The most suitable toy for children’s development? Hint: they are not electronic or expensive

What we know about toys
The most important attribute of a toy is that it can engage parents or caregivers with children in a warm and interesting interaction full of rich language, supporting the parent-child relationship and the child’s social emotional and cognitive language development. High-quality toys can be useful “props” that promote interesting interactions, and provide parents and children with a common focus of development and participation.

Toys that promote pretense together (for example, dolls, characters, and animals) can promote the use of words and narratives to describe feelings and emotions. Imaginative games with such toys can also support language development, self-regulation, and social and emotional development.

Playing with toys such as building blocks and puzzles can support fine motor skills, cognitive and language development, and early spatial skills and mathematics. Since the rules are usually negotiated, the use of toys such as balls in sports activities can support gross motor development, self-regulation, and peer interaction.