Why too many toys are bad for children?

[Photo:from News.cn]

A small study out of the University of Toledo could cause some parents to pause before buying a new toy this Christmas.

It's what parents have suspected all along. Children who have too many toys are more easily distracted, and do not enjoy quality playtime, a new study suggests.

Researchers at the University of Toledo in Ohio, US, recruited 36 toddlers and invited them to play in a room for half an hour, with either four toys, or 16 toys.

They found that youngsters were far more creative when they had fewer toys to play with. They also played with each for twice as long, thinking up more uses for each toy and lengthening and expanding their games.

The authors conclude that parents, schools and nurseries should pack away most of their toys and just rotate a small number regularly, to encourage children to become more creative and improve their attention spans.

The research was published in the journal Infant Behavior and Development.

[The audio clip is from Studio+, produced by CRI]

（news source: The Telegraph）