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Dolls beat trucks for baby boys

If you are playing Santa for a baby boy this Christmas, move away from the car section of the toy shop and head towards the dolls.

Researchers have found that infants of both sexes are most interested in objects with faces, contrary to common belief that boys prefer more “macho” vehicle and construction toys.

They tracked the gaze of five-month-old babies on pictures of humans, dolls, stoves and cars, finding that both boys and girls engaged most with the people and dolls.

The finding adds an interesting dimension to the nature versus nurture debate around gender construction, dispelling the theory that boys prefer male-associated toys from birth.

Read more at Western Sydney University

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