From infancy to seniors, toys stimuate the imaginattion and memories
Originally written as a post on my business site, I thought I would share it here as well
When a child is young, toys are given to expand imagination, nurture needs, and support communication with another and the inner voice of desire taking form. Passions in life are enhanced by the choice of toys a child desires to fulfill a passion already innately within itself from infancy. In this time possibly more than all others, the toys chosen are building blocks in structuring a formation of growth. In times went by, toys were more limited, simple and nurtured and emotional body rather than a physical need to expand imagination with knowledge of what the future might hold.
Yet, as a child grows and becomes an adult the toys become either more limited or more materialistic in form to provide a sense of accomplishment in the gain. Much truth can be found in the phrase “a boy needs his toys” whereas with a girl; toys are replaced with nurturing through bearing and raising children or the choice of profession which the toys represented to herself in younger years.
When the aged in our society reach the time when toys can bring healing and reignite the nurturer from within, toys are seen as unneeded as they pass through the days of reflection in life largely along in their thoughts and habits which for many have regressed to the point of needed the toys which are no longer available or seen by a society as contributing to a life form of childhood again. Have you ever walked into a nursing or retirement home and seen a toy box? Yet a facility of individuals who could actually find healing in having a toy are seen lonesome and in despair in knowing life has more to offer and resigned still in that conscious spark within that says the days of playing freely in the imagination are now gone.
I operate a caregiver service to provide the bread and butter of life for monetary needs though with a passion for enhancing rather than accepting as a person ages limitations are the future of their lives. Whether it is treating feed through footbaths, stimulation conversation, or giving a simple toy to stimulate a mind, which lives in limitations I am going to find the equation, which goes beyond the limitations present in the life of this person. Even regular car rides, which a younger person takes for granted, is a grand adventure of thought in the life of a senior. I have one elderly woman when taken for a ride we pass a business which she finds intriguing. Coming from a background of family business this could represent her excitement of knowing how the world of business still operates.
Without her knowledge of knowing, we will stop this week at the place of business so she can view and understand that thirst she has for the operations inside. Her short-term memory is failing, in so it could be weeks before the visit moves from short term to long term and a memory planted. Though knowing will still reside with her in a different form
A client who still resides at home, yet with hours of being alone this week I took a doll and asked her to be the caretaker by approaching the exchange with letting her know I spend the little time at home and the doll is lacking attention. Knowing it is a doll, she has embraced what she calls the small creature with a new vigor in her own life. A companion she holds and talks to in the hours when no conversation exists in her life to exchange with others. As a small child this process of loving and nurturing the inanimate is seen as normal behavior, in senior years, this is seen as unneeded when exactly the opposite is true. I have yet to visit the home of a senior man who did not have a toy from his youth on a table or place of prominence and very proud of the memories it stored and possibly in those hours of being alone, once again provided the healing touch of a toy.
When the imagination in the life of a senior is no longer sparked, an atrophy of the spirit is more pronounced in their behavior. This atrophy ripples through the life experience they once had into the now life existence being resigned too. Thoughts of leaving this world become much stronger than thoughts of enjoying the world in which they reside. Until one strength completely overtakes the other and the greater desire of leaving is fulfilled.
Life is meant to be a stimulus to the imagination and not a separation of experience into existence. Everyone knows a senior or knows where they reside. Younger generations clear out toy boxes regularly and in doing so disperse of them from an imagination, which is found to have grown in the child to a new level. Next time you choose to discard the simple toys, the dolls, cars, trucks or inanimate figures from your home, offers them to a senior. If you have a senior in your life, don’t buy another nightgown, shirt of trinket which will be appreciated for the giving on your part but left unused, search your heart for a simple toy of the youth of this person which once ignited the imagination and nurturing they held and bring that joy of a time gone by back again.
Take them for a car ride, find a park in bloom, take them to a place where water once again reminds them of a time gone by of swimming, fishing, or picnic. Provide experience rather than needs found in retail to sustain appearance for another day. This is what they long for without asking, sparks who they are and was and brings joy in a time when joy seems to be a luxury. Give from the heart and soul your imaginative creation, which will be treasured. Scan the thrift shops for the unwanted and simple toys of days went by when no batteries were needed, when charging a toy was a vision of the future and when simple times brought lifelong endeavors in experience. Simple objects, which once stimulated and now heal a place you have yet to be.
When a child is young, toys are given to expand imagination, nurture needs, and support communication with another and the inner voice of desire taking form. Passions in life are enhanced by the choice of toys a child desires to fulfill a passion already innately within itself from infancy. In this time possibly more than all others, the toys chosen are building blocks in structuring a formation of growth. In times went by, toys were more limited, simple and nurtured and emotional body rather than a physical need to expand imagination with knowledge of what the future might hold.
Yet, as a child grows and becomes an adult the toys become either more limited or more materialistic in form to provide a sense of accomplishment in the gain. Much truth can be found in the phrase “a boy needs his toys” whereas with a girl; toys are replaced with nurturing through bearing and raising children or the choice of profession which the toys represented to herself in younger years.
When the aged in our society reach the time when toys can bring healing and reignite the nurturer from within, toys are seen as unneeded as they pass through the days of reflection in life largely along in their thoughts and habits which for many have regressed to the point of needed the toys which are no longer available or seen by a society as contributing to a life form of childhood again. Have you ever walked into a nursing or retirement home and seen a toy box? Yet a facility of individuals who could actually find healing in having a toy are seen lonesome and in despair in knowing life has more to offer and resigned still in that conscious spark within that says the days of playing freely in the imagination are now gone.
I operate a caregiver service to provide the bread and butter of life for monetary needs though with a passion for enhancing rather than accepting as a person ages limitations are the future of their lives. Whether it is treating feed through footbaths, stimulation conversation, or giving a simple toy to stimulate a mind, which lives in limitations I am going to find the equation, which goes beyond the limitations present in the life of this person. Even regular car rides, which a younger person takes for granted, is a grand adventure of thought in the life of a senior. I have one elderly woman when taken for a ride we pass a business which she finds intriguing. Coming from a background of family business this could represent her excitement of knowing how the world of business still operates.
Without her knowledge of knowing, we will stop this week at the place of business so she can view and understand that thirst she has for the operations inside. Her short-term memory is failing, in so it could be weeks before the visit moves from short term to long term and a memory planted. Though knowing will still reside with her in a different form
A client who still resides at home, yet with hours of being alone this week I took a doll and asked her to be the caretaker by approaching the exchange with letting her know I spend the little time at home and the doll is lacking attention. Knowing it is a doll, she has embraced what she calls the small creature with a new vigor in her own life. A companion she holds and talks to in the hours when no conversation exists in her life to exchange with others. As a small child this process of loving and nurturing the inanimate is seen as normal behavior, in senior years, this is seen as unneeded when exactly the opposite is true. I have yet to visit the home of a senior man who did not have a toy from his youth on a table or place of prominence and very proud of the memories it stored and possibly in those hours of being alone, once again provided the healing touch of a toy.
When the imagination in the life of a senior is no longer sparked, an atrophy of the spirit is more pronounced in their behavior. This atrophy ripples through the life experience they once had into the now life existence being resigned too. Thoughts of leaving this world become much stronger than thoughts of enjoying the world in which they reside. Until one strength completely overtakes the other and the greater desire of leaving is fulfilled.
Life is meant to be a stimulus to the imagination and not a separation of experience into existence. Everyone knows a senior or knows where they reside. Younger generations clear out toy boxes regularly and in doing so disperse of them from an imagination, which is found to have grown in the child to a new level. Next time you choose to discard the simple toys, the dolls, cars, trucks or inanimate figures from your home, offers them to a senior. If you have a senior in your life, don’t buy another nightgown, shirt of trinket which will be appreciated for the giving on your part but left unused, search your heart for a simple toy of the youth of this person which once ignited the imagination and nurturing they held and bring that joy of a time gone by back again.
Take them for a car ride, find a park in bloom, take them to a place where water once again reminds them of a time gone by of swimming, fishing, or picnic. Provide experience rather than needs found in retail to sustain appearance for another day. This is what they long for without asking, sparks who they are and was and brings joy in a time when joy seems to be a luxury. Give from the heart and soul your imaginative creation, which will be treasured. Scan the thrift shops for the unwanted and simple toys of days went by when no batteries were needed, when charging a toy was a vision of the future and when simple times brought lifelong endeavors in experience. Simple objects, which once stimulated and now heal a place you have yet to be.
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