When Should We Break Tradition?

A Child's Toy

After reading Tamara’s blog and reflecting on ‘when should we break traditions’, I started researching and pondering on different traditional learning/teaching approaches and how generations have learned from them.  I reflected on a child’s toy that was created by an adult.  I learned from this toy, my children, and now my grandchildren have. 

Reflective Practice

Reflective practice, or practice-based learning, as it is sometimes called is learning that is acquired through reflection on or in practice (experience). The “practice” arena is most often thought of as whatever job or field we work in and thus there is much emphasis on reflecting and improving our practice.I believe this practice is what the Hasbro Company has used.

Trend Changes

The MR. POTATO HEAD character hit the U.S. market in 1952 when he became the first toy ever advertised on television, paving the way for millions of other toy commercials in the six decades since.  Key moments in MR. POTATO HEAD character's history since its launch reflect trends at that time, for example:

•When antismoking campaigns were raising awareness in 1987, MR. POTATO HEAD surrenderedhis signature pipe and became the official "spokespud" for the American Cancer Society's annualGreat American Smokeout campaign.

•Americans started to pay more attention to their waistlines and MR. POTATO HEAD gave up his "couch potato" status, receiving a Presidential Sports Award from the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in 1992.

•As "tweets" and "likes" became part of our vernacular, MR. POTATO HEAD became one of Hasbro's first brands with a Facebook page and gave fans across the world the chance to communicate with the character through social media (2012).

Tradition - 1952

Innovation 2015

References

Hasbro's Iconic MR. POTATO HEAD Character Celebrates 60th Birthday. (2012, February 14). Retrieved March 1, 2015, from http://investor.hasbro.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=648475

HASBRO MR. AND MRS. POTATO HEAD COMMERCIAL. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBGxCJQkNUc

Hasbro Playskool Mr Potato Head Optimash Prime Review - New Transformers Toys 2014-2015. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tef7LyTMQFU

Merriam, S., & Bierema, L. (2014). Experience and Learning. In Adult learning: Linking theory and practice (1st ed.). San Franciso, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Mrs Potato Head Party Spudette and Mr Potato Head Tater Tub of Toy Story Movie. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-7oEaaSGrg