I wonder if that "missing childhood experience" is something that is studied. OK I just Googled and found nothing. But I felt you when you talked about the doll house. As a child I really wanted one and thought about getting one as an adult as a collectible, but then I thought I would just look at it because I'm not going to play with it and fulfill the childhood dream of "playing house". I've also heard friends talk the same way about never having a bday party, or a bday cake. I felt the same way about not seeing my image in books and that's why I wrote one and am continuing to as an adult. So I think it's important that a child experiences things that are traditional, even if parents aren't to fussy about it, so their childhood would be complete. I love this doll house btw, even with the wonky legs. The chairs are super cute.
What's nice about being an adult is that you can revisit some of these things. I was a Barbie fiend and definitely had a ton of Barbie things, so when I buy toys, it's like revisting a happy part of my childhood. Am I playing with the dollhouse? Not exactly. But it sits in front of me while I'm working and I smile when I look at it.
I'll also add that I'm an organizational psychologist, and I did a study about hobbies, and there is a direct correlation in how it improves self-care and self-efficacy in adults. It also increases adult learning.
I wonder if that "missing childhood experience" is something that is studied. OK I just Googled and found nothing. But I felt you when you talked about the doll house. As a child I really wanted one and thought about getting one as an adult as a collectible, but then I thought I would just look at it because I'm not going to play with it and fulfill the childhood dream of "playing house". I've also heard friends talk the same way about never having a bday party, or a bday cake. I felt the same way about not seeing my image in books and that's why I wrote one and am continuing to as an adult. So I think it's important that a child experiences things that are traditional, even if parents aren't to fussy about it, so their childhood would be complete. I love this doll house btw, even with the wonky legs. The chairs are super cute.
What's nice about being an adult is that you can revisit some of these things. I was a Barbie fiend and definitely had a ton of Barbie things, so when I buy toys, it's like revisting a happy part of my childhood. Am I playing with the dollhouse? Not exactly. But it sits in front of me while I'm working and I smile when I look at it.
I'll also add that I'm an organizational psychologist, and I did a study about hobbies, and there is a direct correlation in how it improves self-care and self-efficacy in adults. It also increases adult learning.