YOUNGSTOWN - Gwyneth Carlson, 10, said it feels good to destroy toys.
Stuffed animals, dolls and other toys were ripped apart for fun on Thursday during a toy deconstruction event at OH WOW! The Roger and Gloria Jones Children's Center for Science and Technology.
The event was held as part of the second-annual Y-Town Tech Tour in downtown Youngstown.
Article Photos
Tribune Chronicle photos / Bonnie HazenMaggie Carlson, 6, takes a toy apart during the toy deconstruction exhibit Thursday at OH WOW! The Roger and Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science and Technology in Youngstown. Children could see how toys worked and rebuild them.
"They were pretty eager to rip them apart. I think it was harder for me to watch," said education manager Audra Carlson, who was assisting participants in the toy deconstruction, along with other staff members and volunteers who provided most of the toys.
Some children brought toys from home, including an XBox controller, a Magic 8 Ball, a Barbie doll and a stuffed animal. Most of the toys were simply taken apart to see the inner workings, Carlson said. Some children chose to put their toys back together - though maybe with parts pilfered from other disassembled toys.
An exhibit located downstairs displayed the insides of numerous toys, and children were able to see the gears, levers, circuits, pulleys and other mechanisms that power toys.
Katie Brake of Tennessee, formerly of McDonald, brought her family to the event and smiled as she watched her son, Duncan, 2, interact with the toy exhibit.
"He is loving everything," she said. "We were at the Lego table for about 15 minutes. We had to pull him away from it."
Bailey Ruby, 9, whose mother works at the center, said she likes to take toys apart at home. She said she doesn't feel bad taking her dolls apart, but some of her favorite dolls - Monster High - she won't tinker with. Certain stuffed animals also are off limits.
The free Tech Tour was a collaborative event by the Youngstown Business Incubator, Youngstown State University College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and OH WOW! designed to introduce guests to new STEM facilities and research as well as technology career opportunities in Youngstown.
Tours of the business incubator were given, and several guest speakers were on hand to discuss jobs available in Youngstown in the computer science and information systems field.
YSU's College of STEM dean Martin Abraham spoke about the college's new doctorate program in materials science and engineering.
Carlson said this year's toy exhibit was a prototype for a different endeavor, and the center hopes to make it available in the near future.
Carlson said the traveling toy exhibit will be available for visitors through Jan. 15 and is included with regular admission.