Techie Dad and Little House on the Prairie Mom Declare Truce in Toy War

My husband, a computer programmer, has known what he wanted to do for a living ever since the day his dad brought home the Commodore 64.  Even though he grew up in a rural area, his upbringing fostered a love of technology and gadgetry.  I grew up in town, though video games and music videos were absent from our environment.  We used a computer for school, when necessary, but my pioneer-descending family read books like Little House on the Prairie, and I pined for the simplicity of days in which a new tin cup for Christmas yielded rejoicing. When we had children, I couldn't wait to spend long hours with cloth dolls, wood blocks and handmade toys in hand.  My husband started counting the days until the kids could join him on the Xbox with The Simpsons Hit and Run.  With Christmas and birthdays approaching, our annual toy debate was gearing up as usual. Then the invitation to an event sponsored by LeapFrog showed up in my inbox. Oh, please, I thought.  Batteries, flashing lights and noise are not what I need. Then I saw the event was a Q and A with education specialists from two notable universities, and I was intrigued. The event turned out to be a conversation that included the guests—a room full of knowledgeable and intentional parents.  I learned that LeapFrog, unlike companies such as Nintendo, values and commits to creating products that don't simply entertain but foster genuine learning.  Parent after parent spoke about balancing technical toys with classic books and playthings, and someone suggested there's room in the toy box for every toy. Modeling balance is the approach we've taken with television—watching a moderated amount of quality programs—so it made good sense to me to take the same approach with toys.  Technology is part of our life and our culture, and in the same way I use the internet and laptop while making room in my life for art and creativity, through a variety of play options, my children can learn to do the same. This year, under the tree, our kids will each receive a technical toy, along with their learn-to-sew kits and handmade gifts, and I think the peace of the season will be ours—in every way.