Age differences in the use of toys as communication tools

Abstract

This chapter discusses how children of different ages tend to use toys for different communicative purposes. Evidence for this report is based on feedback obtained from watching children aged 0-12 play with over 800 toys as part of the Good Toy Guide evaluation process. Each toy was tested on at least four occasions with different children, and observations on the type of play, interactions, and communications have been recorded and analyzed for this chapter.