Playing with a top required several things which are missing today, and provided at least one benefit which is also lacking today.

To play with a top requires time away from adult influence. The kid has to be presented with spare time, and a top. And then when the kid spins to top it responds, standing up, hopping around and so on. Cause and effect. Kid pulls the string, the top responds. Power. Something responds to the kid.

On to today's kid.

No time, all activities are organized or under the parents or other adults thumb. Soccer, softball, football, even homework is supposed to be a community affair. Parents know where their kids are at all times, who they are with, what they are doing and why. Children have become pawns of parents, their activities and participation graded, approved, and monitored.

I don't know how children learn to be autonomous any more. How they learn to organize anything for themselves. It's no wonder they are attracted to "Plug 'n' Play" games - that's the limit of their creativity. Do they know how to operate the remote control and the DVD? Of course, and that's it, the entire thing, the whole enchilada.

And every parent to whom I've described this says how true it is, how shameful, and how they and their Little League do it differently. How they are enlightened, and and much the children like it and on and on and on.

I'm not sure how kids learn to be autonomous individuals any more, and maybe they don't. Maybe more and more of them will settle into letting others think for them, preferring the security of the herd for the insecurity of adventure, curiosity, learning.

And I enjoyed your description of the top. Do you remember the bigger metal ones that you started with a screw down the middle? Not as skilled, not as difficult, but an educational lead-in.