For this interview, we asked the following questions to the subject's parent:
Name: Katia Palacios
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Latina
Occupation: Elementary School Art Teacher
Questions
How do you see your personal interests shine through the object (in this case Play-doh) that your child has accessibility to?
Answer: As an educator, I try to buy toys that are more on the educational side for him. I also like to focus on toys for him that would help with his motor skills. I feel like toys that you can make different stuff with is good for his creativity. For Play-doh, I thought it was a great opportunity to show him that it's okay to get his hands dirty when he plays.
What learning opportunities do you see taking place for your child as part of interacting with Play-doh?
Answer: I think that it really stimulates his imaginitive play. With the Play-doh cans, I've noticed that he attempts to be more independent by trying to open them without help at first. He is also able to understand how to make the Play-doh flat, or how he can mold it in different ways.
What gravitated you towards buying the specific Play-doh kit your child owns, instead of other Play-doh collaborations or forms of it?
Answer: I saw that this Play-doh set had a car cut out, which is perfect because he really likes cars at the moment. I liked that it comes with a travel case, so we can carry it around to different places for him to play. The set we have isn't as basic as other cut-out Play-doh forms which is more recognizable for him. I also thought it was important for him to learn the mechanism of pressing down Play-doh.
How do you think your child might perceive this toy compared to other ones he or she may have?
Answer: It is the only toy that he owns that he can make stuff out of, so in that sense it is very pliable. I think he finds it more fun because he can rip it apart. Many of his other toys are not able to do that without them getting ruined. I also think that sensation wise, it is more stimulating compared to other toys.
In what ways do you see your own culture, as well as more modern culture being structured or influenced within this object?
Answer: I don't see very much of my own culture reflected as much with his Play-doh. Play-doh was not a big deal during my childhood, but I also think it's because I didn't have the same toy opportunities offered to me.
Why did you believe this object was appropriate for your child to engage with it at this time in his/her life?
Answer: Well, I know the Play-doh label says it's for children ages 3 and up. Even though he's only 2 years and half, I know he understands directions very well, so I knew he could handle it. I just have to be there to supervise him playing with the Play-doh, and say things like, "Don't put it in your mouth." He is able to play with Play-doh correctly with these instructions.
What skills do you believe are facilitated through the properties of Play-doh?
Answer: He has learned more language every time we play with Play-doh together. He'll communicate what color a specific Play-doh is in his hand. I feel like it prompts him to want to share more about what he is making with it.
Do you think Play-doh is a gendered toy? Why or why not?
Answer: I would say yes and no because there are specific packages like the garbage truck Play-doh. There are also other ones I've seen in stores associated with dolls that look more marketed towards girls. You can usually tell based on the type of packaging a specific set comes in. I would say he has a neutral set that everyone can play with.
Are you planning on buying any more Play-doh products in the future?
Answer: I can probably see myself buying him another set of Play-doh just because he can add more to the one he already has. There's many of them to buy, so I would probably get another if his interest for it grows.