The Possession and Use of Toys in Elementary‐School Boys and Girls: does giftedness make a difference?

Abstract

This study investigates whether gifted children differ from non‐gifted regarding the possession and use of toys and whether gifted are less affected by traditional gender roles in these two variables. The parents of 286 fourth‐grade elementary school students (151 intellectually gifteds [IQ >= 130] and 135 children of average intelligence) responded to a list of 30 toy groups. It was assessed (a) which toys are present in the household and (b) how often they are used by the child. The analysis revealed that only the use of toys typical for boys displayed a mildly significant effect for giftedness. Dramatic gender effects were found: with the exception of the use of athletic equipment and group games, both groups exhibited gender‐specific toy possession and toy use to an equal degree.