Having young relatives, I've noticed this issue. I attribute it to several factors:<p>1. Declining birth rates. There are more adults in a given child's life;<p>2. Delayed child birth. Not only are there less children per year because of this, but it also means the parents and relatives are older and tend to be more affluent;<p>3. Larger houses. Possessions are like a gas. They will expand to fill available space. This affects every possession type, not just toys. Where once a family of 5 might be in a 3x1 1100sq ft house, now it's a family of 3 in a 3000sq ft house;<p>4. Toys are generally cheaper (the article mentions this) and easier to get thanks to Amazon;<p>5. Increased information. You're now aware of many things you previously weren't before the Internet. So an aunt or uncle could bring a toy you've never heard of. Now? You've seen Tiktoks about everything the second it's available. So with increased means and knowledge of pretty much everything, there are fewer unfulfilled needs.<p>6. Guilt. People generally have to work longer hours, more jobs and harder than they did 30+ years ago. As necessary as that is, you will find people "compensating" for the lack of time with material things;<p>7. Children spend less time playing with each other because now everything is a "play date". We've come a long way from the TV ads of "do you know where your children are?" that would play at 10pm. Now you get arrested if your children walk to the store by themselves [1]. As much as people bemaon video games, computers and devices, it's often the only social outlet with peers children have.<p>8. A single device (eg console, phone, tablet) can replace the need for many toys so these things tend to collect rather than breaking and getting thrown out.<p>[1]: <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/georgia-moms-arrest-puts-free-range-parenting-back/story?id=116004039" rel="nofollow">https://abcnews.go.com/US/georgia-moms-arrest-puts-free-rang...</a>