How should we get more kids involved in model railroading?

[Anonymous]

Although I am new to the forum/hobby, like many of the people here, I think the key is getting children interested while they are young and having parents keep the interest. Advertising by the companies is of course a help, and what we've seen recently by Lionel is a great start. But it still comes down to the parents who will be purchasing the trains themselves.

CNW1995 hit on exactly what I was thinking as a starting point, Thomas and Friends, and other wooden trains. I think my situation is a perfect example for this, because it got my daughter as well as me into the hobby.

My daughter first played with a Thomas wooden set at my aunts, with her cousins when she was only 2. She really had fun with it, despite my aunt thinking it was more of a "boys" toy, which is clearly untrue. So my wife and I decided to get her a Thomas set that Christmas, and some extra cars. She loves it to this day. Since then we've added several cars and buildings, and a table to play on. Every holiday, she gets more cars by either us or relatives.

This is what fueled my interest as well, because I enjoyed playing with her. It began by my thinking how I always thought Lionel trains were cool but never thought much else about it when I was growing up. Fast forward some years to my daughter getting her THomas set. Next thing you know I am taking her to Toys R Us or Barnes and Noble to play with their displays. That leads to taking her to see Thomas himself and go for a ride. Then I just took her on other local steam train rides, lastly of which was the North Pole Express. Lately Ive taken her to a couple of hobby stores and train shows to see the displays. Both of us enjoy it.

So then my wife bought me the Lionel Christmas set, and I have no problem letting my daughter run it, or add/remove cars to the track. I love letting her play with it with me. I'm confident this interest will continue for years.

All of this just proves to me that parental involvement is the key to getting kids interested in trains. There are plenty of toys to start them out, its up to us to continue it. Just my opinion.

[tmcc man]

Alex, first of all welcome to the forum. Toys for Tots is a program that provides under privileged kids with toys because they cannot afford them. I don't know if this is politically correct, but they can't afford what we have, or even a small amont of what we are lucky to have. Trains might not be a good idea because of the cost. 

I'm not aiming to be rude, this is just my perspective.

If we get them trains it dosent mean they need to buy more, I think theyed apprecate if they got a set.  If they cant affored more at least they have somthing.

Well, if the family is having trouble with support, such as food and other life sustaining supplies, how would they support a train. They couldn't do it.

I know they would appreciate it, but I think the cost is still too large.

[cnw1995]

In my opinion and personal experience (admitting this is a broad generalization) children love toy trains when they are ages where they also love Thomas the Tank engine and Brio-like wooden trains. They love the spectacle - so visits to a layout or open house are special. They may still love playing with dad or G'pa when older - or helping to build a layout. But unless their elders are into toy trains, they'll lose touch as they enter pre-teen years. And we can't really reach them - their leisure activities of choice - computer and video games, the Internet, DVDs and CDs, even watching TV are far more compelling. Then they're lost. And the only way to get them back is as adults in relatively stable cycles of life - with job, family, home, etc. when they have the time or inclination for a hobby...

[alexweiihman]

Alex, first of all welcome to the forum. Toys for Tots is a program that provides under privileged kids with toys because they cannot afford them. I don't know if this is politically correct, but they can't afford what we have, or even a small amont of what we are lucky to have. Trains might not be a good idea because of the cost. 

I'm not aiming to be rude, this is just my perspective.

If we get them trains it dosent mean they need to buy more, I think theyed apprecate if they got a set.  If they cant affored more at least they have somthing.

[Anonymous]

I think the best way is to have parents/friends and others provide a means for young (and old) to get into the hobby.  It's strange, but I'm 40 now and remember my dad having HO scale.  My brother then built a HO layout.  We both dropped out for quite a few years.  My auncle got into O gauge which peaked my interest just 3 years ago.  The interest must be cultivated somehow - at least for me it was others helping me get into it.

Later,

Dan 

[tmcc man]

Alex, first of all welcome to the forum. Toys for Tots is a program that provides under privileged kids with toys because they cannot afford them. I don't know if this is politically correct, but they can't afford what we have, or even a small amont of what we are lucky to have. Trains might not be a good idea because of the cost. 

I'm not aiming to be rude, this is just my perspective.

[spankybird]

Train displays at public places always bring out kids. I am always suprized at how many kids come  to the museum to see and run our trians. Many times they spend hours there.

Here are  some pics from our last openhouse which had over 1,000 visitors.

Note that the young man on the left has a DCC controler in his hand and is running one of the trains.

and sometimes  it's just too much for them

 

[alexweiihman]

every model railroader should donate a ready to run set to toys for tots to turn on a new generation of model railroaders, we should then have the manufacturers match half of the number of sets with there own products.

[brianel027]

I have talked abouit this topic MANY times. I think of the two forums (CTT and OGR) I am without question the strongest promoter for seeing kids involved in the hobby and one of the most outspoken critics of the lopsided leanings of train products towards the scale-side and expensive end.

I've backed my words with action and for the better part of a decade had a portable display which I took to shows where kids were welcomed. No barrier, no rope, and no kid left without getting to run the trains... no command no less!

 I will ARGUE with anyone and everyone if need be, because I have seen it myself.... kids ARE STILL interested in trains and tradtional control IS NOT too boring! Command control IS NOT an issue for young families nor is it a concern. I have talked to thousands of parents so I KNOW THIS and unfortunatly for some, I am absolutely right if anyone cares to listen.

There are other circumstances at play here which I have also mentioned many times in the past. Laz brings up another good one of parental involvement. Most child development experts will tell you the kids don't want mindless junk or more stuff.... they want you (the parent).

I had a "nephew" who bugged me for video games. I said "nothing doing... you get enough of that stuff from your friends, and I take you to the arcade when we are out. But I will get you a train set." He grumbled a little until I told him HE was building it.... not me (I wanted him to have a sense of appreciation for what goes into a layout). And then he got REAL INTO IT. He like using power tools and liked playing a major part in the design of HIS layout. He took tremendous pride in it and shows it off to everyone, telling them about HIS ideas!!

The problem today (one of them) is that the layouts are build by dad, for dad. MOst of us had layouts as kids built by dad for US. Kids today (some kids, that is) have to ask to run the trains on dad's layout. And those trains aren't as durable as they once were... I'd love to watch an Atlas scale diesel take a dive to the floor and see if it holds up as well as my own childhood Lionel engine.

Then there's the elitist attitude that non-scale trains are no good. And that you can't ever possibly enjoy running trains unless you have both DCS and TMCC.... what a crock of crap. For 90 years we had fun running trains without these options, and now all of a sudden, those 90 years do not exist anymore. Nonsense.

And for far too many years, these trains were all viewed as being potential VanGogh paintings. Another crock of nonsense, which has hurt the hobby in a big way more than helped it. Lionel enjoyed the view that these trains were all potential collectibles because they sold 3 of everything to the die-hard collectors. If I'd been running Lionel, I would have rather sold more trains to MORE people than more trains to fewer people. That was a big mistake in Lionel's marketing.

We adults already have plenty of trains. And the importers will continue to make detailed scale ones (despite the thinking of some) to please them. It's amazing how many educated people are in the hobby and how many people fail to understand the massive costs of bringing these new scale products to market. Read OGR... they're still asking the companies to lose more money on more odd-ball scale items that can not pay for themselves. And that's hurt the hobby too, because the 027 traditonal buyer is making welfare payments towards the high end everytime you buy something. Prices on long tooled up 027 items could and can be MUCH lower, but revenues are needed to pay for many scale items that actually lose money. But the high prices on beginner products also help to defeat the purpose of them.

I say make scale products, but let those who want them really pay for them. Set the prices so that those products pay for themselves..... and you thought the prices on these things were high now!!!!

This effort needs to come from the top, and they need to focus on this direction in a very big way. I think Jerry Calabrese of Lionel knows this and is doing what he can to change things. But it's also going to take change from the hobbiests and the clubs like the TCA too.

[ChiefEagles]

WHAT!!!!  The advice was not for you. Your name was mentioned as an advisor to him.

[RR Redneck]

[RRRedneck].  Some advice, do a lot of reading and think before you reply.  A lot of smart older guys on here that have tought me a lot.  They will do the same for you if you do not try to impress everyone with what you think you know. 

ChiefEagles, why dont you kindly look above my post and you will see that I wasn't responding to the original post.

[darianj]

Get 'em while they're young.

[alexweiihman]

One of the main challanges of promoting the hobby to kids is that their is to much compition.  A lot would rather play video games or go on the computer then operate trains.

[jimhaleyscomet]

I have found the best way to get young kids interested is to get their parents interested.  I get the parents interested by allowing them to run my trains.  I actually have had success getting 20 and 30 somethings "back" into the hobby when their kids are about 6 years old.  Interest a kid in trains and he will hold that interest for a few years or till he notices computers and the opposite sex.  Get a young adult interested and you have a new hobby person for life!

 

Jim H 

[alexweiihman]

laz you can teach us alot

[Buckeye Riveter]

Send them to school with Laz as their teacher.

[riverrailfan]

Adults play a important role in the hobby. Unfortuantly I've seen it many times. Adults ain't involved enough with there children. When my son showed a lot of interest in trains I showed him my train set and took him places to watch trains run. The rest is history. The manufactures also need to expose them selves more to the public.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I agree with Laz let them play with the trains!  Granted my stuff is American Flyer and built as toys to be played with.  My grand kids love trains.  Here they are playing with their layout.

Ironically, they like to run them slow.  As you can tell from the looks on their faces they enjoy what they're doing.  I keep my CTT mags in a basket and we sit on the couch and go through looking at pictures.  

I didn't get started till later in life.  So there is a future in toy trains.  They must stay affordable to keep going.

Jim 

[Anonymous]

This is, without a doubt, the BEST thread on ANY board on this

topic! A VERY GOOD approach! If this hobby is to survive, then

we must be pro-active and take newer, younger people into the

hobby and show open-mindedness and patience. laz57 has the

best approach. We should all use it. 

[laz 57]

Git em on the trottles and let them have fun.

I am a wood shop teacher and the only way to get younger people involved id to have lots of hands on approach.  You can teach the intro stuff pretty easy buy showing the right example and MR BAD EXAMPLE.  I do this all the time with 7th and 8th graders who think they know all, but thats another story.  Anyway get them involved with a starter set til they know the ropes and then take it from there.  They will learn fast, believe me they do.

laz57

[Anonymous]

You get kids--or people of any age, for that matter--interested in model railroading by approaching it one person at a time, on an individual basis.  There's no magic formula for interesting people of any age in toy or model trains.  Some may show a spark of interest (which can then be cultivated) and others couldn't care less.  It has always been that way; the only difference being that trains were a far more important part of everyday life back in the 40s and 50s, and toy models of those real trains were far more visible in stores of all types because they represented something that just about everybody was exposed to on an almost daily basis.  That era is gone, and it's gone forever.  Folks just have to learn to live with that fact.

[dougdagrump]

Our club, SD3Railers, sponsors a kids program for 6 yrs and up. We always have a waiting list to sign-up and extremely high participation. One of the keys to it's success is that it requires that at least one parent be in attendance with the child so it doesn't turn into a babysitting service. As a result of this requirement we have had a few of the parents join the club.   

[dennyblock]

PS, I have a bunch of cheap modern stuff for them to bang around and he taught me how much fun full speed off a curve can be

[dennyblock]

If we don't let kids have fun with them there won't be a future for toy trains. Denny

[ChiefEagles]

alexweiihman, welcome to the forum.  You are really going strong on the posts.  Good to see such enthusiasm on the forum.  We've got some young guys [I guess they are all grown up now] who would be glad to help you out.  Colin, Ben and Jerry for a few.  I think there is a Texan hiding in the back ground somewhere [RRRedneck].  Some advice, do a lot of reading and think before you reply.  A lot of smart older guys on here that have tought me a lot.  They will do the same for you if you do not try to impress everyone with what you think you know.  Again, Welcome. 

[RR Redneck]

I wouldn't say that, I know plenty young modelers.

[alexweiihman]

I wonder what will happen to the hobby in the future because of the lack of younge model railroaders.

[alexweiihman]

I let my grandson knock the cars off the track three times today. Hands on is the way to go and smile at the accidents.  Denny

 

Hope those were'nt atlas O cars!!

[dennyblock]

I let my grandson knock the cars off the track three times today. Hands on is the way to go and smile at the accidents.  Denny