It’s all fun and oh-so-dangerous games

Some sad news to start with this week. Toys “R” Us just closed the last of its U.S. stores.

Now, it’s not all sad news. Here in Canada, we don’t have to worry. Our 82 Toys “R” Us stores are doing just fine and will remain open.

I’m happy for us because I have great memories of Toys “R” Us ... first, as a wideeyed child feeling like I was in Santa’s workshop.

Later, I was the parent taking my own little girls to Toys “R” Us to pick out a special treat, browse for Christmas wishes or pick out birthday presents for friends.

And, later still, I was that grown man perusing the aisles for action figures while literally, physically feeling the judgment of all the moms and dads trying to determine whether I was a creep or merely a geek. I hoped the Legolas and Gandalf figures in my shopping cart were proof enough that I am, indeed, merely a geek.

Toys “R” Us has been an important part of our lives because playing is an important part of our lives. Playing allows kids to explore, to develop strength and coordination, and to build confidence.

As parents, we explain these benefits, but we aren’t always so eloquent. We want to say, “Go outside and explore and build some confidence,” but it comes out as, “Put the phone down and get outside and play, Erica, or I swear I will take the flat screen off your bedroom wall for a week!”

Us parents have a hard time comprehending why our kids are content to sit inside and stare at screens when they could be like we were and go outside and whip crab apples at each other.

We have to be careful though. Those of us who fondly remember playing outside and running the neighbourhood with no supervision from morning until the street lights came on tend to forget the very real risks and dangers we somehow survived.

Take “lawn darts” for example. Here’s a toy that I had as a kid that would never be sold today because lawn darts are actual deadly projectiles that could very easily pierce a human skull.

Used properly, lawn darts were to be pitched underhand and aimed at a small hoop on the ground about 10 feet away. Lawn darts, used as directed, were boring. So, we would have lawn dart hoops spread two, three or four lawns away and we would chuck the darts overhand to try to reach the target. In our hands, these things were deadlier than a lot of medieval weapons.

I never admitted to improper lawn dart use but one day, I was busted. I got one of those chilling, palm-sweat-inducing calls from my parents. They asked where the lawn darts were. They asked if I had been using them improperly. I lied right to their face. We always play safe. Underhand tosses only.

Then they took me out and pointed up the neighbour’s poplar tree. I’m talking way up. Like 30 feet. There was one of my red lawn darts. It stuck there on one awesomely powerful throw. I hoped no one would notice.

My lawn darts were confiscated. It’s a wonder no one was hurt or worse. Years later, the lawn dart finally dislodged and fell all 30 feet to the ground, weighted, pointy end first. It’s a wonder no one was hurt or worse.

I’m telling this story because even though there were many times that playing was dangerous in my life — climbing trees, building ramps so we could jump our bikes like Evel Knievel and, yes, hurling projectiles across the neighbourhood — playing remains a critical part of our development.

Sure, you’ll never get a lawn dart in the skull while playing “Fortnite” and sure, getting pinged by a marble fired from a toy slingshot hurts more than “Chat Snapping” or “Snapchatting.” But playing with toys and playing outside taught us things we’d never otherwise learn.

Confidence. Dexterity. Problem solving. And that yes, you really can put an eye out with that thing.