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The
results of Duracell's annual European Toy Survey, the only one
of its kind to ask children rather than adults about their favourite
toys and paying habits, reveals that UK kids are the most technologically
savvy kids in Europe.
The survey also reveals that UK children are enthused by high-tech
toys that encourage pretend play and feed their imagination, despite
the opinions of various child development experts, who believe
today's children are overwhelmed with homework, exams and after
school activities.
The overall winning toy was the Robosapien V2, a super-intelligent
robot which is the closest thing to a real life companion and
responds accordingly to just about anything you do. The list also
includes futuristic toy weapons, miniature racing cars and make-believe
sports games, clearly demonstrating the importance of imagination
in child development.
A Child Psychologist's View
Duracell spokesperson and Child Psychologist Richard Woolfson,
says, "The Duracell European Toy Survey reveals that children
are highly influenced by what they see, hear and read. The high-tech
nature of their toy choices reflects this - our children are smart.
Technology is a part of their world at home and at school, and
they expect it to be a part of their play too,"
He added, "New technology makes toys highly attractive to
youngsters who are raised in a sophisticated world of high expectations.
This is why the Robosapien V2 was crowned the winning toy in the
UK. By interacting with such toys, children have a chance to gain
a degree of control in play that they wouldn't necessarily have
in the real world and it also gives them an opportunity to access
the adult world through imaginative play."
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The
results also reveal that television remains the number one source
for children in the UK to find out about new toys; however the internet
is gaining popularity. The UK is now leading the way in Europe in
terms of consulting the web for information on toys, increasing
from 9% to 13% over the last year and indicating that kids in the
UK are becoming increasingly up to speed with technology, now reflected
in toy choices.
Richard Woolfson explains, "As modern society evolves, so do
children's playing habits and the toys they're given, The simplicity
and innocence of old fashioned toys such as skipping ropes and footballs
are fast being replaced by more technologically advanced counterparts,
which suitably prepare them for our high-paced society." |
