In the 1960's a Mr. Potato Head set came with a myriad of plastic parts tipped with dagger-like points made for jabbing into real vegatables. Did I get stabbed--yes! Did I care? No! Who cared about a little pain when I could make my potaoto anyway I wanted, even adding dagger ended objects that did not come with the kit. Mom's Christmas tree pin covered with rhinestones...toothpicks with fabric flags...yarn and pipecleaners on thumbtacks for hair!
And Creepy Crawlers: a kit that came with a hotplate, plastic goo and metal molds so you could cast your own blueheaded green legged orange bodied fly or beetle or butterfly. Did I get burned? Yes...and I would ice it and go back to create new bugthings.
Would I let my kids play with these toys now? Yes, with supervision--I was left alone with my experiments probably too often as Mom watched soap operas and took care of the mountain of ironing that erupted from 60's styles and fabrics.
Below is a link to a
Good News Network posting about a new book by Gever Tulley about children being allowed to experience a world full of danger...and creative potential.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/most-popular/general/50-dangerous-things-book.html
