Why do children break their toys?

It is true that children relate to toys in different ways: some are very careful, others rush to dismantle them immediately, while others even break them. Why does this happen? Here are a few reasons:

Out of curiosity

It is possible that the child has a strong exploratory interest and is more excited about the structure of the object rather than its form. That is why little explorers (both boys and girls) find pleasure not in the conventional purpose of the toy, but rather in its „discovery.“.

If your child is an explorer, do not buy expensive toys; let them play with building blocks made of large pieces, assemble and disassemble toys together. Buy an encyclopedia with illustrations of how various devices and appliances work (for example, „I Wonder Why?“, published by „Hermes“). It is a good idea to visit a car exhibition after the child turns 4 years old.

Due to false hopes

The child wanted one toy but receives another. Before buying a gift for your child, think about what would intrigue them. You will easily determine the area of their interests; just observe them for a while.

Due to a lack of communication

The child breaks their toys to get additional attention from their parents. This happens especially often in families where a second child has appeared, and the older one feels that the younger one takes all the love from the adults. In this case, breaking toys means: I don't need anything if mom and dad don't want to communicate with me. To avoid the brewing conflict, try to distribute your attention evenly so that no one feels neglected.

From the desire to imitate adults

The child sees how adults treat different objects and wants to do just as well. Help them master the craft and buy them a few mechanical toys.

Because the toy is intended for someone else

Until a certain age, it is not appropriate to show your child a toy that is intended for another child. While your child is small, they do not understand that there are things in the world that do not belong to them. That is why they may get upset, offended, or even break the toy bought as a gift. If you have to go to the toy store together, be prepared to compensate for your child's experiences by choosing a small toy for them as well.

Because parents try too hard to teach them how to play with the new toy

Don't waste your time teaching your child elementary things: your son how to play with cars, and your daughter how to dress and feed her doll. As a sign of protest, it is normal for the child to break the toy and later, when it has lost its appeal, for the child to not let it out of their hands. This way, they will play as they like.

From the desire to „test“ their parents

If the child has supposedly accidentally broken the toy, will a new one be bought for them? If you do not fall for their bait and do not find another way out of the situation (to repair, „heal,” or invent a new role for the already damaged toy), the attempt to test your reactions is doomed to fail. But if you give in, this situation will repeat itself.

Due to an outburst of irritation

Guests are coming, they give the child a toy, and the child breaks it. What is the reason? Sometimes parents prepare to welcome guests and burden the child with unnecessary demands and moral lessons. As a result, the peak of emotions comes at the most inappropriate moment – then the child begins to take revenge on the toy, which has done nothing to deserve it.

There are cases when the toy is not suitable for the child's age, i.e., the gift exceeds their intellectual, emotional, or physical development. This can provoke irritation in the child and a desire to get rid of this item, without understanding the adults' dissatisfaction.

Is it worth punishing the child for a broken toy?

It is good if they understand with your help that they will never have such a toy again (if your child is not in the category of little explorers, they will not like this perspective at all). Moreover, try to be consistent: if instead of one broken toy you bought three new ones, they will never learn to take care of their toys.