“Name Your Toys Challenge: Bringing Play to Life”

When toys get names, they come to life in a child’s imagination. Giving each toy a personality helps children practice storytelling, empathy, and even early language skills.

A study in Cognitive Development (2019) notes that imaginative play, such as personifying toys, improves creative problem-solving and emotional expression.

Here’s how to host a “Name Your Toys Challenge”:

1. Line up 5–10 favorite toys.

2. Ask your child to name each one and give it a personality trait.

3. Encourage them to create a mini story involving all the named toys.

For extra fun, make a “toy ID card” with the name, birthday, and “favorite snack” of each toy. Parents can even record a video of the storytelling session—it becomes a precious keepsake of your child’s creativity.