Toys

Child development

Toys, like play itself, serve multiple purposes in both humans and animals. They provide entertainment while fulfilling an educational role, enhance cognitive behavior, stimulate creativity, and aid in the development of physical, mental, social, and emotional skills, which are necessary in later life. However, different kinds of toys may lead to different outcomes, as do various forms of play. In particular, a clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that the developmental benefits of traditional toys involving language, creativity, pretending, problem-solving, physical activity, child-caregiver interaction, or peer play, are generally better supported by evidence than the educational claims often associated with digital or electronic toys.