TOY PREFERENCES IN CHILDREN; IMPACT OF GENDER AND CULTURE, AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Toy preferences in early childhood have an impact on and are reflective of gender socialisation which is considered as an indicator of, amongst other things, future life decisions.  This study is the pilot for the main study in which the extent to which culture affects Turkish and British children’s toy preferences together with a number of related variables will be investigated in a cross-cultural perspective. Socialisation is the process whereby the infant learns how to become a member of the society by adapting to the ways of the culture he/she lives in. Four agents of socialisation: family, school, peer groups and mass media guide him/her through the way.