Educational toys don’t help babies long term development according to a new report.
Research showed that books and toys an effect on children 12 months after they use. The Institute of Education said that playing and talking to a child is far more important.
The reports leading author Dr Leslie Gutman said: "To have parents read to their children is much more important than having a hundred books."
The researchers looked at information on children since 1991 in the Avon area. Children’s whose mothers took them out developed better social skills and motor development - holding a spoon.
Familys with a higher education and income spent more ttime with their children according to the study.
The effect of income stopped when the babies got older.
Robyn Walker