Giving children the wrong (or not enough) toys may doom a society
Survival is a case of child’s play
GIVERS OF EDUCATIONAL gifts, rejoice: despite the eye-rolls you may receive on Christmas morning, you are part of a long and valuable tradition. In cultures around the world, toys have been used to teach children what they need to know about the society they live in. When the toys teach the right skills, the children are prepared for adulthood and thrive. When they do not, calamity beckons.
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This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Clear and present danger”
From the December 21st 2024 edition
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