23 January 2014, The Third Column for "Recruit" – Small Gadgets, Big Meaning
Me100fun Column Issue 3
Small Toys, Big Meanings
Author: Chan Wai-sam, Founder of Me100fun Educational Toys Store
When we were children, we knew that toys were for making people happy, a form of entertainment, and a source of joy. As we grew up, we learned about the deeper meaning of toys.
Toys are just toys; inanimate objects. But with thoughtful design and creativity, they can evolve into endless uses and infinite value, becoming practical tools to guide children's healthy development. Years ago, my wife began researching how educational toys could help solve children's developmental problems, which provided great inspiration and became the blueprint for our "Toy Apothecary" concept.
Extraordinary Value of Ordinary Toys
Take, for example, the simple pretend play kitchen set (commonly known as "cooking"). With parental guidance, children can learn to manage household chores in an orderly fashion, doing things meticulously and paying attention to every detail. Or, consider our popular toy, "Cherry Picking Fun." Participants roll a dice to quickly collect the most cherries for their tree. During the game, birds and dogs might try to snatch cherries, meaning players might have to start accumulating again. This game teaches children to follow rules, face adversity, accept setbacks, and get back up after falling, fostering a positive outlook on life.
Toys can also enhance spatial awareness, multiple intelligences, logical thinking, and right/left brain memory skills, each suited to different needs. Not just children, even adults can benefit from toys. For instance, many social workers and speech therapists recommend parents buy toys that aid in the healthy development of adolescents. Some social workers at youth centers even purchase action games for troubled youths struggling with substance abuse, to show them that they can't even play educational toys designed for three-year-olds after taking drugs, thus inspiring them to strive for self-improvement.
Additionally, occupational therapists purchase pushing and rolling toys for patients who have recently undergone surgery to help them with hand muscle exercises and accelerate recovery. These toys are particularly small and convenient for therapists to carry with them.
These examples illustrate that "a craftsman must sharpen his tools to do his work well." Driven by our love for toys, we are committed to developing more diverse applications for them, benefiting more children. As long as the creative mind keeps working, the potential for expansion is absolutely infinite. This applies to work, and to life as well. Let us all strive to create our own lives, live in the realm of reality, and pursue an extraordinary life.