Hi peanutter, DS is only 6 months old and things may change as he gets older but I think he does both! plays with toys and like to grab/destroy/eat anything I will allow him to touch He is pretty gently though really but I gave him a junk mail catalog yesterday and he tore it up which wa sreally cute lol but with toys he has figured out what makes them open and what makes the noise and what's good to chew etc and I think he really enjoys them. As I said when he's older and can get around crawling or walking things may be different.