Even more surprising to Olivia was the fact that once these toys were out in the open, he still paid them absolutely no mind. Instead, he rediscovered some other things that had been out of sight such as a truck and some stacking blocks.
Olivia can take from this accidental experiment an important lesson. Experts—and a lot of parents—believe that many toys that are considered “old-fashioned” are actually better for children’s development than flashier electronic ones. In a 2007 Science Daily article, psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek says that, “Old-fashioned retro toys, such as red rubber balls, simple building blocks, clay and crayons… are usually much healthier for children than the electronic educational toys that have fancier boxes and cost $89.99.”
