Playing for a living

At the Parents’ Choice Foundation in Timonium, the winners — brightly colored, neatly arranged — occupy a coveted corner of the back room. There’s a mammoth bouncy ball in primary colors, with ridges for throwing and catching. A realistic-looking cobra puppet, undulating from a basket. An alligator who, praise be, helps pick up his own blocks.

On the other side of the room, the losers lie in an ignominious heap, uncharacteristically silent. Their boxes typically shout from the store shelves and from the ads, promising a leg up in learning and hours of fun. Their contents are usually bleeping, singing, dancing, counting or exercising. Princesses, used to being adored, are here ignored. Pirates have no one to fight.

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