有些成年人似乎永遠也長不大。來看看為什麼有些人喜歡在業餘時間做看似隻有在孩童時代才會做的事情，如制作飛機模型、搭建積木套裝。有證據表明，這些人其實有充分的理由癡迷於這類愛好。玩兒時的玩具是否說明我們在尋找內心的那個 “大小孩”？聽 “隨身英語” 節目討論以玩玩具為興趣愛好的成年人。
詞匯：play 玩耍
We all know children love to play with toys. But as they approach adulthood, they stop being playful and concentrate on grown-up things – or so we believe. However, in recent times at least, adults are revisiting their childhood and buying toys for themselves – and they’ve been given the nickname ‘kidults‘.
There are many reasons for the rise of the kidult, but it’s certainly big business. In the USA for example, the Toy Association says that over half of adults bought toys and games for themselves last year. Nostalgia is part of the reason: people want to relive their childhood and now have the disposable income to do so. Puzzles and board games are traditional toys that can be enjoyed at any age.
But there’s more to being a big kid than just taking a trip down memory lane. People have more time to let their hair down and play. Hobbies such as modelling and construction with plastic bricks can help people develop skills into adulthood. And they allow people to switch off and relax. In fact, Frederique Tutt, global industry analyst at NPD, told the AYYBLOG: “I’d say much of this is providing an escape from the stresses and strains of modern-day living, fulfilling our need to find downtime.”
Some people are even finding comfort and camaraderie by playing with others. Although competing with others through video gaming might be nothing new, others are coming together to build train sets or sophisticated models. In Brighton in the UK, for example, Brighton Bricks is a club where adult fans of the toy Lego meet up every month to talk, play and swap collections.
But those who think playing with toys is childish and immature should take note of the research by René Proyer, professor of psychology at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in Germany. It suggests that adults who demonstrate more playful personality traits are more motivated, creative and spontaneous. So, it seems life shouldn’t be all work and no play, and maybe we should take play more seriously!
詞匯表
toy 玩具
adulthood 成年
childhood 童年
kidult 童心未泯的成年人，大小孩
nostalgia 懷舊
puzzle 智力遊戲，謎
board game 棋盤遊戲或玩具
big kid 大孩子
a trip down memory lane 追憶往昔
let someone’s hair down 某人徹底放松、盡情享受
hobby 業餘愛好
modelling 制作模型（玩具車、裝飾擺件等）
construction 組裝物體（積木套裝等）
downtime 休息時間
camaraderie 友情
video gaming 玩電子遊戲
train set 成套火車（玩具）
collection 收藏品
immature 不成熟的，幼稚的
playful 愛玩的，有趣的
spontaneous 隨性的
all work and no play 隻工作不放松
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. What are the reasons mentioned in the article that adults are buying more toys for themselves?
2. How might playing with toys as an adult help you?
3. What might be the benefits of playing with other adults?
4. True or false? Research by René Proyer suggests that being playful makes you more creative.
5. Is there an age limit to enjoying puzzles and board games?
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. My _______ include painting, acting and singing.
collections puzzles hobbies downtime
2. You need to _______ and come to the party. It’ll be fun!
let your hair drop let my hair down
let your hairs down let your hair down
3. He’s such a _______ – he still takes his teddy bear to bed at night!
immature childhood spontaneous big kid
4. When I get some _______, I like to have a go at doing a jigsaw puzzle.
collections downtime nostalgia construction
5. Shall we _______ and get out the old dolls you used to play with out of the cupboard?
take a trip down memory lane take a voyage down memory lane
take a trip up memory lane have journeys down memory lane
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. What are the reasons mentioned in the article that adults are buying more toys for themselves?
Many adults have more disposable income and more leisure time.
2. How might playing with toys as an adult help you?
It helps you to develop new skills and relax and switch off. And as Frederique Tutt said, it can provide an escape from the stresses and strains of modern-day living.
3. What might be the benefits of playing with other adults?
Playing with others can give you comfort and camaraderie.
4. True or false? Research by René Proyer suggests that being playful makes you more creative.
True. Her research suggests that adults who demonstrate more playful personality traits are more motivated, creative and spontaneous.
5. Is there an age limit to enjoying puzzles and board games?
No. Puzzles and board games are traditional toys that can be enjoyed at any age.
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. My hobbies include painting, acting and singing.
2. You need to let your hair down and come to the party. It’ll be fun!
3. He’s such a big kid – he still takes his teddy bear to bed at night!
4. When I get some downtime, I like to have a go at doing a jigsaw puzzle.
5. Shall we take a trip down memory lane and get out the old dolls you used to play with out of the cupboard?
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