SET- IELTS Speaking Part 3 by Martin: Children’s toys

1) Do you think it’s important for boys to play with “boys’ toys” and
for girls to only play with “girls’ toys”?

Well, since I have a pretty traditional way of thinking, I would say
that boys should only play with “boys’ toys” and girls with “girls’ toys”. If I
had a boy, I would encourage him to play with toy cars or robots because I
believe that’s how it should be. In fact, I would feel very uncomfortable if my
boy played with Barbie dolls!

2) Is it good if parents only buy “educational” toys for their children?

I think it is OK for parents to buy “educational” toys, but they
shouldn’t be the only kind of toys children play with. It is understandable
that all parents want their children to learn new things all the time, but I
think it is also important to give children their own time to relax by playing
with toys they choose. Even when playing with action figures like Superman or
Ironman, children can have fun by making up their own stories or games, which I
think is essential to any kid’s growth as it helps to develop their creativity
and imagination.

3) Are there any differences between toys in the past and toys today?

Yes, definitely. Toys in the past were not as sophisticated or detailed
as the ones we find today. With the help of technology, I think toy makers
today are able to produce more realistic toys that can look almost identical to
the characters from movies or cartoons. For example, I remember having 1 or 2
Transformers as a kid; although they were able to convert from a car to a robot
like in the cartoons, they didn’t look very real. But now, the Transformers
toys look much better, are with higher quality, and come with more features to
give children a more realistic feel when playing with them.

4) What are the advantages and disadvantages of playing with toys?

On the one hand, toys can be quite beneficial to children because they
allow children to relax and have fun after school. Playing with toys also
encourages children to use their imagination and creativity as they tend to
invent their own rules and games. On the other hand, toys could be a big
distraction and children may become addicted to them. Addiction to toys can
lead to poor grades at school and may have a negative impact on children’s
overall education.