A toy is a thing used in play. Toys are usually associated with children and pets, but it is not unusual for adult beings and some non-domesticated dogs, cats, mice etc. to play with toys. Many items are processed to serve as toys, but goods, or (game-centric) services produced for other purposes can also be used as toys. A child may pick up a household item and "fly" it around pretending that it is an airplane, or an animal might play with a pinecone by batting at it, biting it, chasing it, or by throwing it up in the air. Some toys are produced primarily as collector's items and are not intended to be played with.

The origin of toys is prehistoric; dolls representing infants, animals, and soldiers, as well as representations of tools used by adults are readily found at archaeological sites. The origin of the word "toy" is unknown, but it is believed that it was first used in the 14th century.

Toys, and play in general, are important when it comes to growing up and learning about the world around us. The young use toys and play to discover their identity, help their bodies grow strong, learn cause and effect, explore relationships, and practice skills they will need as adults. Adults use toys and play to form and strengthen social bonds, teach, remember and reinforce lessons from their youth, discover their identity, exercise their minds and bodies, explore relationships, practice skills, and decorate their living spaces.

Toys are more than simple amusement, they and the ways that they are used profoundly influence many aspects of life.

Toys is a 1992 film about a very large family-owned toy company whose change of management threatens to make it a factory dedicated to producing only violent and war related toys.

General Leland Zevo

• The future is anarchy! I'm talking about lawlessness. I'm talking about the Lebanons of the future. I'm talking about the breakdown of the whole system. The military defending people against people. You won't get your appropriations waving that flag. There's no glory in that kind of warfare.

Leslie Zevo

• (commenting on the absurd amount of space the General is taking up for his "production")

He better be making something really cute, or I'm gonna be pissed.

External links

• Toys quotes at the Internet Movie Database

• Action Figures (6)
• Beanie Babies (6)
• Dolls (18)
• Furby (8)
• Lego (150)
• Models@ (10)
• Paper Toys (6)

• Pokémon@ (70)
• Puppets@ (4)
• Reverse Engineering (7)
• Tops (9)
• Trains (8)
• Yo-Yos (29)

See also:

• Kids and Teens: Sports and Hobbies: Trading and Collecting (27)

• Toys of the Century
  toyretailersassociation.co.uk
  [ Kids/Teens ] - A brief look at the toy, game, and craze of the century as identified by the British Association of Toy Retailers. Also has basic history of popular toys.
• Martin's K'Nex homepage
  home.wanadoo.nl
  [ Kids/Teens/Mature Teens ] - Has information about K'Nex construction toys; includes a picture gallery, building instructions, video clips, and links.
• DuckyDucks.com
  duckyducks.com
  [ Kids/Teens ] - Offers rubber ducky-themed games, printables and other attractions.