'Favourite Things' Survey

A rough and ready analysis

The sample here is just over 600 children ranging from 0 – 16 years old. So each age/gender group is quite small.

However the survey does show marked and recognisable trends.

For each child, the responder (in most cases mothers), stated what the child's favourite plaything was at the time of responding. The survey is designed to be a snapshot not a comprehensive analysis.

I have grouped the children in the following way: Under 5s, ages 5–8,  9-12 and 13–16

0-5 year olds

Amongst the 0 – 5s soft toys and blankets/cuddlies were very popular. Though the girls at 27% showed more devotion to their soft toys than the boys at 15%.

The most popular toys for girls in this age group were dolls (33%) and for boys were wheeled vehicles – peaking with 2 year old boys (46%), down to 38% of 3 year olds. By 4 years old the boys are diversifying and 46% love their character toys (Bob, Thomas, pat) and action figures (38%).

The girls' favourite character toys in this age group are Mickey Mouse, Dora and Fifi.

Characters very important in the 2-4 age range.

The rise and rise of enthusiasm for consoles and electronic games appears to begin with 4 year old boys. In our sample 19% of them are already well into their Gameboy, PS2 and Xbox but none of the girls.

5-8 year olds

The girls' interest in electronic toys begins in this age group. Only a handful (7%) of 5 and 6 year old girls are devoted to their electronics but at 7 it is 47% - almost all of these are Nintendo DS! In this survey the figures fall off to 21% amongst 8 year old girls. However among the boys interest is sustained throughout at around 40%. Amongst 5 year old boys the Nintendo DS is king, but with the older boys the PSP and PS2 are more popular.

By now the boys have pretty much lost interest in soft toys but the girls still love them, peaking at age 5 (43% love their soft toy best). This drops to 27% at 6 and down to almost none at age 8.

Sports items (footballs mainly and football kit) first appear on the lists for 7 year old boys.

9-12 year olds

Sports equipment reaches 18% of boys in this age group against only 3% of girls. The interest in games consoles remains high with 47% of boys and 55% of girls.

Dr Who characters are very popular with boys in this age range but there seems to be nothing equivalent for girls. By now the girls enjoy their iPods and MP3 players, mobile phones, clothes and accessories.

13-16 year olds

And once they hit 13, games consoles Xbox, PSP, PS2/3, Wii – (though no longer the Nintendo DS) are extremely popular.

Sample in this age group v. small.