Research led by occupational therapist Dr. Alexia Metz shows that toddlers aged 18-30 months perform better with just four toys. In studies involving groups of toddlers, when exposed to fewer toys, children played longer and engaged more deeply with each toy, discovering its various functions. Metz emphasizes that excessive toys result in scattered attention and shallow play, whereas limited options allow for focused, meaningful interactions. This study suggests a need to rethink how many toys we provide for children to maximize their developmental benefits.
"We keep bringing home more and more toys, thinking this is the toy that will get my kid into Harvard. But then we don't see the value in their playing because they can't organize themselves enough to play."
"That exploration is so fast-paced that they don't have time to sit and explore all the things a toy can do before they need to move on to the next one."
"They sat down and they played with it for twice as long, and they did many more things with it."
"Kids knew they wouldn't miss anything if they sat there for another minute to play with the toy and see what it can do."
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