For many parents, throwing away an old childhood toy can be surprisingly difficult. A faded teddy bear, broken toy car, worn-out doll or old board game may no longer have any practical use, yet it can remain carefully stored for years.
While this may look like simple nostalgia, psychology suggests that possessions can become closely connected to memories, relationships and important stages of life. For parents, an old toy may therefore represent much more than the object itself.
