PostingToys give children "no long-term benefit", finds report

New research says toys and books have no significant future associations with children's development. According to the Institute of Education, reported by BBC Online, the most important factor is parents playing and talking with their children. Err... doh!

"Toys and books have their place and do help children develop but what is important is having the parents interact with the child," says the Institute's Dr Leslie Gutman.

This should be so obvious. How do people get grants to do this kind of research? Surely it just confirms what every parent already knows.

So much of the report's findings sounds like common sense.

"To have parents read to their children is much more important than having a hundred books," says the report. Well, yes. Kind of a no-brainer, surely?

Children whose parents took them out grew up with better social skills, said the report.

Again, not a hard one to figure out. 

But actually, on second thoughts, maybe this is useful research. In fact, I wish I'd known this a year ago, before I accumulated sacks of unwanted toys.

I bought them partly because I didn't want people to think I was a tightwad who wouldn't spend on her child.

The toy marketing made me think K would suffer impaired development if I didn't.

I mean, my goodness, not having the musical mobile that plays Bach, complete with cows circling in mid-air above, might have hindered her hand-eye co-ordination and slowed her speech development.

Yes, maybe this does have all sorts of useful applications. Perhaps Dr Gutman could circulate her research to health professionals. That might deal with my health visitor who was on about why we needed a baby "gym" to help with "infant stimulation".

Parents might have more spare space in their cupboards if Dr Gutman's research got a good airing. Charity shops would probably come off worse, though.

Actually, what the research proves is that I should have listened to my daughter. She's had the right idea for months.

She's far more interested in parental interaction than toys.

Her top-favourite thing right now is when I put a muslin over my head, pop my sunglasses on top of the cloth and do my Mrs Muzzlepops/Yasser Arafat impersonation.

Posted 03 May 2007 21:24

Daughter Home Kit Play Toys

Comments

hjd said:
Toys

Most children can play for ages with some slightly unhygienic item (e.g. a crumb from last week's tea party) which they have picked up from that small area of floor not protected by their proper toys. They do like to interact with adults, however, by occasionally passing it near their lips as though about to eat it. When the anxious adult leaps forward to protect their health and well being, they hand it over with a condescending smile as much as to say "Well if that's what you want here you are," and move on to find something else which will be sure to keep the interaction going. 'Real" toys don't give them quite the same chance to tease.

Posted 04 May 2007 23:09

beta mum said:
bloody toys

Try to keep toys to a minimum. They will grow and breed and break and litter the floor and the only ones they'll play with are the ones that cost twopence from a car boot sale. Buy nothing with batteries. Buy nothing they say they want - what do they know? What we know is that they'll play with it on Chritsmas Day and then go back to their bit of muslin on Boxing Day. Of course I've been foiled in this by their Dad, their millions of aunts and uncles and grandparents, and their birthday party guests. So maybe it's better just to accept your life will be plastic-led for many long years.

Posted 24 May 2007 15:38

zornhau said:
Or, you can make sure the toys integrate...

..thus creating a play world for your children. Playmobil and Ebay are your friends.

Posted 26 May 2007 10:26

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