Do folks still buy science "toys" for their kids?

I have to say that I have been dismayed and appalled by the Bushreich's continued undercutting of science and science education -- today's kids are being put at such a disadvantage in so many ways by the Bushreich's contempt for science and its unabashed anti-intellectualism.

When I was a kid (many moons ago, I'll admit) getting scientific toys for birthdays and Christmas was simply... commonplace! In my family we all got at least one book and one "science toy" amongst our gifts -- telescopes, microscopes, chemistry sets, fossils, miniature steam engines or erector sets, all manner of things you could put together yourself or use for your own experiments. Perhaps its just me, but I don't see a lot of those types of toys anymore, especially in the big retail stores. Kids get a lot of high tech toys but not ones that foster individual creativity and curiosity.

It's a fact that this country's kids are falling behind in math and science and thanks to the Bushreich's contempt for science and science education it looks as if its up to parents and family to make up the slack. How many of you buy "science toys" for your kids and are they really hard to find? I usually donate toys for kids at Christmas, but this year I think I'll be looking for gifts of a more scientific nature.

Those toys usually get alot more miles than the latest craze toy

Unfortunately, no Kids myself, but my nephew David at 3 1/2 has his own computer. Our play at this age "aside from the puter, is more of the mechanical type (rail line construction, Lego's, etc) than Physics or Chemistry, but he has a keen interest in nature. (at 3&1/2 tomorrow:D !)

Mustn't give it to the children...I mean, what if they start believing in evolution? :silly:

First big purchase for them will be a telescope. We live in the country and we have no big lights to obscure the stars. We also talk about scientific processes as best we can at their limited intelletual stage but we are doing the basics of basically the physical sciences right now. So to answer your question, yes.

Hopefully, I'll be employed again by then and can get it for him.

A microscope for this year sounds like a good idea...thanks!

Godless children = atheist equivalent of god children. :evilgrin:


Along with the assorted goofy gifts and things we always get something science oriented as well for them.

for most freepers, I think we can safely say they had no science toys as kids.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3321982

Perhaps more science toys would help, but I doubt it.

Sid

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

and I would have to say, generally, no. I do not see evidence of scientific or creative toys or hear the children talking about them. It really is a tragedy. I teach in an economically disadvantaged school district with a majority of non-English fluent kids. They struggle with reading and language, and will learn it, but they are at a disadvantage now. However, they are EXCELLENT at Math and Science, those subjects being more language neutral. For example, I teach seven year olds and they are doing pre algebra, multiplication and division, and probability. The students in my grade scored on a par or above students from much more affluent districts on the standardized tests in Math last year. We really need to be encouraging all children in Math and Science. I do tend to find myself emphasizing the Reading and Writing because of the needs of my students, but I am constantly amazed at their natural aptitude in Math and Science!!

We buy her's at a local place called "The Science Fair" (http://www.thesciencefair.com/). You won't find most of their stuff in a regular store. They cater to science teachers.

We also have a local place called "The Learning Center" (http://www.edumart.com/learningstation/) which has a large science section.

Some catalogs we use are:
http://www.creativekidstuff.com/science.html
http://www.discoverthis.com/
http://www.learningresources.com/Index.pasp

Hope you have fun browsing and buying.

Sid

she has a few science "toys" but she has her eye on this one mega science set that she'll be getting on her birthday next month. It comes with the microscope, a kit to "build" a miniature dinosaur, a kit to make a volcano and a couple more things that I can't recall right now. We discovered it at Fry's Electronics.

What I really want is a telescope. I'm finishing up my 2nd Astronomy class and my daughter loves to look at the pictures in my book and ask about the planets and stars. That would be a wonderful Mom&Daughter present.

And it's a Dem-friendly business!

being shipped to Asia and elsewhere. Why do we need science in this country? We will supply the raw materials, the foodstuffs and become a third world country. Then the corporate chieftains can keep getting richer by paying the Asians cents / hour versus what they were paying American workers. Bush etal are doing a great job breaking the back of the middle and working classes in this country. Don't bother sending the kids to college for doctorates...they won't be able to use them.

or things they can put together. The puzzles are usually of animals from the sea or a jungle or something different from what they are accustomed to. They've gotten bug traps for the garden, etc. My oldest is autistic, so he likes manipulative toys, and my youngest is still a little too young for some of the stuff you've mentioned.

- Falwell 3.16

He has 2 microscopes and has several other science-related things to play with. He loves chemistry and all kinds of science. He is lucky enough to go to an afterschool program that is run by an ex-teacher who loves science.

We have a great science store downtown, I actually think science is quite popular these days, depsite Bush's contempt for science education.

my kids loved microscopes (playskool used to make a really good one, unbreakable & easy to use), radio & electricity kits..chemistry, of course...fossil digs & on & on. We homeschooled & their favorite memories (now that they are grown) are two famous science activities we did--- we found some bones at our garden site & boiled/bleached/reconstructed the thing-- with elastic replacing the tendons. After several months we had a fully motion-capable deer in our living room. It was really exciting-- and they'd tell the kids on the playground how the tire swing was working on a ball & socket joint *haha*. The second most memorable was the water cycle lesson, where I let them put all manner of liquids in a pot and told them I'd drink it. So, in goes juice with milk, and I admit they got the three year old to pee in it. I boiled it, condensed steam on a cool lid and drank it-- they never forgot the water cycle. *heehee* thanks for letting me remember the good ol' days. *sigh*