Toy Hall of Fame Inducts the Stick

The National Toy Hall of Fame, in Rochester, N.Y., has inducted the stick into its hallowed halls.

Ok, so the Toy Hall of Fame may not be the best known public institution in the nation, but its doing its part to make sure the stick does not remain similarly unsung.

Let's throw any pretense of objectivity to the wind: The Daily Green loves this choice.

At a time when electronics dominate the childhood experience, we fear lead in imported toys, and we worry over "Nature Deficit Disorder," the stick retains its power to inspire the imagination. (Of course, some younger siblings might argue that the stick deserves recognition in some other institution.)

As Christopher Bensch, the museum's curator of collections, put it to the Associated Press:

"It's very open-ended, all-natural, the perfect price — there aren't any rules or instructions for its use. It can be a Wild West horse, a medieval knight's sword, a boat on a stream or a slingshot with a rubber band. ... No snowman is complete without a couple of stick arms, and every campfire needs a stick for toasting marshmallows."

What memories do you have of using sticks? Tell us in the comments below: