The Handbook of Developmentally Appropriate Toys

This new handbook focuses on toys as windows into children’s play. Like all good handbooks do, it introduces important fields of research that take the reader to the foundations of all related topics. Bergen, with her wealth of experience in the field, has a thorough knowledge of toys and play. She provides both scholars and teachers with a valuable resource.

— Stuart Reifel, EdD, Professor Emeritus, The University of Texas at Austin

This book presents a beautifully curated panorama of children’s toys. History, culture, gender, and development are thoughtfully woven into each chapter, providing both the research and rich description that brings to life the value of each toy profiled, and toys in general, in children’s lives. By cataloging, describing, and reflecting on the meaning of children’s play with toys, a theme emerges: children are protagonists in their own learning, and toys belong to children as means of representing, enacting, and learning. Doris Bergen, from her research on the memories of adults about their play states: “They lived in worlds that they designed and ruled, often for many hours at a time, and the adults at that time allowed them the opportunity to control their own imaginative world.” (p. 284 of draft) Our responsibility, as educators, parents, and advocates, is to ensure that this element of power, and of the child as protagonist, is not lost, and this book provides the resources to support our work.

— Christine Chaillé, Professor Emeritus, Portland State University

Doris Bergen provides practitioners, researchers, families, and community stakeholders with a fascinating edited collection about “toy products” and their developmental appropriateness. Each chapter offers the historical and cultural evolution of various toys as well as their roles related to physical, cognitive, language and moral development. Specifically, the handbook addresses the purposes for and uses of toys in STEM, literacy, and technology augmented programs. The reader friendly style and organization makes this a must read for anyone interested in learning about "toys products" and their purposes.

— Amanda Branscombe, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education, Athens State University, Athens, Alabama

The Handbook of Developmentally Appropriate Toys edited by Doris Bergen provides a comprehensive examination of the artifacts that have comforted, entertained, and inspired us across the lifespan for thousands of years. It is a must read for anyone interested in a comprehensive account of the magic of toys.

— Michael M. Patte, PhD, co-editor, The International Journal of Play

This is both a wonderful resource for teachers and parents and a celebration of what makes childhood so joyful—toys. In a single volume, the most important play researchers in the world contribute their insights into the developmental, cultural, and historical meanings of toys. This book will go directly onto our reading list for our early childhood education students.

— Jeffrey Trawick-Smith, Professor Emeritus, Principle Investigator, TIMPANI Toy Study, Center for Early Childhood Education, Eastern Connecticut State University

What are some of the essential elements that are necessary for a child to become fully and joyfully human? This Handbook convincingly provides the engaging, authoritative comprehensive evidence that toys, in all their historic and current varied forms foster this process. We are all “built to play, and built by play,” and the right toys at the right times trigger our intrinsic play natures to the betterment of us all. The current cultural emphasis on virtual play formats and the long term consequences of actual lessened physical interactions is addressed with suggestions for remediation based on credible information about the basics of play as it relates to overall child development.

— Stuart Brown, MD, Founder and President, The National Institute for Play