: every playworker knows that when it comes to toys and play equipment, a desire for the latest trend or fad can sweep through children at a breathtaking pace. And the mass appeal of these items can be over just as quickly.
Pokemon Cards, Micro-scooters and Cyber Pets have had their day, and new products are taking their place. So what implications does this have for clubs?
GOOD BUYS?
It does seem that the latest trends are often the kinds of toys that clubs are unlikely to buy. This may be because the equipment doesn't seem durable, or has limited opportunities for group play. Some popular items may be rejected because of a connection to violence (wrestling figures and the like), or perhaps the playworkers perceive 'faddy' items as unlikely to provide good value for money in the long term. Maybe an item is out of fashion before a club has even had the time to work its purchase into the budget.
ADDRESSING THE ISSUES
If the toys of the moment are not provided by clubs, it's natural enough that some children will want to bring in their own belongings to play with.
Clubs won't want to deprive children of free play of course, but there can be difficulties - for instance, where does the responsibility lie if one child breaks another's toy? What if some children feel left out because they haven't got the latest item and can't join in? It can be helpful for staff, children, parents and carers to discuss the related issues, and to develop a policy.
POLICIES IN PLACE
After much discussion at my clubs, it was decided that the existing rules concerning the club's equipment would be applied to the children's own toys wherever they were applicable. For example, it's agreed that children should only bring in toys that they are prepared to share. (Unless the item in question is a special toy they have for comfort - a soft toy perhaps.) Playworkers check the suitability of children's toys, which must meet our safety standards and be deemed 'appropriate for the group'.
What constitutes appropriateness is difficult to judge, and while we have some guidelines, decisions are made on an item-by-item basis. Children understand that products regarded as unsuitable include music with explicit lyrics, electronic games with age limits and toys related to violence.
Importantly, our policy clearly states that we don't accept responsibility for lost or damaged toys, and we stress this point to all new parents and carers.
BANNED TOYS
Some schools have banned certain toys, many of them falling into 'the latest craze' category, and this can fuel children's desire to play with them during their leisure time. My clubs are based within school premises, but we feel that it is important to follow our own policy and consider the appropriateness of all toys - we would not stop the children from playing with something simply because it's banned in school.
For example, Beyblades (a modern take on the spinning top) have been popular recently. At school, children had been launching them from a height, causing them to spin off into a crowded playground - the limited number of supervising staff felt uneasy about the situation, and this led to a ban.
However, at the club, playworkers were able to supervise considerably fewer children much more effectively, ensuring that the toys were only spun on the floor in a designated area away from other children's games and activities. The group enjoyed the toys safely until the fad died out a few weeks later.
Children's trading card games were also banned in school following several arguments. (Children each play with their own deck, winning each other's cards 'for keeps'.) The playworkers thought that the club could effectively support children in sorting out their disagreements and permitted the games. Eventually though, it transpired that parents were not happy that their children were giving away or losing the cards they had paid for, even though that was the purpose of the game. We eventually found an acceptable solution - the children now write their names on their cards, play their games, but all cards are returned at the end of the session.
Are we compromising on free play? Well, yes, but it's better than a ban, and the children can still enjoy their game, until the 'next big thing'
comes along that is.
