Strollerderby
Stick Inducted Into Toy Hall of Fame. Yeah. A Stick.
Last week, three classic playthings were chosen as inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame: The Baby Doll (a given), the skateboard (well-deserved) and … the stick. Yeah, you heard me. A plain, old wooden stick, which is technically not a toy but — thanks to the wonders of a child’s imagination — can substitute as one. 
The stick got the nod for the same reason that in 2005, the cardboard box made the Hall of Fame: It’s simple, all-purpose, cheap and can entertain a child for hours. I understand that next year, the Hall of Fame is inducting a tin can. Because, you know, you can kick it.
Look, I don’t mean to be a killjoy, but this seems a little absurd to me. I get the cardboard box, even though it’s technically not a toy either. All of us have taken a box and turned it into a racing car or an awesome fort or a sweet robot costume. But a stick? That seems like more of a leap. You shouldn’t go around inducting things based on what kids imagine they might be. Hell, I often imagine that I’m the frontwoman in a kickass punk band. That doesn’t mean I should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In its 10 years of existence, the Toy Hall of Fame (which was acquired in 2002 by the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y.) has added 41 toys to its ranks. This year, the stick beat out several finalists for inductee status, including Hot Wheels (!), the Flexible Flyer sled (!!), Wiffle Ball (!!!), Yahtzee (!!!!!) and the Rubik’s Cube (!!!!!). I’m sorry, sticks have their charms but there is no way that they are more iconic than the Rubik’s Cube or the Wiffle Ball, which, I should also point out, are actually legit toys.
Perhaps I am too fired up about all this. After all, this “Hall of Fame” thing is just a nice way to recognize the beauty of being a kid. Still, something about this stick selection makes me want to whack the members of the selection committee upside the head with something. If only I could find an object suitable for whacking people…
Image: AP Photo
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6 Comments
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amJen, you missed on this one. As a boy growing up sticks were an integral part of me and my friends imaginative play. It could be anything, and it could draw blood! But in a good way!
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amIsn’t it kind of cool that the Hall of Fame is reminding us we don’t need to spend a gazillion dollars on fancy, complicated plastic crap for our kids to entertain themselves?
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amMy son is pretty much obsessed with sticks.
gpgirl commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amI have to totally disagree with you. In our day of too many electronic, noise-making toys, I love that they are inducting the stick, which not only is simple but requires a great deal of imagination to play with. One of the best educational toys, if you ask me.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amUm…stick ball. It’s a toy.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amI hate to be like this, but…wait 2 or 3 years when your son is closer to 4 or 5. Then you may see the sublime wonder that is the bow and arrow, gun, telescope, north pole, sword, etc., etc. I would have looked at it sideways at first too – but not anymore.
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