Mattel and Hasbro said to be ‘terrified’ as more kids seek high-tech Christmas gifts

Heh.

And the ADD, ADHD, and ODD will continue to skyrocket. . .

That's terrible reporting. The story is one-sided and stolen from another source.

Here's the full story, with a comment from Hasbro.

Oddly, the original story did not mention the partnership between Zynga and Hasbro.

Greg it's Yahoo. If you've ever read more than one story from them you know how bad they are. Thanks for posting the real story.

Well, I can only speak from my experience, but my 10-year-old daughter asked for Barbies and Legos for Christmas, along with video games. So I tend to think kids will still play with toys.

What about OPP?

It's true, lol. It rankles me because I work for a large newspaper and I hate to see such sloppy attribution. I need to learn to shrug it off!

My girlfriend, the child life specialist with a degree in early ed and psychology, hates all the high tech toys. She says they are horrible for a child's development. She wants to punch Baby Einstein in the face. We're working on the anger management issues.

Too true its wayyyyyy too much "software" before "hardware" thats my theory. I have watched kids jsut intereface with flashing lights meanwhile their attention span down hill and their mechanical and spacial abilities as well. Its just sad .....

Sort of true. Only really little kids like under 3rd grade want toys now. Everyone else wants an apple product.

I don't know...

My son (10 years old) got Legos, Ninja Turtles, a few board games, books, blocks, and a whole slew of other goodies. He got a WiiU, one game for that, one for his 3DSxl, and an Apple points card.

In order of preference on Christmas morning...

Blocks, Legos, iPad, Legos, Ninja Turtles, books, board game, 3DSxl, legos, and a battle with all the new skylander figures against all the old ones. ... on the carpet, army men style.

WiiU is hooked up and unused, and the other devices are limited to 1 hour a day in TOTAL.

I think "being plugged in" has more to do with parenting than it does with a child's preferences. There is always going to be a need and want for "toys". If you don't introduce the digital side of it as a plaything until later in life, they won't crave it over physical, imaginative play.

My kid is 12 and is still Mister Mega Blocks on Christmas morning... Halo of course... but not only does he love the game but he loves the concept as well. he reads the comics and books and collects the McFarlane figures as well. If not mega Blocks then he looks for Marvel/ DC LEGOS then DCUC and Marvel Legends. Sometimes he gets into a new toyline based on how cool stuff looks. Of course he's into the game systems when a new game comes out but he's selective and really digs comic related things on the game systems. Most of his friends are the same way. He has a laptop but barley uses it unless for school, his iPod is for music and his Kindle is holding up a table somewhere.

I am pretty sure I had/have ADD, but I still like playing with action figures.

My kid also has a lousy attention span, and he loves his action figures.

I don't see a direct competition between those types of toys and video games. Two different markets, IMO. I play a lot of video games (and I did growing up) and I still played with action figures. Same with my kid.

No, I believe its more that their parents dont believe that they should have toys, that they think their kid needs to have the new device out there. I saw 6 and 7 year olds with cel phones/smart phones--- why (other than the fact that some parents have made it a defacto teacher and babysitter) ?? (and some where using it to shoot at other kids or fight with because it made lightsaber noises).. How about as parents you buy those toys that do that stuff instead of a phone... Or the parents that actually let their kids use their phones and video games while eating, or at movies -- call me old fashioned-- but its gotten to the point that its beyond ridiculous, and I think some of it is just the kids imitating their parents....

I liked music a little bit as kid-- I sure as hell didnt need an Ipod full of it to get me by...

My nieces loved getting computer games for Christmas but spent the whole day putting together their Lego sets. Although they only used the Apples to Apples board game as something to sit on.