Are we rediscovering our inner child, or profiting out of play?
Maybe a little of both, according to experts.
The adult coloring book craze took the world by storm last year, and continues to be a bright light in the papers book section – this is one activity you cannot do on a Kindle.
But this season, the toy to get the executive in your life is the based spinning top, which comes in a range of prices and metals, including tops plated in 24 karat gold.
Canadian manufacturer ‘Foreverspin’ have a range of sleekly minimalist tops starting at $38 for a mirrored spinner and ending at the high-end Tungsten, at $195. They also market a base for better spins, and a neat holder in which you can rack up your collectible tops. Their slick website proclaims the benefits of tops for mindfulness, and minimal, attractive design; their tops are identical in shape, varying only in weight, finish and metal content. They point out that they can also function as a desk ornament.
But is this the dreidel you really want for Hanukkah? The top gift this Christmas? It’s certainly aimed at a male market, with the attractive rose-gold plated top subtly suggested for ‘your partner’.
Quality is everything. The tops have a serial number stamped on each one and it is clear that the manufacturers want to aim at a ‘collectible’ vibe for their product. Men may have preferred spinning toys as children; they are hypnotic. Some therapists think that spinning tops, with their smooth, repetitive motion, may also calm kids and teens on the autistic spectrum. Just as men – normal and autistic – may prefer train sets, with their smooth, routine and repetitive motion, there may be part of that going on in the fascination with adult spinning tops.
Women are certainly not discouraged by the sleek simplicity of the new craze. There may be a sense of relief at buying something your man can use and enjoy; women often feel at a loss when it comes to gifts for the man in your life.
Here’s a two minute video of a Foreverspin top on the go. If you want to buy one, grab your own right here:
