Toys

[Page 781]Any item that can be used for play may be considered a toy, including formal toys that are manufactured such as dolls or blocks, as well as everyday items that children transform into informal toys, such as a cardboard box used as a dollhouse. Even a child’s fingers can be a toy when he or she silently uses them to represent his or her family members. More recently, the screens of televisions, smartphones, and tablets are functioning as toys for children. The common thread across all of these toy types is their function. From encouraging physical activity (e.g., balls or hula hoops) to fostering social interactions (e.g., when children play with a shared toy), to serving as representations of other objects (e.g., as when ...