OLD FASHIONED MAGIC MARKERS
My son and his friend were racing matchbox cars and playing with playdough and doing other 4-year-old boy things at our home, like making up rules to pretend games as they go-
“Let’s drive to vacation.”
“Okay… let’s stop for gas.”
“We don’t need to.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s pretend.”
“Ohhh… yeah, okay.”
Makes since, doesn’t it? And I have learned from my husband not to question these ‘rules’ because boys make them throughout their lives.
Then they were winding down and wanted to make maps (to drive on, of course). So I covered my coffee table (don’t worry- it’s very old and wooden) with paper and got out Magic Markers, crayons and colored pencils.
I asked my son’s friend if he wanted a Magic Marker and he stopped. Then with a glimmer in his eye and a little hesitation he asked, and I quote,
“How are they magic?”
I quickly explained to him that they aren’t magic, that’s just their name.
He was a little disappointed so I stammered how creating roads and coloring was creative and magical in a way… forget it, I had lost him, he wasn’t buying it. My son has always accepted the term because I use it. So they were both unimpressed, and went back to drawing roads.
But that got me thinking. Am I dating myself? Is ‘Magic Marker’ an old-fashioned term? Am I completely ‘old school’ and un-hip?
Wikipedia says that markers, also known as ‘Magic Markers’ were invented by Sidney Rosenthal from Richmond Hill, NY in 1952. ‘Magic Markers’ is now considered a genericized trademark, like saying Kleenex for all tissue or Chapstick for all lip balm.
Magic Marker is largely used in the US and Canada…
But I mentioned my ‘magic marker’ thoughts to a few mom friends and one from California said she had never used the term growing up.
Is this regional?
I know this isn’t rocket science or asking to comment on global warming BUT-
Am I the only mom who still refers to any markers as ‘magic markers’?
Or am I still just a novice; my eldest and only is 4, so I’m a pro about 4-year-old (boy) toys, but anything for kids older than four- I truly am not up on.
(ASIDE: I have heard of Hanna Montana and High School Musical and know they are HUGE, so I’m not completely in the dark.)
But good old Magic Markers… are they so… last century?
Everything moves so fast nowadays. Everything seems to become obsolete so quickly. The newest version of this, the latest version of that. Everything is BIGGER, and better, and ‘new and improved’. Is there some new line of Fabulously Fine and INCREDIBLY BETTER markers or pencils?
One more thing – Is there a new name for crayons that I just don’t know about ?!
An abbreviated version of this can be found at DC Metro Moms Blog.
Comments
4 Comments on OLD FASHIONED MAGIC MARKERS
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Robin on
Wed, 16th Apr 2008 12:40 pm
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Deb (Missives From Suburbia) on
Thu, 17th Apr 2008 6:36 pm
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Catherine on
Fri, 18th Apr 2008 3:33 pm
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Megan on
Thu, 1st May 2008 7:34 am
I like the new look!
I was told markers are magic because they are washable, but that only applies for washable magic markers.
LOL… I love the “boys make up rules” bit.
I have to admit I grew up calling them markers. Maybe it is a regional thing? After all, I’m pretty old, and I’d be shocked if you’re older than I am.
Found you on BlogHer. I’m really enjoying what I’ve read so far.
Hmm. I call them “markers” but I know them as “Magic Markers” – I didn’t skip a beat when you called them that.
But, I’m still trying to get over the move from “PlayPen” to “Pack-N-Play.” Why?
lol. I call them magic markers too.
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