Kids and the Hobby (1 Viewer)

[Carnahan]

I don't currently know too many people with younger children (by this I mean pre-teen) and am wondering if many kids play with toy soldiers these days. Given the disappointing state of dimestore figures, the disappearance of hobby shops where better stuff may be found, and competition from other diversions, I'm thinking it's a little bleak. What do you all think?

 

[Grognard]

My younger son (he is now 10) has been playing with toy soldiers (knights) since he was 5. He has a great collection of knights + the castle from Papo.
He likes to look at my Napoleonic toy soldiers and knows that one day he will get those. My other son doesn't show any interest in this hobby.

 

[kogu]

It has been a while, actually about 5 to 6 years ago, that my son (he was 8 to 9 years old) and me played with Toy Soldiers. The ACW was the subject that day and we had a bunch of plastic figures (Conte/Marx recasts) set up along with some defence works which included items that were found readily available throughout the house, so not necessarily historical accurate
However, once we had our parties set up (he was south and I was north), the battle started in form of rubber bands shot from the fingers with the goal to down each and every opponent.
That night ended even, since each of us won one battle.
Unfortunately we never managed to set up another battle (Toy Soldiers that is) and I don't think that I will be able to get him excited currently either in history or toy soldiers. By now he's 14 and has many other things in mind
Konrad

 

[Mardasson]

My nephews (12 and 8) have received some metal Medieval Knights (not expensive ones) from me for display purposes. I also provided them with Hirst Arts moulds so they can produce bricks and build backgounds for their collection. For now they are both hooked...

I'm using Walkerloo soldiers with my daughter (8) and son (7) to fight battles with marbles ans also making some buildings using Hirst Arts moulds.

 

[Wraith]

I've got an 8 year old son and 6 year old daughter. Daughter is fine with them as long as they are in authentic pink and purple oak leaf pattern camo.

My son is interested and plays with the ones I do him. He's got a nice mix of wild west, WWII and medieval.

He'll be doing the Roman Empire as his next years school history theme (last years was Ancient Egypt), and so I'm painting up a load of Call to Arms Romans as we speak. It's a good way of getting his head in history books (pitched at the appropriate age level), without him realising that he's eductaing himself, so I'm happy. And it gives me an excuse to paint n' play.

Here's hoping for Ancient Greece the year after. Then, I'll be in my element!

Simon

 

[eborris]

I wonder just how many of us would have the same interest we do in toy soldiers, had we had video and computer games to play. Toy soldiers were mainly something I did by myself or maybe with a friend or two and it was something I did when the weather was bad or no one else was around. Had their been video games I'm pretty sure those rainy or winter days would have been taken up by video games, let's face it you could have a whole battle against an opponent and the set up time is practically zero.

 

[bromhead]

I wonder just how many of us would have the same interest we do in toy soldiers, had we had video and computer games to play. Toy soldiers were mainly something I did by myself or maybe with a friend or two and it was something I did when the weather was bad or no one else was around. Had their been video games I'm pretty sure those rainy or winter days would have been taken up by video games, let's face it you could have a whole battle against an opponent and the set up time is practically zero.

Believe I would tho doing a bit of Forza or various aviation combat on my x360 has its appeal until eye spase after a few ours on the euro tracks w various Ferraris,not to mention the speakers at max.

 

[jac28]

I wonder just how many of us would have the same interest we do in toy soldiers, had we had video and computer games to play. Toy soldiers were mainly something I did by myself or maybe with a friend or two and it was something I did when the weather was bad or no one else was around. Had their been video games I'm pretty sure those rainy or winter days would have been taken up by video games, let's face it you could have a whole battle against an opponent and the set up time is practically zero.

I agree with Ed.. I would've loved video games "back in the day." I'm not really that worried about it. I gave my son (who is now 26) toy soldiers and such when he was younger - and he played with them some.. He was MUCH more interested in video games, Transformers/Go-bots, Ninja Turtle Action figures.. etc.

Let's face it - when Hasbro brought out the original GI Joe, it changed the way we played.. I had gotten toy soldiers for years prior to GI Joe, but got a lot less of them after. Now I wanted the GI Joe Jeep for Christmas, and the Deep Sea Diver outfit, etc.. I also got Marx's Johnny West, Daniel Boone and Stony... so the advent of the "Action Figure" definitely affected my interests at the time.

But as a hobby - I'm much more interested in toy soldiers than GI Joe (I only have one).

Jim