Let’s Do It Again!
By Carol Redman McGinnis, TCA #HE95-41066 Spring 2025 e*Train
As adults, we still ask each other “What can I do?” And when it comes to our children and grandchildren, there’s even greater attention on getting fresh ideas and activities. You have some extra time, your children or grandchildren have some extra time, you are looking for something to do, you name it!
So, what if there’s an answer to this question that can also encompass our life-long passion?
Acquiring, operating, and collecting toy trains captures several worthwhile encouragements. Concentration, Focus, Redirecting, Attention, Consideration, Thinking, and more.
In addition, subject knowledge like Reading, Geography, Construction, Locomotion, Electrical, Photography, and more, become exciting! OK, shall I go on?
A study, done in September 2023, declares that “the importance of the structured, realistic, and familiar nature of toy trains (are) important for facilitating pretend play as well as social collaboration behaviors during social play. (While) findings concerning gender-stereotyped preferences for playing with toy trains were mixed and no gender differences were found in research investigating play styles, … children were found to have a preference for toy trains. These findings are important given that certain play styles, pretend play in particular, have been associated with benefits in children’s executive function, language, creativity, and social understanding.” https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10606922/.
The article goes on to explain that child’s play is essential, and I might argue that as we grow this need for play does not diminish. It can fade, and it can be overcome by work, romance, and travel, but it should not diminish. As an adult, we need to be able to get away for a while, to renew that feeling of adventure and inquisitiveness that leads to an achievement. As toys, trains are described as providing structure and realism. Who doesn’t need more of that?
Toys are meant to be played with by children. They are marketed to kids, and they expand their horizons. Train are also scaled and marketed for adults. A friend of mine recently paid $600 for a beautiful scale HO engine and tender. Not a lot of parents would be able to understand that skills are learned, that we take for granted. Organization, building, construction, design, social interaction and communication. And skills from these subjects can be put into hands-on practice. It can be done inside or outside, which provides activities during all kinds of weather.
There are multiple areas where anyone can DIY or DIWF. Yes, that’s a new acronym! Any guesses? DIWF is Do It With a Friend!
The beauty of trains is that they are constantly growing. Arduino systems, programming, DCC (Digital Command Control), LCS (Layout Control System), Fast Track, Flex Track, airbrush techniques, and on and on. The challenge is to incorporate all this technology into layouts and displays.
Kids these days are taking STEM classes and they are fascinating! (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) STEM programs blend with trains. There are STEM trains available at https://toysandstem.com/categories/train/. This site covers ages 18 months to 6 years old. It encourages working with kids to learn colors, geometric shapes, architectural design, counting, matching, imagination, fine motor, and coordination.
Take a look at the photo of the layout above and below. You can see that while it is unassuming, it is also intricate. There are multiple tracks, stations, water towers, houses, rail yards, and more. It’s a fascinating microcosm of what can be created.
You’re the perfect person to play with and share your knowledge of toy/model trains! Let’s do it again!
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