Toys are available in such a wide variety nowadays, and they can be played in a multitude of ways. Have you ever thought of going beyond the rules stated in the instruction manual for a toy? In fact, we can set our own rules and play a toy in our own ways. We can even make our own toys and be their real owner.Full-time mother Natalie makes toys according to the needs and interest of her child, enjoying herself throughout the process. Benny, who is also a mother, encourages her child to be imaginative and put their thoughts and feelings in their creations. As such, children will grow up playing while being creative. Self-made toys are indeed more interesting than those bought from a shop.
Children inevitably need toys, which are like their playmates and friends. Nowadays, children get toys, often too many of them, easily. “Anew Toys” founder Paul advocates for recycling of old toys and turns them into new ones through restructuring. This is not only a way to give toys new lives, but also a lesson for children on learning to cherish their toys. Toys that are most fun to play with do not have an instruction manual. As a toy designer for toddlers, Ryan has a rich collection of old toys produced in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He will share with us the stories behind these toys and how they can be appreciated.
Everyone needs toys. Yet, we do not need to own a most exquisite, newest toy to be happy. Saying that a toy is “fun to play with” is merely an empty description. It is the unforgettable memories and joyful playing it brings that determine the quality of a toy.
現代玩具種類繁多，玩法千變萬化。你有想過突破玩具說明書中的「有規有矩」嗎？其實，我們可以自訂規則和玩法、甚至自己製造玩具、當玩具的真正主人。
全職媽媽Natalie按孩子的需要和興趣自製玩具，自己也樂在其中；另一位媽媽Benny則鼓勵孩子多發揮想像力，把想法和感情都投放在創作裏。如此一來，孩子在玩樂中成長的同時，也能發揮創意，自製的玩具實在比買回來的玩具更有趣可玩。
玩具就像孩子的玩伴、朋友，孩子當然需要玩具。現今的孩子很容易得到玩具，甚至擁有太多。「再生玩具店」創辦人Paul提倡回收舊玩具，將舊玩具組裝成新玩具，給它們一個新生命之餘，也教孩子學懂珍惜。最好玩的玩具並沒有說明書，而幼童玩具設計師Ryan則收藏七、八十年代生產的舊玩具，他會分享玩具背後的故事，以及如何欣賞玩具。
任何人都需要玩具，但我們不一定要擁有一件最精美、最新的玩具才能玩得開心。說一件玩具「好玩」只是空洞的說明，只有它帶來的深刻回憶和愉快的玩樂過程，才是它發揮功能的憑證。
