Toys for children and adolescents: gendered preferences and developmental utilities

A toy is an object or device designed for play and enjoyment. Engagement of children and adolescents with appropriate toys can have significant influences on their cognitive, emotional and socio-psychological development. In this review, we first discuss factors underlying binary gender-based prefer...

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Main Authors: Athira Smita Nair, Lakshmi Pillai, Pratik Bhattacharya, Darin Mansor Mathkor, Shafiul Haque, Faraz Ahmad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Adolescence and Youth
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2024.2387075
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author Athira Smita Nair
Lakshmi Pillai
Pratik Bhattacharya
Darin Mansor Mathkor
Shafiul Haque
Faraz Ahmad
author_facet Athira Smita Nair
Lakshmi Pillai
Pratik Bhattacharya
Darin Mansor Mathkor
Shafiul Haque
Faraz Ahmad
author_sort Athira Smita Nair
collection DOAJ
description A toy is an object or device designed for play and enjoyment. Engagement of children and adolescents with appropriate toys can have significant influences on their cognitive, emotional and socio-psychological development. In this review, we first discuss factors underlying binary gender-based preferences of toys, and their implications for child development. Further, the potential of toys in psycho-social, emotional and sensorimotor development of children and adolescents are debated, with a particular focus on neuro-divergent children. Additionally, implications for toy-play from ancient Indian literature and culture are discussed. Finally, future aspects for play with next-generation toys and challenges associated with them are delineated. We hope that the review will serve as a platform for promoting toys as tools for removing binary gender-prejudices and aiding child/adolescent development. We also anticipate that our work will result in further research and elaboration of this largely ignored field of early/late childhood and adolescence research.
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publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series International Journal of Adolescence and Youth
spelling doaj-art-961b3f9c84ea485782082d1ac8cc704f2025-08-20T02:30:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth0267-38432164-45272024-12-0129110.1080/02673843.2024.2387075Toys for children and adolescents: gendered preferences and developmental utilitiesAthira Smita Nair0Lakshmi Pillai1Pratik Bhattacharya2Darin Mansor Mathkor3Shafiul Haque4Faraz Ahmad5Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, IndiaDepartment of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, IndiaSchool of Architecture, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, IndiaResearch and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi ArabiaResearch and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, IndiaA toy is an object or device designed for play and enjoyment. Engagement of children and adolescents with appropriate toys can have significant influences on their cognitive, emotional and socio-psychological development. In this review, we first discuss factors underlying binary gender-based preferences of toys, and their implications for child development. Further, the potential of toys in psycho-social, emotional and sensorimotor development of children and adolescents are debated, with a particular focus on neuro-divergent children. Additionally, implications for toy-play from ancient Indian literature and culture are discussed. Finally, future aspects for play with next-generation toys and challenges associated with them are delineated. We hope that the review will serve as a platform for promoting toys as tools for removing binary gender-prejudices and aiding child/adolescent development. We also anticipate that our work will result in further research and elaboration of this largely ignored field of early/late childhood and adolescence research.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2024.2387075Indian traditional toysgender-neutral toyscognitionsocial behaviourtoy-designpsychomotor
spellingShingle Athira Smita Nair
Lakshmi Pillai
Pratik Bhattacharya
Darin Mansor Mathkor
Shafiul Haque
Faraz Ahmad
Toys for children and adolescents: gendered preferences and developmental utilities
International Journal of Adolescence and Youth
Indian traditional toys
gender-neutral toys
cognition
social behaviour
toy-design
psychomotor
title Toys for children and adolescents: gendered preferences and developmental utilities
title_full Toys for children and adolescents: gendered preferences and developmental utilities
title_fullStr Toys for children and adolescents: gendered preferences and developmental utilities
title_full_unstemmed Toys for children and adolescents: gendered preferences and developmental utilities
title_short Toys for children and adolescents: gendered preferences and developmental utilities
title_sort toys for children and adolescents gendered preferences and developmental utilities
topic Indian traditional toys
gender-neutral toys
cognition
social behaviour
toy-design
psychomotor
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2024.2387075
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AT darinmansormathkor toysforchildrenandadolescentsgenderedpreferencesanddevelopmentalutilities
AT shafiulhaque toysforchildrenandadolescentsgenderedpreferencesanddevelopmentalutilities
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