> the culture/society is somehow representable by what toys it makes for it's kids. Can you give some examples? I've spent the last 7 years doing a lot of tra

> the culture/society is somehow representable by what toys it makes for it's kids. Can you give some examples? I've spent the last 7 years doing a lot of travelling around Asia, India, and Europe. I've observed quite the opposite, so I'm curious to know what you've seen that I've missed. Currently I live in Vietnam and I polled a couple of Vietnamese people who are sitting with me about what their children play with (it turned into a really interesting breakfast conversation, so thanks!). Their answers: Boys play with cars, water guns, toy soldiers, and such. Girls play with dolls, toy kitchens, toy houses. Both play with modeling clay, coloring pens etc. (or Lego if the parents are progressive). Boys role play as soldiers, girls as princesses. Both role play as things like shopkeepers. This also includes data from people's childhoods 30 year's ago so I don't think it's a sign of Westernization. The main difference over the past 30 years is more plastic (of course) and that many people are much richer now. The main difference I've seen is that electric bikes for older children/teens are very popular here (I think bikes are a tool rather than a toy though). This seems very similar to what children in Europe play with, and ties in with my observations in other countries. But of course, even a lifetime of travel would only give me insight into a fraction of cultures so more info is welcome. The big exception is in remote areas in the countryside where people are very poor and can't afford many toys.