Why Does My Child Carry Toys Around All Day?

The deeper meaning behind full hands and favourite objects

If your child is constantly carrying the same toy car, doll, or random plastic spoon from one end of the centre to the other (and back again), you’re not alone. Many parents at Te Ōki notice this behaviour and wonder: why does my child always have something in their hands?

It might look like habit or even hoarding—but it’s actually full of meaning. In early childhood, carrying objects is often a sign that your child is exploring important developmental ideas through schemas, while also meeting emotional needs like comfort and control.

Let’s unpack the learning behind those full hands—and how we support it at Te Ōki.

The Transporting Schema

The most common reason children carry toys around is because they’re exploring a transporting schema. Schemas are patterns of behaviour that help children build working theories about how the world works.

In this case, children are learning what it feels like to move objects from place to place. They’re testing weight, balance, distance, and what fits where. It might involve pushing a stroller full of blocks, carrying toy animals in both hands, or repeatedly moving pegs between bowls.

At Te Ōki, we see this kind of repetitive play as an important part of how tamariki make sense of their world. It helps them develop focus, planning, and a sense of purpose in their play.

Te Whāriki states that “children develop working theories for making sense of the natural, social, physical, and material worlds” (Exploration | Mana Aotūroa). Transporting toys is one way they do this—hands-on and full of curiosity.

Attachment, Comfort, and Emotional Security

Sometimes, carrying toys isn’t just about learning—it’s about comfort and connection.

Young children often use familiar objects to help them feel safe and settled. This is especially true when they’re experiencing change (like a new sibling, starting care, or being away from a parent). Carrying something gives them a sense of control and consistency.

In some cases, a favourite object becomes a “transitional object”—a way to bridge the gap between home and the wider world. While at Te Ōki we don’t generally encourage comfort items during play (to avoid loss or disruption), we do understand that full hands can signal a need for reassurance and support.

What Your Child Is Learning

When your child carries toys around, they’re developing more than just arm strength. Here’s what’s going on behind the scenes:

🧠 Planning and sequencing: Deciding what to carry, where to go, and how to get there.🧺 Working theories: Exploring movement, space, and volume.💪 Physical development: Strengthening grip, coordination, and core movement.💗 Emotional regulation: Using familiar or favourite objects to manage stress or transitions.🧠 Executive function skills: Building focus, memory, and persistence.

These are the kinds of skills that set children up for later learning—and they’re all happening during what looks like simple play.

Want to know more about what your child is really learning? Check out our blog: What Is My Child Learning?

How We Support It at Te Ōki

At Te Ōki, we observe and respond to children’s transporting behaviour by:

• Providing open-ended materials like baskets, bags, containers, and trolleys.

• Creating opportunities for movement and repetition, both inside and out.

• Encouraging tidy-up routines to help children care for their environment and reset their play.

• Noticing the why—we look beyond the behaviour to understand the learning and needs behind it.

• Offering emotional support if the behaviour seems to signal a need for connection, especially during transitions.

We also talk to whānau if we notice a pattern—sometimes behaviours at the centre reflect things going on at home, and working together helps us support your child better.

What You Can Do at Home

Here are a few ideas for supporting this behaviour in positive, purposeful ways:

👜 Provide transportable itemsThink baskets, bags, containers, boxes, or trolleys that your child can fill and move around.

🧺 Join in their playTalk about what they’re doing: “You’re taking all the animals to the other side of the room! Where are they going?”

🧘 Offer comfort when neededIf your child clutches toys more during stressful times, offer extra cuddles and reassurance too.

🎵 Make packing up part of the rhythmSupport them to return items when they’re done—turn it into a game or song to help it feel satisfying.

Conversation Starters

These simple comments help children develop language, confidence, and connection in their transporting play:

• “You’re carrying lots of things today—what’s your plan?”

• “Where are you taking those? Can I come too?”

• “You’ve got both hands full! Let’s figure out where they can go.”

  
  

Final Thought

When your child carries toys all day, it’s not just habit—it’s a meaningful, purposeful form of learning. Whether they’re deep in a transporting schema or just needing the comfort of something familiar, those full hands are full of insight into how they think, feel, and grow.

At Te Ōki, we’re here to support both the learning and the little emotions that come with it.

References and Further Reading

At Te Ōki, our approach is guided by well-established research and the principles of Te Whāriki. If you’d like to learn more, here are a few of the ideas behind this blog post:

• Te Whāriki (Ministry of Education, 2017) – New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum, which supports learning through play, working theories, and exploration.

• Schemas in Play (Athey, C. 2007) – Repetitive play patterns like transporting are part of how young children make sense of the world.

• Attachment Theory (Bowlby, J., & Ainsworth, M.) – Children often use familiar objects for emotional comfort and security, especially during transitions.

• Brain Development in the Early Years – Based on work by educators like Nathan Wallis and The Brainwave Trust, recognising the role of play in emotional regulation and learning.

• Vygotsky, L. (1978) – Emphasised that children build knowledge through social interaction and hands-on exploration.

If you ever want to chat more about your child’s learning or behaviour, please reach out—we love partnering with you.