Pro tip: Pulled my old model train set from storage and got two strong opinions

My kids found my HO scale trains in a box and we set it up last weekend. I still think watching the little locomotives chug around the tracks is pretty cool and relaxing. But my teenager says it's boring compared to video games and that nothing really happens. It made me wonder if the hands-on, build-it-yourself fun of older toys is lost now. On the other hand, maybe some toys just don't keep up with faster-paced entertainment. What do you all think, do classic hobby toys like this still hold your interest, or do they feel dated?

3 comments

3 Comments

kevin1792mo ago

My son loved my old trains once I tied them to racing games.

jones.blake2mo ago

Actually, model trains have a charm that video games can't match. There's something real about setting up the tracks and watching the trains run. It's slower than video games, but that lets you slow down and focus. I find it more fun to build something with my hands than just pressing buttons. Your teen might enjoy it more once they see the detail involved.

hayden_black291mo ago

Honestly, you gotta get them involved in the BUILDING part. Let your teen design a track layout on the floor, make a little town, that kind of thing. It stops being a boring show and starts being THEIR project. My nephew was the same way until he got to crash the trains on purpose, then he was hooked on setting it all back up again. The magic is in making something real happen with your own hands, not just watching a screen.