Expensive toys 'don't aid long term child development'
| Published: 19th July 2007 17:32 |
Contrary to popular thought, forking out huge amounts of cash to buy your children the most expensive baby toys does no good to their development in the long-run.
Researchers at the Institute of Education found that, while stimulating toys and books helped to improve a baby's development at the time, it had no long-term gains.
Instead, parents were urged to play with their children and talk to them as this was more likely to aid their future development.
Dr Leslie Gutman, lead author of the report, said: "Toys and books have their place and do help children develop but what is important is having the parents interact with the child.
"To have parents read to their children is much more important than having a hundred books."
This might come as good news to parents after research conducted at the end of last year by Liverpool Victoria found that it costs £180,137 on average to raise a child.
