Toy Hall of Fame

Results just in! The 2008 inductees to the Toy Hall of Fame are the baby doll, the skateboard and... the stick. The stick!! I love that. The only other time they chose a toy that is really not an actual toy was in 2005 when the cardboard box was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame. And rightly so! The cardboard box and the stick are the best toys of all!

Got me thinking of all the things I did with a stick as a kid. (or what I saw my kids doing with a stick)
* a writing instrument in the dirt or sand
* arms for a snowman
* a magic wand
* a gun
* a sword
* a sling-shot
* a bow 'n arrow (Tyler called it bone 'n arrow)
* a spear (we'd sharpen the tip, then throw it to try and stick it in the ground)
* for roasting marshmallows (now we use a garden rack)
* a riding horse
* to stoke a camp fire
* a walking stick
* whittle into something (rather scary watching my kiddos do that)
* playing fetch with our dog
* a fishing rod (never did catch a fish using one)
* to construct forts and hold up tents (made with blankets)
* to hold seed packets so we'd remember what was planted in each row
* to bat a rock or a whiffle ball
* or just to whack at something

I thought you might want to know the criteria for induction-
The National Toy Hall of Fame recognizes toys that “have engaged and delighted multiple generations, inspiring them to learn, create, and discover through play.” Criteria for induction include: icon-status (the toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered); longevity (the toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations); discovery (the toy fosters learning, creativity, or discovery through play); and innovation (the toy profoundly changed play or toy design).


So, did I forget something? Be sure to tell us what you did with a stick.