Fun, Fun, Fun - Yesterday and Today

Do you have grandkids? Are you forever challenged with how to keep them entertained? If so, I'm sure you've noticed that kids just aren't that interested in the entertainment our childhoods provided. Nope! Times have changed!

Recently I noticed grandma's toybox wasn't getting the attention it used to. The old beeline to the toyboy just wasn't happening any more. I knew it would be coming someday, but really? So soon? Yep! Grandma's toybox just doesn't cut it anymore! The dolls, puzzels, and blocks have become - dare I say - BORING??? No way! Well this grandma is anything but boring, so I guess it's time to sort, throw out and update. But where do I start?

Well, I started online. OMG! What is this stuff? "Yeti in My Spaghetti", "Transforming Batmobiles", "Taco vs. Burrito", and "Artsy Fartsy"? What the??? Whatever happened to "Candyland", "Barrel of Monkeys", and "Rock Em Sock Em Robots"? Yeah - those games were cool. However; I'm not so sure about these new games. "Artsy Fartsy"? Really?

Oh! Of course I could load them up on video games, but do I really want to? Well, a recent study done by the University of Tennessee has shown that video games can improve eye/hand coordination. Really? Eye/hand coordination? My parents game me a 39 cent rubber ball and told me to go outside and throw it again the house. Throw, bounce, catch. Throw, bounce, catch. Throw, bounce, catch. Again and again and again. That's how I got my eye/hand coordination.

Or how about a game of "fun-go"? I'm sure you never heard of that one. My dad invented it. In his mid-forties by the time us kids started playing ball, he initiated this game so he could have "fun" hitting the ball, and us kids could "go" get it. Yep! That was fun! No wonder I was always batter number nine! I never got practice hitting the ball!

And on those days when I just wanted to be alone, I'd pull out the "Rubik's Cube" (never figured that one out), "Wheelo" or "Slinky" (it's fun, it's a wonderful toy). Or maybe the "Etch a Sketch" where you could sketch, erase and sketch again. Now that was cool! I could even write my name!

And when the neighbor kids or company came, we'd take our fun outside and play sports, hopscotch, red rover, jump rope, or dodgeball (I hated that one!) If it was dark enough, we'd play hide and seek. Remember "Olly Olly Oxen Free"? Where the heck did that come from?

Well enough of looking for the latest and greatest. Sometimes the newest just can't compete with the old stuff. I'll settle for "Old Maid" or "Twister" any day.

In memory of my fiercest competitor and faithful gamer, Bruce.