Speaking gag toy seriously11/7/2023 ![]() ![]() Bergen has authored or edited more than a dozen books, including her most recent, The Handbook of Developmentally Appropriate Toys, which was published in March 2021.īarry Kudrowitz, PhD: Thanks for having me. She has studied play and humor in early and middle childhood, the effects of technology-enhanced toys, and cross-cultural considerations in play, among many other topics. Over her long academic career, she has explored the many ways that play is crucial to children's development. Bergen began her career as a pre-kindergarten and elementary school teacher. ![]() Doris Bergen, a distinguished professor emerita of educational psychology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Highlights of his work include the Catsup Crapper, an anthropomorphic roller skating ketchup bottle that he designed as a grad student, and the Nerf Atom Blaster, a Nerf toy sold by Hasbro more than five years. In addition to his academic career, he's also a toy designer. And he has studied how play can fuel creativity and innovation. ![]() Kudrowitz has a PhD in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied creativity, humor, and idea generation. Barry Kudrowitz, an associate professor and director of product design at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where he teaches classes in toy product design. Welcome to Speaking of Psychology, the flagship podcast of the American Psychological Association that examines the links between psychological science and everyday life. Play is how kids stretch their brains and develop crucial cognitive, social, and other skills, and toys are a fundamental part of play time.īut what makes something a good toy? Indeed, what makes something a toy at all? Why do some toys stand the test of time while others are just a one-season wonder? What's the difference between fun and educational toys? Why do we assign gender appropriateness to some toys and not to others? How do kids’ toy preferences change as they age and how has technology changed what toys are and the way kids play with toys? Researchers have long known that children learn best through play. From Pop-Its to Pokemon, from Squishmallows to LEGOs-toys might seem frivolous, but to psychologists, they're a subject for serious study. It's that time of the year, when parents and other caregivers race to find the hottest toys and stock up on classic favorites. Speaking of Psychology will be back with new episodes in January. We hope you enjoy this episode from the archives. In December 2021, I talked to psychologist Doris Bergen and toy designer Barry Kudrowitz about what makes for a great toy, what makes some toys stand the test of time, and the importance of play for both children and adults. Kim Mills: Speaking of Psychology is taking a winter break, so we’re rerunning some of our favorite episodes from the past. She is a Miami University Distinguished Scholar, having published more than 70 book chapters and journal articles, and 13 books, including her most recent The Handbook of Developmentally Appropriate Toys (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021). Her research interests have included international evaluation of cross-cultural programs for young children, development of play and humor in early and middle childhood, effects of technology-augmented toys, adult memories of their childhood play, gifted children’s humor development, social interactions of children with special needs, effects of early phonological awareness levels on later reading ability, and developmental effects of international adoptions. He is also the associate editor of the Journal of Food Design.ĭoris Bergen, PhD, is a distinguished professor emerita in the Department of Educational Psychology at Miami University in Ohio. Kudrowitz co-designed a Nerf toy, an elevator simulator that is in operation at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., and a ketchup-dispensing robot that was featured on the Martha Stewart Show. He has years of experience working with the toy industry and has taught toy design for over a decade. Kudrowitz is interested in how creativity is perceived, evaluated and learned. He received his PhD from the mechanical engineering department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), studying humor, creativity, and idea generation. Barry Kudrowitz, PhD, is an associate professor and director of product design at the University of Minnesota. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |