Dear Parents: Kids are actually happier with fewer toys, new study finds

Beyond being objects of entertainment and distraction, toys are actually great windows of learning opportunities for your kids.

Among its many well-documented benefits, playing with toys help kids build their imagination, develop motor skills, and learn a host of cognitive skills they’ll need to progress to other stages of their lives.

Now, while the benefits of toys are clear and well-documented, is there such a thing as too many toys?

As it turns out, there is.

But surely the more toys you surround your kids with, the more benefits they reap?

No – in fact, it’s quite the reverse.

Just last year, a 2017 study by the University of Toledo in Ohio suggested that having fewer toys actually result in healthier play and better cognitive development in children, rather than an abundance of toys which “reduced quality of (their) play”.

The study observed 36 toddlers aged between 18 to 30 months in free-play sessions. One group of kids were given 4 toys to play with, while other was given 16. The result: the kids who played with fewer toys had a significantly higher quality of play, the kids who had more options to play with.

This study echoes the sentiments of previous experts who have championed fewer, or even toy-free play areas for young children, citing their  development for reasons why less is more when it comes to toys.

You might ask – what if I want to spoil my kids? After all, showering them with toys is exactly how some parents show their love.

In fact, kids were found to be happier when playing with fewer toys.

Well, we hate to break it to you, but it turns out that kids are actually happier with fewer toys.

More recently, a 2018 study suggested that kids have happier and healthier playtime sessions when they have fewer toys to play with, according to Good Housekeeping.

The psychology behind this has to do with the idea of choice: during their early developmental years, children have short attention spans. When given dozens of toys, they feel overwhelmed with the different choices and often end up playing with nothing at all. Also, having too many toys makes kids play passively, rather than actively. Instead of playing with their toys, they expect to be amused by their toys.

How much is too much, then?

The fewer the toys, and the more streamlined their play area, the better it is for your kids, parents!

According to a social experiment in Germany, kids actually displayed far more imagination, creativity, and social skills when they convinced a kindergarten classroom to remove all its toys for three months, according to The Independent. 

So yes; refraining from buying your little one the next new trendy toy fad is not Scrooge-like mom behaviour, mamas. Your kid will thank you for that in the future.

Sarah Khan 

Photos: Getty Images

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