My Fascination with Battery-operated Toys

I have this fascination with battery-operated toys. I can still remember that my first toy was also battery-operated at age of 4. Girls at that age were always attracted to dolls or stuffed-toys, but not me. It think one of the reasons why I took fascination for them until now is because of curioisty of how do they work. And also I think it is impossible to ignore how innovative and creative toy companies get when it comes to designing toys. The way they plan the functions, features and even how they put the battery compartments and hide the screws were very impressive. Months ago, I watched a Youtube video featuring a toy designer working in SEGA and I was so amazed at how they were detailed oriented when it comes to planning and how it will be safe and attractive to their target market.

I grew up in the 90's with lots of battery operated toys for all gender. I can't forget the talking stuffed toys, Baby All-Gone (now Baby Alive), and toy robots. I began to try opening my battery operated toys when I was in elementary just to unravel the secrets of how they were able to move and make sounds. Unfortunately, most were failed attempts of putting them back in one piece. I was then given a tool box of screwdrivers and pliers when I was 9 and that's how I was able to discover some of the mysteries . I admit that at first I broke a lot more of my toys. But errors taught me how wires work and how to solve a few problems with the control buttons. There was no turning back. As I grew older, I found myself restoring my old toys and collecting parts that can be used for the next repairs.

When there's no old toys to revive, I then started to buy cheap battery operated toys connected to what I collect such as magical girl compacts and wands. These toys were usually the ones that buyers don't buy because of the condition. Surprisingly, some sellers just give it for free. Repairing them is a stress reliever for me because it was like piecing together a puzzle. It's also thrilling to find out if I will be able to give it a second life. Making them look and work like they used to be brings me joy.

Now that I have more tools to use and there's a lot of video repair guides in Youtube, I think my fascination with this kind of toys will unlikely die soon. This also opens a new goal of learning more on how to repair things be it battery-operated or anything that has mechanisms.