play nest

The toy shown on the cover page is called a play nest and is marketed to infants as early as when they are born. The play nest is actually quite a complex toy, accomplishing multiple objectives at once. The basic form of the toy is an inflatable tube for the child to sit or lie in with a framework of four bars stretching up and over the center of the tube serving as a surface for different clip-on toys to attach to. These four clip-on toys are a sun, a bird, a ladybug, and a butterfly and their exact purposes will be discussed later in the paper. It should be noted however that these toys are composed of contrasting colors and designs, which according to research, children are especially attracted to. On the surface of the tube are more stimuli designed to stimulate the child’s newly developing mind. There is a sheep, a scarecrow, a duck, a pig, a bumblebee, and a barn door. Finally, attached in the middle of the framework where the bars connect is a reflective mirror so the c...