Kids Choose Games Over Traditional Toys

Posted on November 29, 2004

Games are grabbing more and more of children's playing time while traditional toys are quickly becoming the forgotten toys -- just like in the hit animation children's film, Toy Story. A recent Time magazine article points out that sales for traditional toys fell 5% from January to September of this year while game sales have surged 7% over last year's game sales. Another sign of the demise of traditional toys is news that Toys "R" Us plans to close toys stores and focus more of its resources on Babies "R" Us, its brand of baby stores. Time also reports that toymakers are fighting for shelf space with video games and sales of action figures are shrinking as gamers start gaming at a younger and younger age. Time magazine cited a study that found "nearly half of U.S. children start on video games at 4 to 5 years old — and 20% at age 3 or younger."