| Contrary to popular representations, toys are not, | | | | cognitive development and help them identify shapes, |
| and have never been just the domain of children. In | | | | textures and sizes. Puzzles can also help in the mental |
| fact, toys have consistently captured the imagination | | | | development of growing children or young adults, |
| of the general public and are the companions of | | | | teaching them the basics of problem solving and |
| adults just as much as they are a mainstay in the | | | | sometimes even the principles of certain scientific |
| lives of children the world over. Of course, the main | | | | concepts: for example, Newton's Cradle is a desk toy |
| reason for the enduring nature of toys is difficult to | | | | that demonstrates the conversion of momentum and |
| pin down; however, their variety and constantly | | | | energy. |
| evolving appearance and selection means that the | | | | Toys occupy such a large place in the public's |
| value of simple toys and games as a means by which | | | | imagination that films often represent toys - |
| children and adults can amuse themselves is unlikely | | | | otherwise inanimate objects - as living beings. Movies |
| to fall out of date. | | | | like Disney's Toy Story 1 and 2, and 1998's Small |
| Toys date back thousands of years in our history. | | | | Soldiers (in which missile technology is used to |
| For example, many toys, including small carts, | | | | enhance toy action figures) portrays toys as being |
| bird-shaped whistles and toy monkeys were | | | | 'alive' and taking on a power and force all of their |
| excavated from the ruins of the Indus Valley | | | | own. The success of these films demonstrates quite |
| civilisation which dated from 3000 to 1500 BC. | | | | clearly that toys are an obsession not just of the |
| Children in Ancient Egypt often played with dolls | | | | young, but the old alike. |
| made out of stone or pottery, with wigs and | | | | Today's flourishing online trading forums means that |
| moveable limbs; while infants in Ancient Greek and | | | | toy enthusiasts will be able to find a range of toys |
| Roman civilisations occupied themselves with bows | | | | and games online with which to buy and sell to a |
| and arrows, terracotta or wax dolls and early yo-yos. | | | | huge variety of users. In fact, many online |
| As technology has developed, today's toys are more | | | | marketplaces will provide an opportunity to find rare |
| likely to be made out of plastic or other synthetic | | | | toys and games, as well as particular models that |
| materials. But even as the way toys are produced | | | | may no longer be manufactured. So toy fans should |
| and what toys can do has advanced, the fact that | | | | be sure to check out the vast world of opportunities |
| children play with and can learn from toys has not | | | | that exists for them online: after all, toys will always |
| altered. For example, many toys can aid a child's | | | | be important - whether they're for you or your child. |