TY - JOUR
T1 - Looking deeper into the toy box
T2 - Understanding caregiver toy selection decisions
AU - Hassinger-Das, Brenna
AU - Quinones, Ashley
AU - DiFlorio, Carmela
AU - Schwartz, Rebecca
AU - Talla Takoukam, Nowou Cyrielle
AU - Salerno, Marie
AU - Zosh, Jennifer M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - Children's caregivers are their first play partners, and toys influence the quality of these caregiver-child interactions—with research suggesting that electronic toys are not as supportive of these interactions as traditional toys. In this study, we investigate (1) toy use amongst caregivers and infants, with an eye towards investigating the prevalence of traditional vs. electronic toys, (2) caregivers’ preferences when selecting electronic or traditional toys for their children and (3) whether caregivers’ choices are impacted by the claims made by toy manufacturers. Sixty-three primary caregivers participated in a survey asking about their toy selection decisions. Results demonstrate the prevalence of electronic toys (even for the youngest infants) as well as caregivers’ preferences and the potential of toy descriptions to impact caregivers’ toy purchasing decisions. Despite scientific evidence that there may be a developmental cost to electronic toys relative to traditional toys, after highlighting the toys’ developmental benefits, caregivers became more likely to select electronic toys for their infant.
AB - Children's caregivers are their first play partners, and toys influence the quality of these caregiver-child interactions—with research suggesting that electronic toys are not as supportive of these interactions as traditional toys. In this study, we investigate (1) toy use amongst caregivers and infants, with an eye towards investigating the prevalence of traditional vs. electronic toys, (2) caregivers’ preferences when selecting electronic or traditional toys for their children and (3) whether caregivers’ choices are impacted by the claims made by toy manufacturers. Sixty-three primary caregivers participated in a survey asking about their toy selection decisions. Results demonstrate the prevalence of electronic toys (even for the youngest infants) as well as caregivers’ preferences and the potential of toy descriptions to impact caregivers’ toy purchasing decisions. Despite scientific evidence that there may be a developmental cost to electronic toys relative to traditional toys, after highlighting the toys’ developmental benefits, caregivers became more likely to select electronic toys for their infant.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101529
DO - 10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101529
M3 - Article
C2 - 33472096
AN - SCOPUS:85099362917
SN - 0163-6383
VL - 62
JO - Infant Behavior and Development
JF - Infant Behavior and Development
M1 - 101529
ER -