Too many same-gender toys may limit skills

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- If Suzy gets a truck for Christmas and Johnny gets a doll, it may provide them with opportunities to develop more skills, a U.S. psychologist says.

"Children naturally gravitate to gender-appropriate toys, but playing with other-gender toys may teach new skills," Deborah Best of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., said in a statement. "They need exposure to 'girl' toys, 'boy' toys and gender-neutral toys to gain experience that will encourage them to play across boundaries."

However, too many same-gender toys may narrow children's cognitive and motor skills, she says, so girls might refine gross motor skills playing with trucks, while boys might improve their fine motor skills playing with typical girl toys.

In any event, parents should provide spatial toys such as puzzles for both boys and girls to help develop their ability to manipulate objects. Parents should provide children with a wider range of experiences when playing, Best said.

Toys also provide children with opportunities to develop nurturing behaviors.

"Children learn nurturing and caretaking behaviors from taking care of dolls, pets or younger siblings," Best said. "If parents want boys to learn those behaviors, parents should provide opportunities."