Here's a good article about electronic toys and learning. Researchers are beginning to question the value of electronic toys, and with good reason. Studies show that children who play with "push-button" toys tend to engage in limited and repetitive play. Instead, classic toys like blocks are more open-ended and lead a child towards more imaginative play.
Of course, the big push for electronic toys is coming from toy manufacturers, not child development experts. Does anyone really think that toy manufacturers have the best interest of children at heart? I don't. The goal of toy companies is to make a profit, and this may or may not coincide with what's best for a child.
In our household, we stick to traditional toys like blocks, rings, etc. In hunter-gatherer times, toys would have been few in number and all low-tech. This is the approach we try to stick with.
The article ends with another good point, and that is what young children actually want as far as play. When surveyed, their top choice is to go to the park. There is obviously an evolutionary connection here, as parks often have a savannah-like setting to them. As it turns out, the children know what's best in this case: take away the electronic gadgets and give them nature and play.
