Newswise — Sure, you want to buy that flashy, trendy, high-tech toy for the child on your holiday list. But an expert at the University of Indianapolis says simpler is better when it comes to choosing gifts that are age-appropriate and developmentally helpful to young kids.
Especially for preschoolers, the best toys are familiar and inexpensive options such as building blocks and modeling clay, which stimulate creativity and cultivate fine motor skills, says Jennifer Fogo, who holds a doctorate in child development and teaches in UIndy's School of Occupational Therapy.
RECOMMENDEDBooksBuilding blocks, shape sortersPush toysNon-toxic modeling clay
NOT RECOMMENDEDVideosElectronic gamesMotorized toysStationary play saucers
Videos, electronic games and motorized riding toys can promote passive behavior and hinder children from exploring and understanding the world around them, she says. Stationary play saucers are all right in moderation, but infants need time on their tummies in order to learn how to crawl and walk.
"Instead of choosing toys that provide all the bells and whistles, let the child do that for himself," Fogo says. "Look for toys that promote interaction, not just for the child and the toy, but for the child and the parent or caregiver."
Books provide that type of focal point for interaction, and they make great gifts for any age. Early on, the adult can point out and identify the illustrations. Later, the child can turn the pages and talk about the story.
Also, would-be Santas should keep safety in mind and consider the recipient's limitations. Because infants explore with their mouths as much as their hands, look for non-toxic materials and avoid small pieces that pose a choking hazard.
Complicated toys are not necessary for very small children, who are still learning very basic principles such as cause and effect and their own ability to move objects. A 6- to 12-month-old child may be good at reaching and grasping objects, but most children don't master their release skills " the ability to deliberately place an object in a specific location " until later.
"They're still figuring out where their body ends and the rest of the world begins," Fogo says.
More options are available once kids reach the ages of 3 to 5. This is the prime period to nurture imagination and creativity, Fogo says, so construction sets and art supplies are good choices. Remember that the oversized crayons and toys that are marketed to younger kids may be easier for little hands to grasp, but they are more difficult to control and therefore won't aid in the child's development of fine motor skills.
"So, keep it simple," Fogo says. "Go ahead and give children regular-size crayons and a big sheet of blank paper and help them to expand their world of imagination."
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