evans@mhuxt.UUCP (crandall) (01/04/86)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** What follows is something I posted to net.kids asking for information on toys that inspired people who ended up doing technical things. The amount of response indicates that I should try it out in a different place. Since this is going to net.physics I would be very interested in comments about toys that were fun and, at the same time, involved an interesting physical principle. (when I was a grad student in physics at Stony Brook someone did a great colloquium on "the physics of toys") === Once again my wife and I have supplied our nieces (ages 6 and 8) with lenses, tools, prisms, and the like and one again we have been told by other relatives that we should stick to more traditional toys (Cabbage Patch dolls and other very sex-roled objects). Based on an admittedly small sampling it seems like many people who have ended up in technical work remember wonderful mechanical toys, puzzles, and the like. I would like to hear comments (particularly from women) on toys that "made a difference." My wife fondly remembers a small microscope, old clocks (junkers to play with) and tools. I built telescopes and model airplanes. What did you do? What are kids doing today? send me mail and I'll post a summary... Steve Crandall mhuxt!evans