GUIDELINES FOR GIFT GIVING TO CHILDREN:
Traditional Toys That Stimulate Reading, Sports and Play Are Recommended

by Dr. Michael Brody, Chair of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's Television and Media Committee

Buying gifts for children today can be both very overwhelming and very confusing. Should we stick with the "old-fashioned" kinds of presents like books, trains, blocks and dolls, or are the new interactive toys and computer/video games a better choice? What are the best types of toys for a given age that will stimulate their learning, imagination and play?

One rule of thumb is to understand that the essence of play is really storytelling. That is why play is so very important, as it has the potential to foster both language and motor development. Toys that spark a child's imagination and thus his or her own story are the best. In general, I recommend non-scripted toys like clay, legos, baby dolls, crayons, forts, and doll houses. These all keep kids engaged in three-dimensional tactile experiences as opposed to the two-dimensional digital realm, so easily accessed in our world today.

That said, the Kaiser Foundation found that most children, even under six years old, spend as much time with the TV, computers and video games as they do outside; 36% of this group live in homes where the TV is almost always on; 43% of children under the age of two watch TV every day; 26% of those under two have a TV in their bedroom. We do not yet have any data on what this means to a child's long term mental health, but we do know that many children have less and less time for true play and that is unfortunate, as play does impact positively on development.

Here are some guidelines that encourage true play and can help you steer clear of unknown outcomes:

• Infants - balls, rattles, baby mirrors, picture cloth books, soft animals and some mobiles
• Toddlers - cars, wagons, crayons, pull and wheel toys, play tool sets, playdough, and baby dolls
• Preschoolers - dolls, blocks, legos, playhouses and miniature farms
• Elementary School Kids - construction sets (for example, crafts, tea sets, fashion dolls, trucks and bikes)
• Older Kids (10-12) - games, sports equipment and musical instruments

ABOUT AACAP
As the nation's leading authority on child and adolescent psychiatry, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) has been spearheading efforts to ensure that all children have access to high quality mental health care and services for over 50 years. Representing over 7,000 child and adolescent psychiatrists across the US, the Academy is an advocate for children at risk, ensuring access to screening, assessment, treatment, and insurance parity and important funding for research.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN FOR AMERICA'S KIDS
The American Academy of Childhood and Adolescent Psychiatry is sponsoring The Campaign for America's Kids, an initiative dedicated to ensuring mental health for all children. The campaign will focus on federal, state and local government advocacy; training programs for educators in all schools; public awareness programs; easier access to care; and stimulus programs to attract more professionals to the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.