The Tech Toy Train is Getting Longer—Are These Toys Better for Babies Than Open-Ended Ones?
It seems that baby toys are requiring more instruction reading time than clean-up time. Is that a good thing?Fact checked by Sarah ScottFact checked by Sarah ScottIf you've recently strolled the baby toy aisle at a retail store, you may have made one simple observation: Toys have changed quite a bit over the years. For every one box of standard building blocks you see, you might find multiple boxes of baby’s first earbuds, the equivalent of a Stanley coffee cup, and a plethora of handheld gaming toys, among others. Whatever happened to open-ended toys—aka traditional toys that can be played with in various ways? One mom who goes by the handle @elizabeth.marcelena on TikTok poses the question via video, asking fellow parents to chime in with their opinion on the state of today’s toys. Are technology-based toys better? Or are our kids missing out because blocks and puzzles may not be our go-tos anymore? With over 15,000 comments pouring in, this mom clearly hit on something. @elizabeth.marcelena #Toys #EducationalToys #LearningThroughPlay #KidsToys #StayAtHomeMom #Homeschooling #MomLife #Parenting #EarlyLearning #Playtime #ChildDevelopment #KidsActivities #HomeschoolMom #TeacherResources #PreschoolActivities #TeachingKids #ToddlerActivities #MomHacks #HandsOnLearning #STEMToys #MontessoriToys #CreativePlay #LearningToys #EducationalResources #HomeschoolCommunity #ChildrensBooks #PlayBasedLearning #FamilyFun #CraftyMom #DIYActivities #KidsLearning #MomsOfInstagram #ParentingTips ♬ original sound - Elizabeth Marcelena INC Is the Baby Toy Evolution Real?As a mom of five kids ranging in age from 16 to 3, I can relate. Back when my first child was born, she played with some tech-based baby toys. Now, I’m seeing more beeping, flashing playthings than ever when I peruse the toy section with my youngest son.To be fair, he also has building sets and a play kitchen at home. In fact, my grandfather was the president of Tinker Toys, and we still have an original set at home that entertains my son for hours.Indeed, it seems classic toys are always in style, no matter what new gadgets toymakers introduce. As Amy Jackson, Chief Early Learning Strategy Officer at Primrose Schools, tells Parents, even with tech-based toys being so prevalent in our kids’ lives, “Fifteen years from now, I am confident children will still love cardboard boxes just as much as they always have.”According to a 2021 report by Psychology Today, researchers at Eastern Connecticut State University looked at how preschool kids play with over 100 toys over the course of a decade. They found that open-ended toys were linked to higher-quality play. But that is far from the final word on the subject.
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Benefits of Tech-based Toys for BabiesFor Michelle Bennett, MD, FAAP, PLLC, a board-certified pediatrician at Elliston Pediatrics, whether a tech-based toy is beneficial for a child depends not only on the individual, but also on the toy itself.“Technology-based toys that encourage interaction and involve solving challenges and puzzles can be very engaging and also educational,” she tells Parents. As Dr. Jackson notes, “Children have always been drawn to toys that represent the world around them and especially objects that they see adults in their lives using.”Hence the baby earbuds and remote controls. But she also acknowledges, “Children today are growing up with stimuli different than any other generation.” That may come with important learning opportunities.Gigi Schweikert, Parenting and Education Expert and CEO of Lightbridge Academy, says, “Research shows that technology-based toys can enhance learning by engaging children, offering personalized experiences, and supporting STEM education.”Consider one 2024 study out of China found that multi-sensory toys may increase engagement for children. Schweikert goes on to explain how toys with sounds engage a child’s sensory and tactile senses.“When children play with toys with sounds it can help them to develop a sense of awareness about their environment and overall sensory integration," says Schweikert. "Sounds also help to reinforce learning by providing auditory feedback and developing auditory processing skills, especially in language and music-based toys.”Michael Rich, MD, MPH, the Director of the Digital Wellness Lab and the Boston Children’s Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders (CIMAID), as well as an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, agrees that some tech-based toys provide opportunities for learning, such as a foreign language-learning device.Drawbacks of Tech-based Toys for BabiesIt’s not all good news when it comes to the newest iteration of kids’ toys available today. Experts say some of the offerings the TikTok mom puzzled over can lead to stunted socialization, and overstimulation. Additionally, according to Dr. Bennett, certain types of technology can promote shorter attention spans.“Those types of toys are usually more observational, rather than directly interactive," she says. "They're rapid-paced and use lots of ‘bells and whistles’ to keep the brain very stimulated.”If young kids play with these toys often, they may find less satisfaction in toys that require more effort.Dr. Jackson adds that toys that beep and sing constantly can distract the brain from imaginative and critical thinking.It’s also very important to consider that many tech-based toys only engage a child for a certain amount of time, according to Dr. Rich. “Toys that are imitations of adult tools—whether they are a smartphone, hammer, or stethoscope—are designed for the child to emulate adult behavior in their play," he says. "This is fun but limited because the child is only mimicking adult behavior they have observed."Open-ended Toys Get the Most PraiseA lot of commenters on the TikTok video mentioned Montessori toys as being their preference rather than baby’s first TV remote or smartphone.“Montessori is an educational approach,” explains Dr. Jackson. “Toys inspired by this method typically feature natural materials but are more defined by their design to prompt natural inquiry and experimentation. Toys used in Montessori education encourage hands-on, open-ended play and inquiry.”The experts we talked to couldn’t say enough good things about open-ended toys, such as blocks, pretend kitchens, puzzles, and costumes.“I encourage parents to focus on providing toys that encourage active and pretend play,” Dr. Bennett mentions. Indeed, according to her, toys don't have to be expensive to engage kids. A simple gymnastics facility can provide hours of imaginative play—and promote physical activity, another bonus.Dr. Rich concurs that kids will return again and again to toys like blocks and a simple sandbox, because they require imagination and creativity.“Free play that is imagined and led by the child with every choice negotiated with others is the healthiest and most sustained play for a child of any age,” he says.A Healthy Mix is Always BestThe experts we talked to say parents can’t go wrong with a healthy mix of tech and open-ended toys.“It’s always about balance,” Dr. Jackson says. “Lights, buttons, and screens aren’t necessarily harmful as long as they aren’t the only toys a child has and there is plenty of opportunity for interactive and imaginative play, too.”She adds, “My advice to parents is to always keep in mind that play is learning for children—and to consider how toys and experiences are part of that learning.”Schweikert says well-rounded development will result from a balance of tech play with traditional activities. Meanwhile, Dr. Rich’s advice is this: “I urge parents who are purchasing toys to choose those that challenge their children to stretch into thoughts and behaviors, that are child-imagined and child-initiated.”Now, if only we could get our kids to self-initiate cleaning up the sea of building blocks currently on my living room floor. For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.
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