This episode’s vocabulary
Au fait with
adj. — having a good or detailed knowledge of something. → I’m not exactly au fait with the latest developments in technology.
The ins and outs
noun phrase — the detailed or complicated facts of something. → Before you start the business, you need to understand the ins and outs of the industry.
Integrated
adj. — with two or more things combined in order to become more effective. → The new system has technology integrated into it to improve efficiency.
Cooperative play
noun phrase — when children play together with a shared goal. → The teacher encouraged cooperative play to help the children develop social skills.
Engage in
phrasal verb — to take part in a particular activity. → Boys tend to engage in more competitive or mock aggressive play.
Of the firm belief
idiom — to be very sure about something; to have a strong opinion. → I’m of the firm belief that parents should spend more quality time with their children.
Outsource
verb — to get work done by giving it to another person or company. → If you outsource child-rearing to inanimate objects, it's less effective.
Inanimate objects
noun phrase — things that are not alive. → A doll is an inanimate object, but a child can give it a personality.
Ineffectual
adj. — not producing any or the desired effect. → Relying only on toys to entertain a child can be completely ineffectual for their development.
Embedded
adj. — fixed firmly and deeply in something. → Modern toys often have complex electronics embedded in them.
Prohibited
adj. — officially forbidden or banned. → In some countries, advertising aimed at children is strictly prohibited.
Feasible
adj. — possible and practical to do easily or conveniently. → Banning all toy advertising might not be a feasible solution.
Enforce
verb — to make people obey a law, or to make a particular situation happen or be accepted. → How would you even enforce such a prohibition on advertising?
Questions and answers
What are the advantages and disadvantages of modern toys?
I honestly don't know. I'm not exactly au fait with the ins and outs of product design these days. But I'd guess they might be more interactive with all the technology integrated into them, which could make them more fun to play with. On the other hand, it might make them more expensive as a result.
What's the difference between the toys boys play with and girls play with?
Well, actually, I remember reading something somewhere that it's less about what they play with and more about how they play with them. So, for example, girls are generally more likely to play with dolls in a cooperative play, like playing house. While boys tend to engage in more competitive or mock aggressive play with their versions of dolls. You could probably best see that in the difference between things like Barbie and Action Man.
Do you think parents should buy more toys for their kids or spend more time with them?
Oh, I'm definitely of the firm belief that parents need to spend more time with their kids. It helps them to socialize and build secure bonds and reduces mental and physical issues. If you outsource that to inanimate objects, then I suppose it's less effective or even completely ineffectual. Not only that, but it could also even be harmful to the development of children.
What's the difference between the toys kids play with now and those they played with in the past?
Well, broadly speaking, they seem to be more complex. Not only in terms of the tech incorporated into them, but also when it comes to the materials they're made from. And they'd have to be with all the electronics embedded in them and all the developments in materials, at least in material science in the last century. All the plastic we have alone is a massive change.
Should advertising aimed at children be prohibited?
I'm tempted to say it should be banned all together, given how irritating it is. Though I'm not sure how feasible that is. How would you even enforce such a prohibition? It's probably more reasonable to encourage people to be more independently minded and reduce the exposure of kids to stuff like that in general. But that's something you have to decide personally. I don't think you could convince the authorities to enforce that.
How do adverts influence children?
I don't know a great deal about the psychological mechanism behind it, but I suppose the simple version is that the same way it affects adults, it creates some sort of excitement or fear around having or not having something and how it could make things better or at least appear to make things better. With kids, that could be making the product part of a story, or through the use of bright colors or opportunities to interact, like with a digital pet or something.
Thank you very much for your answers, Rory.