Submitted by: agcomm,  Wed Nov 26 10:13:38 1997


                        November 26, 1997
 
Gift Buyers Reminded about Old-Fashioned Benefits of Some Toys 
 
     It's the season for snowfall, frosty temperatures and
advertisements touting this year's high-tech highfalutin toys.
What should parents do when their children clamor for this year's
"gotta-have-it" toy? An educator at North Dakota State University
says they'd do well to remember that the best toys help children
learn. 
     Toys that "perform" and let children sit passively by and
observe probably are not worth taking home. In fact, the boxes
these toys come in may give children more long-lasting enjoyment,
says Helen Danielson, child development specialist for the NDSU
Extension Service. 
     "Toys seem to change every year, but children change very
little," says Danielson. "Some of the newer toys can smother a
child's imagination. Children will tire quickly of toys that are
programmed and do everything."
     When children request virtually every toy they see
advertised, parents should tell them that they'll write their
requests on "the list." That way, children will feel that their
parents have a sincere interest in their desires, Danielson says.
However, parents should make sure their children understand that
they won't receive everything on the list. 
     The best educational toys will spur children's creativity,
involve them in role playing or require that they use their
problem-solving skills. Many of these toys are inexpensive and
instead of featuring gadgetry, provide learning opportunities by
engaging children's imaginations. Doing a lot with a little may
seem like an old-fashioned concept to some, but when it comes to
children's toys, simpler is often better.
     "Some of the best toys for young children make a mess," says
Danielson. 
     Art materials are a good example. Modeling clay and
fingerpaint are hands-on toys that children love. These materials
allow children to learn about shapes and textures and give them a
sense of control over the clay and paint. Similar lessons come
from water and sand, which can never break or wear out, although
Danielson advises parents to lay an old shower curtain or other
water-resistant covering on the floor.
     "Parents should look for toys that grow with their
children," continues Danielson. 
     Blocks are ageless toys that teach shape and allow children
to make something happen, both of which lessons foster
creativity. Other "toys" offering multiple uses can be adult
items such as scarves, which can entertain via peekaboo games and
later on serve as a tent for dolls or a bedspread in a dollhouse. 
     When selecting books or recordings, parents should choose
those that build on children's interests such as animals or silly
words, says the National Association for the Education of Young
Children (NAEYC). Infants, those children ages 12 months and
younger, enjoy bright pictures and can soon turn the pages of
board books. The NAEYC says toddlers enjoy stories, poems songs
and nursery rhymes, particularly those parents can recall from
their own childhood.
     Danielson says dolls are another option for gift givers. She
suggests those that have less-defined features, such as sock
dolls. Puzzles also make good educational gifts, but young
children require puzzles containing only a few pieces, which have
identifiable shapes.
     "That's where looking at the age appropriateness on the box
is important. You don't want to set children up for failure and
frustration," Danielson says.
     The NAEYC stresses that good toys are not necessarily
expensive, and one child does not need a large selection of toys.
Regardless of the what they have, children will get more out of
their toys if they have easy access. That means arranging toys on
low, open shelves, says the NAEYC. Toys get lost and broken in
toy chests and boxes, and falling lids are dangerous. 
     Also, children need time, space and some child-adult
interaction to enjoy their toys. Infants especially need a
responsive, verbal adult to introduce them to the world. As
children grow, care givers need to play with them in more complex
ways.
     As the holiday season progresses and parents feel more and
more of the gotta-have-it pressure, Danielson offers this bit of
solace: "What better time to practice what we know is really good
for children."
     Parents who have questions about the safety of certain toys
they are considering can get additional information by calling
the U.S. Consumer Products Commission at 1-800-638-2772.
                              ###
NDSU Agriculture Communication
Source: Helen Danielson (701) 231-8289
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136