Modern mothers believe the Recommended Daily Allowance, or RDA, of a child’s day should be made up of 75 per cent creative play, a UK survey from Playmobil has revealed.

Mothers favour creative, interactive, traditional play over academic challenges and the latest trendy toys or computer games. Traditional toys are still top for the tots for British mothers, where the Playmobil fire engine has just been listed in the top 12 toys in the pre-school category at the biggest UK toy event of the year, Dream Toys.

The research from toymaker Playmobil surveyed 1,000 British mothers on how they like their child to play and what they like them to play with. According to the research a remarkable 89 per cent of mums favour more creative and traditional toys over the latest trendy gadgets, while 56 per cent buy play sets and train sets over computer or academic games. Significantly, 89 per cent believe it develops their imagination and stimulates the mind, and 67 per cent say that it develops their social skills.

Commenting on the UK survey, Anna Agius, marketing manager at Playmobil Malta, stated that the results “reflect the feedback we get from parents who visit our Ħal Far Fun Park. It is heartening to see that many parents, including those in Malta, are aware of the benefits accruing from traditional toys, particularly the fact that these allow them to interact with their children and encourage the children themselves to mingle with their peers.” Ms Agius also referred to the Playmobil 2010 novelties as the right mix of classics and innovation, tailored to focus on the needs of children within a specific age-group “yet remaining loyal to the high quality, safety standards and playtime value which are synonymous with the Playmobil brand”.