Researchers identified two types of toys that seem to be most strongly linked to high-quality play:
- Blocks: Examples include LEGOs, wooden blocks, magnetic tiles, etc. Blocks seem to inspire the most creative play and are best when they are open-ended (that is, not designed to make a particular product) and have enough pieces to build many different structures.
- Miniatures: Examples include small people, animals, or vehicles. These types of toys encourage children to engage in pretend play and cooperative play with others.