The Toy Story franchise is well-loved globally. One reason for its popularity is the core themes of joy and connection through play that resonate with children and grown-ups.

In the past four films, Toy Story has explored themes of friendship, overcoming challenges and navigating what it means to mature. While these themes remain central in the fifth instalment, the movie also tackles the pertinent issue of children’s technology use, which includes tablets, phones, computers and televisions.

As psychology researchers who study child development and play, we see Toy Story 5 as an opportunity to examine what research tells us about the roles of play and digital technology in children’s lives and how parents can support a healthy balance between them.

The importance of toys and play

Throughout the movie, viewers see Bonnie’s pure and simple joy as she creates a whole world with her toys. As viewers, such scenes warmed our hearts, and while this may be part nostalgia, research is clear that imaginative and interactive play is important for children’s healthy development.

Children need face-to-face interaction, often best facilitated by play, to learn prosocial skills such as communication, co-operation and problem solving.

Interactive peer play is also especially important in promoting children’s social and emotional competence, which supports their ability to establish and maintain relationships. These clear, well-established benefits of play can become disrupted when technology enters the mix.

‘The age of toys is over’

However,........

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