Toys are part and parcel of every growing kid. From generations past, this has always been the case. The toys vary with time however. What our parents had for toys is not what we had and will not be the same as what our children want. But the concept and the purpose is the same. Children identify with what they grow seeing around. Thus toys vary in a big way from one place to another.
In places like the Middle East, it is not a surprise to see kids especially Palestinians with toy Kalashnikovs or toy battle tanks. This is because most of them have grown up in the midst of the Arab-Israeli conflict and they see weapons more than they see Barbie dolls and teddy bears.
In well-off countries, toys are a multimillion dollar industry and parents pamper and shower their kids with toy presents on an almost whimsical level. This is also the case among the middle and elite classes in societies in developing countries. Some toy brands have become a household name and it is unthinkable that in most homes you would miss a particular kind of toy for the children
In most parts of Africa, kids are known to fashion their own toys and playthings as their parents do not have the privilege of the supermarket toys as they do not have the financial clout to buy them. Thus you are likely to see toy cars made from wires and discarded tins and rubber for tires.
All in all, toys play a very important role in the development of any child and its up to the parent to look at their children and determine what is good and useful in terms of contributing to their wholesome growth. A toy may contribute in developing a kid's mental acuities especially if its one that will require them to think hard in order to see its usefulness.
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