Subject:
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Re: Juniorization -- too simple even for kids?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Sat, 11 Dec 1999 09:53:25 GMT
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Viewed:
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1885 times
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Mr L F Braun wrote:
> Hi Mike, John--
>
> I miss the Space Datsville conversation, you know. ;) I'd build a Mars Polar
> Lander, but I'm afraid I'd just lose it. At least I know how many newtons are in
> a pound of thrust (different probe, but still...).
Well, I plan to revive Datsville in space at some point! I'm distracted
at the moment, because I'm actually working on a model, the first in
decades! B^)
> Mike Poindexter wrote:
>
> > I feel you are in err a bit on the idea of age recommendations for toys. It
> > seems as though I see this happen with everyone.
> >
> > "It says 5-7 on the box. Our child is almost 4, but he is really bright."
>
> In fairness to John and others, the age recommendation is based on several
> factors--one of which is "suitability" beyond the idea of liability. I know some
> companies think solely of the liability angle, but I guess I'm enough of an
> optimist to think that TLC actually concerns itself with suitability and "play
> value."
I think that, once the kid is beyond the mouthing stage, there is no
significant liability issue with Lego. Maybe I'm not creative enough to
be a product liability attorney.
> I know six- and seven-year-olds who are still enthralled with Duplo.
> They're not less smart, they just prefer the larger blocks and simpler models for
> some reason. Hey, I'm 28 and I still can't get into Technic like some...
I use Technic parts for a few things here and there, but the main reason
that I don't get into Technic is that I like SOLID objects. It's pretty
simple, actually.
> > The age recommendations are for safety, not how smart the kid is. That is
> > why they have big fat duplo, then still big primo and you have to wait until
> > you are old enough not to place friction pegs in your mouth before you are
> > ready for technic.
>
> Erk, I should give away all of my Technic pieces, then. The friction pegs still
> get held in my mouth sometimes. (Note to traders: I do wash pieces before I send
> them out. ;) )
[snip]
> > A little kid can't put a BURP in his mouth. I have yet
> > to see people accidentally swallow a 1x4x5 wall.
>
> Yes, many BURPs come right out of the mouths of small children.
LOL! Wow! And no smiley? What were you thinking?
[snip]
> > > The Duplo hasn't been out of its box since the day the "hard Legos"
> > > arrived. I'm ready to send it to the attic. (Actually, strike that --
> > > since it's nominally compatible with standard Lego, maybe I can use it
> > > for something???)
> >
> > Yuck! You would use those bricks that are contaminated with baby spit and
> > dried snot? Run them through the washing machine first...
>
> Er, Mike, do you have children? :) Baby spit and baby snot are NOTHING.
Hear, hear!
> John,
> DUPLO makes great support for large structures, if you top them with standard
> bricks. Most people keep them to interior sections though.
This is exactly what I had in mind. One of my son's Duplo parts is a 10
X 2 brick. In standard Lego scale, this is a 20 X 4 X 2 brick. Wow!
What a cool large beam!
> In the final analysis it's the parents' responsibility to make those choices.
> Maybe a 1x1 brick or tile is too small--but what about giving a child who's bored
> with DUPLO a lot of 2x4 bricks and larger plates? I know I was playing with
> "standard LEGO" from the age of four on--but I was eased into the smaller, more
> technical pieces.
I don't think that there's anything more "technical" about a 1 X 1
plate. But it is a little harder to manipulate. Also, watching Spencer
I've learned something interesting about the larger plates -- assembling
them can take a degree of strength that we adults take for granted.
--
John J. Ladasky Jr., Ph.D.
Department of Structural Biology
Stanford University Medical Center
Stanford, CA 94305
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Juniorization -- too simple even for kids?
|
| Hi Mike, John-- I miss the Space Datsville conversation, you know. ;) I'd build a Mars Polar Lander, but I'm afraid I'd just lose it. At least I know how many newtons are in a pound of thrust (different probe, but still...). (...) In fairness to (...) (27 years ago, 10-Dec-99, to lugnet.general)
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