WERE TOYS IN THE BIBLE FOR KIDS' ASSURANCE AND PLAY?
You're welcome on Morning Wings! We're not only committed to the parents but their wards likewise.
Every parent wants to raise a genius kid. They want to hear they're special and are manifesting so. They want to see them smell gifts and exhume talents. In a previous teaching I made available last year, TOYS: THE GREATEST VIBRANIUM DETECTOR, such things were mentioned and dug up on the importance of toys for your child's education.
Toys can draw out the ingenuity of your kids and lead to the discovery of their passion or their way in life as it impresses itself on their core, stirring them to see a reality that exists even in the look alike they have at hand.
For this reason, necessity is laid on me to answer if toys were mentioned in the Bible. As one parent put it, "I've wanted to know if God was thinking about the joy, fulfillment and dreams of my kids."
So, let me ask afresh, "did toys appear in the Bible?" "Was there a mention or flinty hints, even if it'll be flimsy and not central to the Bible's theme of Christology or salvation of mankind?" Let's see.
Matthew 19:13, KJV
"Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them."
The Lord highlighted this passage to me for our use. Within a moment of enlightenment, I knew why He had picked that for me to answer this question with.
It says, "then were there brought unto Him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray..."
I'll like us to come with our God sense and the common one given us. "Then, were there brought unto him little children..."
If little children were brought to Jesus, what were the likely things that could have accompanied them? Ask, [using our day and experience to judge]. What could have accompanied them?
Since they were brought to Jesus by their parents, those children could have included babies, toddlers and even older children - the ones who could walk freely on their feet [though KJV uses children] which could have painted the latter of the three I mentioned only. "Children" could have meant all those however. You know, some babies could have been brought in handheld colts.
If you drop a cube of sugar somewhere, what are the likely things to follow? Ants!
If you cover yourself with honey, what do you think will follow you? Flies!
As a matter of fact, in ancient Egypt, slaves and servants were usually covered with honey to attract flies away from Pharaoh!
A fact there! Directly to your face.
While it is an assumption we're treating, yet an assumption can be true. We also can deduce that when those children were finally admitted, approaching Jesus, they could have had toys with them.
Don't forget that Jesus might be like a stranger to some of these children and their parents could have wanted to 'bribe' them to receive blessings from the man of God. As such, those crying or reluctant could have been handed toys instead of stripping them of it.
They could just have carried toys. That's what children are known for. You know how you stole some that aren't yours in childhood and fought tooth and nail to keep them as yours. It's just natural for children to be discovered with that plaything wherever they go. It's their joy and comfort items. You want to make a little child 'dance' before you, snatch his toy from him. Yet, if you want him to fulfill a demand, fill him with an expectation of owning one. He'll fling into action and submit to obedience with a repentant face and twisted arms begging your goddess.
And who knows where all the parents highlighted for us in this story were coming from? Probably the market or the workshop? Their workplaces! If so, they might have done like we do today. When we are busy and we want our kids busy too (for obvious purposes), we engage them with toys. Ranging from puzzles to solve, bricks to build, dolls to converse with or dot on and musical instruments to awaken their inherent interests. Don't you think some of these parents could have done that as well?
I put it to you that toys could have followed these little ones that day. As the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Jesus, sending them off, the rattle of one kid could have given off sounds, the clay doll of another could have fallen and the bladder, cloth stuffed or raft ball of the mischievous could have received a kick - pronouncing his freedom from what he couldn't make sense of that his parents came to line him up to do.
So, this may be our go-to evidence on toys in the Bible.
Historically however, it has been found out through the digging of archeological evidence that toys do exist during the Bible era in places like Egypt, Mesopotamia, Babylon and ancient Israel. Egypt couldn't but have had arrays of toys as the first critical civilization with architectural breakthroughs, inventions in medicines, astronomy, field plays and other things in other areas. The whip in the Pharaoh's hand, popular when he crosses his arms is even nearing a toy. Why won't they have some?
Consider Moses' mother in Egypt. The Bible says, "she took bullrushes and built an ark for Moses" (Exo.2:3).
If people, even women are this creative and inventive, doubt me if you please, they had toys. Stuffed toys must have been sold in the market place. Since they had carts and carriages in those days, such mini wheels would have been created for children's curiosity as well.
I'm full of many suspicions that in seeking to give himself much joy and achieve a lot, Solomon must have commissioned or driven the invention of many toys alike (Eccl.2:10). Toy factories must have gone boom and reached the manufacturing peak during his days as he must have carefully curated a lot of toys for his many children. They must have branded some after his names and he himself must have signed on and branded some for his kids. Solomon himself while a kid must have enjoyed his childhood by the many presents of David.
Or do you think it was only God's infilling that made him wise? God saw something in him to latch on. His question before he became wise shows he's on average a wise man - better than many today.
I Kings 3:10-12, KJV
"10 And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 3:12 Behold, I have done according to thy words..."
If he had not asked for money, conquest or what have you before God gave him wisdom, don't you think he was wise before then? God acknowledged that because his request broke convention. The Bible says, "and God was pleased that Solomon had asked this thing." What you ask shows how wise you are! The many people who beset God with prayers daily only ask for the ephemeral or the lives of their enemies. And many are still doing it today even when the Master, Jesus Himself says, "love your enemies and bless those who despitefully use you" (Matt.5:44). You'll show me who's greater. You, your pastor who taught you so or Jesus who said, "don't do it." Mind you, Jesus is the greater! He's greater than Solomon who even exhibited this Christlikeness (Lk.11:31). So, you should give Him or whatsoever He says close hearing and clinging obedience.
Consider the days of Uzziah also, the civilization in that day couldn't have been devoid of toys. Or wouldn't a civilization that invented great engines, machines to shoot arrows and break walls wouldn't have done something for their kids as well.
II Chronicles 26:15, KJV
"And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong."
Mark the words, "cunning men." Those are battle inventors, nuclear physicists, mechanics etc who slept in the laboratories and workshops discovering and inventing for national defence.
If these men existed in those days, how much more those who could craft simple toys. It would have been as simple as 2 + 2 for them!
Don't you think so? Aha! Aba! Even Jesus talked about fathers giving gifts to their kids despite being evil [or human]. Read Matthew 7:11.
Those gifts could have been toys! As a matter of fact, Jesus could have uncovered one rich man or caring parent doing that for his kid. You know Jesus is a careful observer of people (Mark 12:41-42).
I don't think those parents are less concerned than we are today. The creative spirit didn't just evolve. It had been travelling before our days and time.
So, to explicitly answer your question, "were toys mentioned in the Bible that were specifically dedicated to children's joy"; I'll say, there was though not explicitly mentioned.
Parental love has been living before our time and it'll still exist after us. There will still be a father who cares, a mother that's concerned and artisans/creatives ready to create memories and curate inventions not only for their studios or art but for the children of men.
Look, rightly curated toys are not mere playthings - they are silent educators, shaping a child’s mind, heart, and character. The right toy at the right stage of development can awaken creativity, teach empathy, build problem-solving skills and foster emotional resilience. Just as a seed flourishes in good soil, a child thrives when their play is nourished with thoughtful, purposeful tools. In a world of noise and distraction, well-chosen toys become quiet companions in a child’s journey toward imagination, identity and wholeness.
That's why you must not enroll your kids in schools void of facilities and equipments. If you do, you'll have successfully starved their passions and inhibit their dreams. Dreams strive when you feed it to eloquence.
Believe me!
With myriads of toys cutting across diverse fields before your kids, you can mark and begin to suspect which field or passion they may gravitate towards through those they exhibit strong affinity for. Be like Mary; when you see this, lay it to heart (Lk.2:49-51).
Olusola ADEJUMO,
M'Wings.
Morning Wings Ministry,
Nigeria.
morningwingsministryplus@gmail.com
27/08/2025
