Toys are friends

Playing with toys provides the "power to live"

Think about the toys you played with when you were a child. What toys did you play with and who were your playmates? In fact, toys serve an important function. Sharing a toy with a friend, or fighting over a toy, promotes the ability of children to communicate. Playing with toys nurtures the imagination and helps children use their minds to cope with the world around them. They also develop the capacity to consider the point of view of others and to advance a conversation. Playing with toys provides children with the "power to live" for growing into adults.

At the same time, there is the reality that many children in developing countries have no access to toys. And in places suffering from war or conflict, children sometimes come into contact with explosives, which they mistake as toys. Touching the explosive can result in death or injury.

In order for children to be engaged in creating a peaceful society when they become adults, it is vital to establish an environment in which children can safely play with toys.

Children and their parents enjoy playing house together. (Photo by Mako Sakomoto, 14)

At Ueda Elementary School in the city of Miyoshi, a school that was recently closed, a "Toy Festa" was held on September 25 and 26. This year's "Toy Festa" marked the 5th such festival. The venue, though, offered no toys or games that required electricity or batteries. Rather, the event featured toys made of wood for visitors to play with together. Children and their parents could build with wooden blocks and the children could make new friends and engage together in such games as "playing house." Smiles were shared all around as people enjoyed the opportunity to play.

Yukiko Kawazoe, 38, the owner of a toy shop in Miyoshi and a "toy consultant," conceived the idea of the "Toy Festa." One toy she recommends is a German toy made of wood called a "Kugelbahn." A number of small wooden balls travel down a sloping path and, at the end of that path the balls ring the metal bars of a glockenspiel. Children can benefit from the toy in many ways, such as grasping the balls and following the balls with their eyes. The toy can have positive effects for adults, too, since the musical sound can promote a feeling of ease.

Ms. Kawazoe says, "It's only a toy, but toys are important for children." Toys are vital for a child's development. She stressed that, when parents choose a toy for their children, they should choose the toy together, guided by the child's interest and through the sense of touch. After getting the toy, she added, parents should engage with their children by playing together with the toy. (Arata Kono, 13)

Above=Unexploded cluster bomb Below=A landmine shaped like a butterfly (Photos courtesy of Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines)

In areas of war or conflict, children touching landmines or unexploded cluster bombs by mistake, resulting in death or serious injury, is a frequent occurrence. Junko Utsumi, 43, the secretary general of the Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines, explains: "The form and color of the explosives, which have been enhanced to increase the effectiveness of the weapons, also attract the interest of children."

Cluster bombs vary in shape: some bombs are shaped like juice cans, others are shaped like tennis balls, and they are adorned with parachutes and ribbons. The bright colors, like yellow and blue, produce a greater number of child victims. Landmines shaped like butterflies draw the attention of children as well.

Though the effort is made to teach children in these areas not to touch suspicious-looking objects, such warnings are inadequate because unexploded bombs and landmines are scattered over wide areas.

Ms. Utsumi told us: "First, learn the reality of the situation and then inform your friends and your family." (Masataka Tanaka, 16)

Children in Mongolia smile with the donated toys in their hands. (Photo courtesy of the Tottori Chuo Lions Club)

The Tottori Chuo Lions Club pursues its work under the slogan "Put smiles on the faces of children all over the world." It is engaged in an effort to send toys to children in developing countries. Katsuhiko Hiroiwa, 53, the second deputy director of the group, says that they launched the activity in July 2008 with the hope that, even just once a day, children who will forge the future can be given the chance to express a heartfelt smile.

Members of the group collect toys, calling for cooperation from others through newspaper announcements, and send from three to five big boxes of toys to developing countries in each shipment. Stuffed animals and "picture story cards," based on children's stories in Japan translated into local languages, are popular abroad. To date, they have sent toys to facilities

Mr. Hiroiwa told us: "We're happy to see photos of the children happily playing with the toys we sent. We would also like to get toys in the hands of children who don't live in facilities for children, such as children living in sewers." (Seira Furukawa, 17)

Sense of achievement and imagination are key -Hiroki Yuji, associate professor at Hijiyama University Junior College Professor Hiroki Yuji talks about the significance of toys for children. (Photo by Mako Sakamoto, 14) Regarding the relationship between toys and children, Hiroki Yuji, 43, of Hijiyama University Junior College, an associate professor in the Department of Early Childhood Education, says: "Toys for children should be judged not as good or bad, but as appropriate or inappropriate." Appropriate toys respond to a child's actions and lead children to feel "I tried, and I did it." Such toys should be suitable for the child's age and ability. If a child quickly tires of playing with a toy, that toy may be too easy or too hard; it doesn't suit the child's level of ability. Toys aid the development of a child's mind and body through the use of the five senses. The use of the fingers has a positive impact on developing physical abilities. Through play, such intellectual skills as learning numbers are fostered. Children also learn communication skills when they play with other children, including in times of conflict and compromise. When children play with toys or objects that lack a specified use, this cultivates their imagination and they develop the power to think and the power to cope with life. Such strengths enable them to respond flexibly to the world around them. Imagination can contribute to their ability to resolve their concerns when they face problems in their relationships with friends. Video games provide players with a rapid response and children can get that feeling of "I tried, and I did it." On the other hand, video games reduce the opportunity for interaction with others. Therefore, such games may be detrimental to children's social development. Video games that are too aggressive, and contain violent imagery, are not suitable for young children. Adults have a responsibility to create an environment for children where the children can play in line with their development. It is vital to keep in mind that children should be provided with "good toys." (Yusuke Suemoto, 14)