When is Innocence Lost?

I spent time this evening watching young children run around a gym seeking to attain as many prizes as possible. Tickets cost 25 cents each and most games you could play for one ticket. The prizes were of simple nature. The most common included: miniature tops, temporary tattoos, kazoos and bouncy balls. In today's society I could not help but think that these "prizes" would not be adequate. I was sure that children everywhere would be complaining that the prizes were not good enough. To my surprise, the children could not have been happier. The only time there was any sadness was when he or she was out of tickets. So this poses the question: when do children lose that innocence. When does it become necessary that they have to have the latest barbie or the newest game for the Wii? When do the simple toys lose their mystery? Do parents accelerate that loss by wavering to desire? My daughter has the same level of content for cutting up the mail as she does playing with her $40 Build-a-Bear elephant decked out in a soccer uniform. Is losing the ability to enjoy the simple things important? I believe so. There needs to be a balance between simplicity and luxury. Appreciating the simple things is what helps us to find happiness when things are most difficult.