New Toys for Girls

[Deleted]

I know every little girl I know is getting stuff from this company from me! FYI you don't need the sound for this video.

[Deleted]

Dark carries it... Now if only he had a website...

[Sam_2.0]

I remember when these were on Kickstarter a few years back. So glad they are making it!!

[tcu2003]

I was at the mech engineering conference I attend each year, and chatting with one of my friends about this. Her 7-year old daughter has one and loves it, and also has (or is getting - can't remember) the add-on sets. I need to wait another year for my niece to get a little older, but I can't wait until she's old enough for one!

[Sam_2.0]

I think these will be perfect for DD when she's older too, tcu. She's already building with her mega blocks, books, and just about anything else she can find. She tried to make a card house the other day out of her Memory game and I was surprised she was playing with the pieces and figuring out how to get a few to stand up leaning against each other at different angles.

[thyme4change]

These are all over the internet today - so they got their PR machine going.  Frankly, the video LB posted doesn't help me understand what this product is at all.  I don't understand.  Seems to be a purple erector set or a modern version of tinker toys.  I watched the "Nacho spinner" go around with the dog on it - I guess I didn't get super-hyped up about that.

[Virgil Showlion]

Is there a "boys only" label on construction toys or something?

My parents bought me engineering toys because I asked for engineering toys. They bought my sister My Little Ponies, Troll dolls, and Quints because she asked them for ponies, trolls, and quints.

She went on to become a doctor. I went on to become an engineer.

If your daughter wants to play with engineering toys, let her play with engineering toys. If she wants to play with dolls, let her play with dolls. You're not going to turn her into an engineer by dictating what toys she plays with.

[thyme4change]

I also think this company is over-hyping the lack of toys for girls.  I've been buying girl toys for 10+ years and there is more than just princess stuff.  

[Deleted]

The thing I've noted is that we still have a lot of sons toys... Legos, knex, Lincoln logs, snaps, etc... While most of daughters stuff was cheap plastic and 'trendy', and long gone... Except her ellos building sets... 

I do think we go overboard designating 'for girls' ... My kids have been dissing the whole re'belle' line of nerf they just came out with... But I'd like more good quality toys that also appeal to girly preferences. 

[Formerly SK]

I also don't get what the toy is.  My kids regularly do small versions of the video with regular stuff from around the house. 

I have to agree with Virgil - engineering toys are unisex.  You don't have to paint a toy pink for a girl to play with it.  Actually, my 7yo DD *hates* pink and would probably refuse to play with it just for that reason.  She's much more into her stuff looking "real" (ie what an adult would do).

[Deleted]

But some girls like pink... And flowers, and ponies.... Can you only like math and engineering if you eschew pink? Isn't there market enough for all tastes? 

[Jaguar]

I love the color pink and I love science, in fact I had 3 years studying science in college.

[Formerly SK]

Nov 21, 2013 0:50:39 GMT -5 oped said:

But some girls like pink... And flowers, and ponies.... Can you only like math and engineering if you eschew pink? Isn't there market enough for all tastes? 

Oh sure.  I just think it's silly that a regular primary-colored basketball hoop is "boys" and so a pink version is marketed for girls.  I have a friend with a 2yo DD who only buys the pink versions (child is too young to state a preference yet).  I don't understand why paint colors makes something gender specific.  Tinker toys are tinker toys, KWIM? 

There's nothing wrong with pink, and if someone wants a pink version more power to them.  But it seems sexist to me that a toy has to be painted pink to be considered a girls toy. 

[Deleted]

I'm female and there were always Lincoln Logs (they were wood back then), Tinker Toys and even my Dad's old Erector Set with a motor around to play with. My sister and I had 3 brothers but we never got the idea they were boys' toys. I remember asking for a plastic heart model that would circulate colored water that you could build- my mother and I built it together- and a nasty little girl pointed out when I brought it to school that the box referred to it as "the thinking boy's toy". My sister and I did have knockoff Barbies and spent a lot of time making clothes for them but when she got into Med school she was so good at stitching people up that the surgeons wanted her to go into surgery. (She became an OB/Gyn.)

Whatever gets girls into building and making things is good. I just hope they get the support to pursue the Math and Science they'll need if they want to take those skills further.

[thyme4change]

Nov 21, 2013 0:50:39 GMT -5 oped said:

But some girls like pink... And flowers, and ponies.... Can you only like math and engineering if you eschew pink? Isn't there market enough for all tastes? 

Sure - but I don't see how painting something pink makes it the greatest thing in the whole world and I am going to buy it for every single girl I've ever met, and we should all do back-handsprings about how revolutionary this toy is.

[thyme4change]

Nov 20, 2013 23:53:26 GMT -5 oped said:

The thing I've noted is that we still have a lot of sons toys... Legos, knex, Lincoln logs, snaps, etc... While most of daughters stuff was cheap plastic and 'trendy', and long gone... Except her ellos building sets... 

I do think we go overboard designating 'for girls' ... My kids have been dissing the whole re'belle' line of nerf they just came out with... But I'd like more good quality toys that also appeal to girly preferences. 

I obliviously haven't touched one - but in the video, this toy looks to be plastic.  If those little sticks are plastic, I'm not sure how many generations they will last through - those things tend to bend.

[Deleted]

Nov 21, 2013 7:42:00 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Nov 21, 2013 0:50:39 GMT -5 oped said:

But some girls like pink... And flowers, and ponies.... Can you only like math and engineering if you eschew pink? Isn't there market enough for all tastes? 

Sure - but I don't see how painting something pink makes it the greatest thing in the whole world and I am going to buy it for every single girl I've ever met, and we should all do back-handsprings about how revolutionary this toy is.

You could see my back-handsprings? Anyway, call me weird but I resent getting lists of crappy toy options to give to kids that have no room to store all the crap toys they already have. I like the idea of giving them engineering sets and similar toys that are marketed to girls. It helps counter messages of those things being for boys.

[reader79]

I have seen them in person, wasn't really impressed. The Thames & Kosmos kits are way better IMHO, if you're looking for introductory physics and engineering sets. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Am I the only one who sees the irony in buying a "girl's engineering set" in order to buck gender stereotype?  Why can't a girl play with the "boys" set already on the market?  It bothers me that things that should already be gender netural are segregated by colors.  Like the only way a girl will ever be interested in this stuff is if it's pink or sparkly.

Gwen shows signs of becoming a gear head like my dad.  I had a hell of a time finding a tool set that wasn't gender stereotyped by color.  I ended up going with the Home Depot line (excellent product by the way and handy if you can't find your own tools ) because they look just like the tools anybody would use.

I have nothing against pink but the idea of pink tools bothered me because I feel it still sends the message that girls are only interested in "girly" things.   Tools are/should be gender neutral.

[swamp]

Nov 20, 2013 23:53:26 GMT -5 oped said:

The thing I've noted is that we still have a lot of sons toys... Legos, knex, Lincoln logs, snaps, etc... While most of daughters stuff was cheap plastic and 'trendy', and long gone... Except her ellos building sets... 

I do think we go overboard designating 'for girls' ... My kids have been dissing the whole re'belle' line of nerf they just came out with... But I'd like more good quality toys that also appeal to girly preferences. 

Lego now has "girly" sets that are pink and you build ponies and castles and flowers.  DD loves them. 

[Deleted]

Nov 21, 2013 9:32:54 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

It bothers me that things that should already be gender netural are segregated by colors.  Like the only way a girl will ever be interested in this stuff is if it's pink or sparkly.

Yeah, I was thinking about that, too.  The first cars were black.  My late grandmother learned to drive one in the 1930s, stick shift and all.  They didn't have to make a pink one so that women would want to drive it. 

[Green Eyed Lady]

My tool set is pink.  My dad got it for me.  I love it.  I'm not all offended or feel less capable of using them because they are pink.  I love them.  I don't think I'm not allowed to use the brown screwdriver and that I'm limited to only touching the pink one.  They are just cute.  Period.  No need to overanalyze everything and worry about some "message" in every little thing.  Have some fun!

[Deleted]

Nov 21, 2013 9:39:19 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Nov 21, 2013 9:32:54 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

It bothers me that things that should already be gender netural are segregated by colors.  Like the only way a girl will ever be interested in this stuff is if it's pink or sparkly.

Yeah, I was thinking about that, too.  The first cars were black.  My late grandmother learned to drive one in the 1930s, stick shift and all.  They didn't have to make a pink one so that women would want to drive it. 

But it doesn't need to feel like women need to give up opn athestics to drive or use tools etc. Even cars are now available in colours that mainly appeal to women.

[Green Eyed Lady]

Besides.  My brother never asks to borrow them.

[swamp]

DD got pink goggles for lacrosse, they have pink shin guards for soccer, and pink hockey equipment.   I don't see the problem.  

[reader79]

Drama, I think I mentioned this on another thread, but Red Toolbox makes beginning carpentry kits for kids. They have tool sets, project kits, and a mini workbench.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

That might be something I look into later.  A mini car engine set would be even better.

I need to find a toy socket wrench set so she quits stealing my dad's Craftsman.  I bet the Home Depot line might have some, I'll have to look next time I'm at TRU.

[Deleted]

reader I am going to check out the quality.

[The Home 6]

Nov 21, 2013 9:37:07 GMT -5 swamp said:

Nov 20, 2013 23:53:26 GMT -5 oped said:

The thing I've noted is that we still have a lot of sons toys... Legos, knex, Lincoln logs, snaps, etc... While most of daughters stuff was cheap plastic and 'trendy', and long gone... Except her ellos building sets... 

I do think we go overboard designating 'for girls' ... My kids have been dissing the whole re'belle' line of nerf they just came out with... But I'd like more good quality toys that also appeal to girly preferences. 

Lego now has "girly" sets that are pink and you build ponies and castles and flowers.  DD loves them. 

That's what my 2 have- Lego friends, I think they are called. They are pretty cute, and a pleasant break from My Little Pony.

[reader79]

LEGO Friends sets are really nice. I bought my sister (age 27,) the mansion last year, and this year she wants the high school set or the yacht.