Children's toys with the highest cost-per-use before they lose interest have been revealed

Parents are dishing out a mere 31p a day on books before their kids move on, while nearly £5 is splurged daily on gadgets like tablets, new research has found. The cost per play of various kids' trinkets was exposed, with objects like iPads bottoming out on the value scale.

A poll of 1,000 parents with sprogs up to age 12 disclosed that bicycles, electric toys such as Scalextric, and make-believe sets including castles and dolls houses top the chart for the highest cost-per-play before the little ones clock off. Such toys tot up an average spend above £4 each time they're used, with one racing track type hitting nearly £4.96 a pop.

Yet, in a twist, books bagged the title for most economical, at just 31p, while sensory or fidget toys weren't far behind, coming in at 38p a play. The survey drops more tea, revealing close on three-quarters of parents reckon their young ones have around half a dozen dear toys gathering dust.

Consequently, two thirds are gutted about shelling out for an expensive plaything for their offspring - with 22% admitting it's a frequent faux pas. The research was conducted by Yoto, a screen-free audio platform for children that knocks out audio players which nippers can use independently.

Chief Ben Drury said: "Christmas can be quite a costly time; so naturally parents are going to be weighing up what items are going to offer them 'true' value while keeping the kids entertained. One important thing parents have to consider is whether a purchase is a 'fad' or a longer term investment.", reports the Mirror.

"So often, a child can obsess over a character or particular toy for a short period before moving onto something else leaving parents with an expensive product to store away. But ultimately, every parent wants a child to be thrilled and repeatedly use a more costly purchase regularly."

Educational toys such as shape sorters only cost 69p per play, while water toys like super soakers or pool toys came in at 72p. And outdoor toys like scooters or skateboards were priced at £1.25 per use, while sports equipment averaged at £1.37.

According to the averages, novelty toys like light up yo-yos, slime or a whoopee cushion were engaged with least, followed by science kits. When their children did lose interest, parents are happy to hand them onto friends and family, however a third hang on to them in the hope younger siblings will have more interest.

Quickly losing interest, preferring other toys, or items requiring batteries becoming a hassle were the top reasons pricey purchases don't get used. Despite this, parents believe some pricier items keep their kid's attention for longer according to the OnePoll.com data.

Therefore, when choosing a gift, parents prioritise the child's specific request, educational value, and entertainment value.

Ben Drury shared his thoughts: "There are different ways to balance out the value you feel you can get from a present for a child. Items such as books and art supplies are low cost and high engagement, but may not deliver the biggest 'wow factor' on Christmas morning."

"While some products cost more, parents need to consider the amount of actual time a child plays with a present."

"If kids are engaged with a gift for a long time and on a regular basis while learning and developing it can pay itself off tenfold. And if it can help a child use their imagination, even better - bringing books and stories to life can really feed a child's creativity and you can't put a price on that."