Experts suggest that toddlers benefit from having only four toys rather than a multitude. Dr. Alexia Metz's research shows that fewer toys lead to greater engagement and focus. In controlled studies, toddlers in environments with 16 toys exhibited chaotic, distracted play, while those with just four toys explored deeply, leading to imaginative and prolonged play. Metzâs experience raising twins in a small apartment confirmed that limited toys fostered deeper engagement, showing that simplicity in play can significantly enhance a child's creativity and development.
"We keep bringing home more and more toys, thinking this is the toy that will get my kid into Harvard," Metz tells TODAY.com.
"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," Metz says.
"Instead of bouncing from one shiny object to the next, kids started stacking blocks, pushing buttons and even diving into pretend play - the kind that child development experts drool over."
"Fewer toys = fewer distractions. Toddlers focus better and use their imaginations more when they're not drowning in options."
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