Handbook of Developmentally Appropriate Toys

Doris Bergen, PhD,is a distinguished professor of educational psychology emerita at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Her research interests have focused on play theory and humor development, including effects of technology-enhanced toys on play, adult memories of childhood play, and gifted children’s humor. She also is a Miami University Distinguish Scholar.

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.

• Foreword PrefaceIntroductionSection I: Toys as Cultural PhenomenaChapter 1: The Role of Toys in Promoting Children’s Development Doris BergenChapter 2: Developmentally Appropriate Insights from the National Toy Hall of Fame Christopher BenchChapter 3: Cultural History of Developmentally Appropriate Toys Dorothy SlussSection II: Developmentally Appropriate ToysChapter 4: Large Blocks and Building Materials Lynn CohenChapter 5: Small Blocks and Building Materials Eleni LoizouChapter 6: Bicycles and Other Riding Toys Valerie UbbesChapter 7: Dolls and Animal Replicas John SutterbyChapter 8: Finger/Hand Puppets and Marionets Olga JarrettChapter 9: Climbing Toys and StructuresDoris BergenChapter 10: Airplanes, Kites, Rockets/Drones Jason AbbittChapter 11: Balls, Beanbags, Frisbees Darrel DavisChapter 12: Replica Cars, Trucks, Trains, Other VehiclesAnnerieke BolandChapter 13: Science Toys Shirley MorganthalerChapter 14: Crayons and PaintsTheresa SettleberryChapter 15: Kitchen/Household Implement ReplicasDorothy SlussChapter 16: Real Life and Fantasy Dress up Clothes and MaterialsBrooke SpanglerChapter 17: Board Games/Technology Augmented GamesJames Johnson & Sonia TwariChapter 18: Craft/Workshop Replicas Sandra StoneChapter 19: Indigenous Toys Jean-Pierre RossieChapter 20: BooksKathleen RoskosChapter 21: Puzzles and Musical Toys Doris Bergen & Gail BurnettChapter 22: Technology-Augmented Dolls, Animals, and Vehicles Sohyun Meacham & Myae HanChapter 23: Other Technology-Augmented Play Materials Lena LeeSection 3: Future of Developmentally Appropriate ToysChapter 24: Designing Developmentally Appropriate Toys Barry KudrowitzChapter 25: Promoting Developmentally Appropriate Toys in a Changing Child Cultural World Doris BergenAuthor Information