How safe is the toy you may be buying for someone this Christmas? New research suggests that toy companies often take too long to issue recalls after they become aware of safety hazards.
Naomi Priest, Australian National University and Tania King, The University of Melbourne
We reviewed research into gender stereotypes and biases in early childhood, and found gender as a social category develops early in life, and insight into some gender stereotypes begins early.
Popping toys like this one can relieve stress and anxiety and are just plain fun.
Inna Reznik/Shutterstock.com
Though research is still ongoing, therapists’ practical experience and adults’ and kids’ self-reflections suggest that fidget toys can be helpful for emotional and cognitive support.
Toy pianos typically have a range of 12-36 keys, roughly one quarter the range of a full piano. But they are used by composers and music makers to write everything from concertos to pop songs.
Toys are becoming increasingly advanced, but this can be more of a hindrance than a perk.
Pixabay
At Christmas shopping, you may have noticed toys are becoming very complex. They fly, hop, jump and follow you around – some even need to be ‘connected’. But why are we seeing such technical advances?
The Furby craze was a big deal in the 1990s, just like Cabbage Patch Kids were in the 1980s and Hatchimals were this decade.
(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
2019 marks the 60th anniversary of the world’s most famous doll, Barbie. It’s an opportunity to look back at the journey of its creator, Ruth Handler, a visionary leader and model for women.
Sometimes the reaction doesn’t go as planned.
Lily & Chloe Official/YouTube
With the surprise meticulously planned, all eyes – and lenses – turn to the kids. All they have to do is react as expected: overjoyed. So why don’t they?
It can be hard to tell whether what’s in the box will encourage development or just be a waste of time.
AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis
There’s a spectrum of quality when it comes to what kids can do with screen time. An expert in early childhood technology suggests picking tech activities that promote problem-solving and fun.
Two of the collectible cards covered by the research.
Many children receive gift cards or even ask for them so they can choose their own presents. But are youngsters ready to handle the wiles of advertisers and the complexities of ‘credit’ on a card?
With strong female leads such as Rey, Star Wars merchandise has tended to be sold in its own ‘destination’ section of stores rather than gendered toy aisles.
Ken dolls with a ‘man bun’. Female superhero action figures. At long last, the gendered distinctions of the pink and blue toy aisles are starting to break down.
Are toys sharing too much information on the internet?
mhong84/Shutterstock.com
As Amazon introduces a new smart-home device aimed at children, it’s important to know many internet-connected toys are not secure, putting kids’ security and privacy at risk.
The technological revolution has hit the doll aisle this holiday season in the form of artificial intelligence dolls. What does it mean for children’s development, to confuse real bodies with machines?
Professor, School for the Future of Innovation in Society & School of Computing, Informatics and Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University