by criminals in armed robberies.
Likewise, many adults “play” with minitures, dollhouses, and/or dolls. For example, I collect dolls from the 1950s — dolls that were once actually children’s toys, but that have managed to be preserved and survive to become valuable collectibles. I know many collectors who make clothes for their dolls, pose them for pictures, and find other ways of “playing” with their collections.
I’ve also found that electronics often take the place of toys for adults. Impressive TVs, home stereo systems, and home theater systems can make anyone as giddy as a kid at Christmas.
What grown up toys do you play with?
email this | tag this | digg this | trackback | comment RSS feed
Karen | May 8, 2009 | Reply
I had no idea grownups still played with guns. When I was a kid it was lazer tag. Is paint ball still around or is that old school now too?
Michelle | May 8, 2009 | Reply
I don’t think men will ever outgrow video games. They just take different forms … online combat games instead of the old Atari or Nintendo systems we had as a kid. My brother still plays video games … with his kids!
Nikki | May 8, 2009 | Reply
When I was little I wanted an Easy Bake Oven, and I never got one. I still tease my mom about how if she had only bought me an Easy Bake Oven, I would have learned to cook. Maybe I would spend more time in the kitchen now!
Lee | May 8, 2009 | Reply
I went to the Lego store in Chicago recently, and the giant Lego creations there were amazing! The salesgirl told us that the people who design them have backgrounds in architecture. Now there’s a job that really allows you to keep playing with your favorite toys!
Corrie | May 8, 2009 | Reply
I can’t really think of any grown up “toys” that I still play with, but there are a lot of things I played with when I was young that I wish I still had. My kids would be amazed to see how low-tech everything was just twenty years ago!