Since the shopping season is upon us I thought I would take a few minutes to save everyone some money. First off I would avoid all infant/toddler DVDs. These include Baby Einstein and Your Baby Can Read.. They have very convincing advertisements but the research shows that they do not help your child. One study even showed toddlers who watched them learned fewer words than toddlers who watched nothing.
Also I would not buy a baby walker. The ones with wheels are dangerous. Do you really want to chase your child before they are walking! The walkers do not help infants walk faster. Instead the research shows they walk and TALK later if they use a walker. The ones without wheels are fine (such as an Exersaucer) but they do not help infants learn. They simply entertain your child while you do the dishes.
As parents we all think our children are advanced for their age but I would urge parents to pay attention to the recommended age range of a toy before buying it. Toys are usually targeted to a developmental level and children not at that level can become frustrated and not enjoy a toy. Also toys with small pieces are not labeled for young children for safety reasons.
Lastly I would urge parents to pay attention to the ratings of DVDs and video games before you buy them. There is a reason for T, M and PG-13 ratings. What may look just like a racing game may have inappropriate language or actions.
So... what to buy? Books, puzzles, board games are timeless and will get used. Also building (such as Legos) and craft supplies help a child's creativity. As my children have gotten older we have given gifts of activities such as tickets to a play. These have been some of the most popular and memorable gifts in our house.
Happy Black Friday!
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