“Less is more” - this also applies to children's toys. Many parents probably intuitively anticipated the results of the study: if there are too many toys in the house, children become more distracted and less creative.
How are simple toys related to children's development?
Scientists from the University of Toledo, Ohio, found that children who own toys have problems with creativity. Doctors published the results of the study in the journal JournalofChildandAdolescentBehavior.
For the study, scientists drew a total of 36 babies. They played for half an hour in a room with a small or a lot of toys.
Experts found that children were much more creative if they had fewer toys.
Children also played with toys twice as long if there were fewer. The kids thought of several uses for each toy, which expanded their playing field.
Experts find out whether the number of toys affects the quality of the game
The current study was trying to find out whether the number of toys in the environment of the kids affects the quality of the game. Scientists came to the conclusion that parents, schools and kindergartens should remove most of the toys.
Experts suggest that only a small number of toys should be used regularly to encourage children to be more creative and increase their attention span.
Researchers say a larger number of games with 16 different toys seem to affect the duration and depth of the game.
A lot of toys are very distracting
Babies grow and develop rapidly. Despite this development, children initially have poor control over their attention at a higher level.
Scientists suggest that existing attention and games may be disturbed by environmental factors that distract. Current research indicates that many toys can cause such a distraction.
If children have fewer toys, they can play with one of them longer. As a result, they are able to better explore the subject and develop in their work. In Britain alone, people spend more than 258 billion Russian rubles per year on toys.
Surveys also showed that an ordinary child may have 238-240 toys. Parents usually assume that children play with only a few toys, while others ignore it.
What is it like if children in kindergarten have less toys?
There have been many studies that show that too many toys can distract children. Already at the end of the XX century, German researchers conducted experiments in which toys were taken out of kindergarten for 3 months.
After only a few weeks, the children adapted to their position and played only those toys that remained. As a result, their game has become much more creative, and social interaction has improved.
Less is more
Fewer toys stimulate creativity, increase concentration and help young people learn how to manage property. According to experts, a child is unlikely to learn to value a toy when there are countless other options on a shelf next to it.
Scientists continue: if children have too many toys, they care less about them. Children are unable to learn to value their toys properly if replacement is always at hand.
In other words, fewer toys make children more creative. Kids solve problems with existing materials and create new gaming opportunities on their own.
Viruses are another problem.
Children's toys are a potential source of infection. Some viruses can remain contagious for a long time. Referring to a study conducted by scientists from the University of Georgia, scientists warn against the risk of infection.
In kindergartens or medical facilities, toys contain more pathogens. According to the results of American researchers, viruses on a plastic toy are contagious up to 24 hours.
Research has shown that especially flu and coronaviruses remain contagious on toys for a long time. After one day at 60% relative humidity, only 1% of the initial viral load remains.
