Gift Guide

The Toy Challenge

MI

How to pick

age-appropriate

toys and games.

BETH SMITH

THE DETRO IT JEWISH NEW S

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

G8

atching a toy to a child-is a
challenge. And, with the
holidays rapidly ap-
proaching, finding the
right match takes on
heightened importance.
Nothing turns fun to flop
faster than giving a toy to
a child who is either too
young or too old to play
with it. Unfortunately,
many gift-givers often "try
to fit a size 10 foot into a
size 8 shoe," says Dr. John
Webster. a cognitive psychologist
and associate professor at Towson
State University in Maryland.
Ignoring age labels on boxes, they
buy what they think the child
should have regardless of the
child's age.
"I think some people have a ten-
dency to rush kids into certain
toys before they are ready for
them. This often leads to frustra-
tion," he adds. Inattention, bore-
dom, disinterest, even tears can
result when toys are pushed on
children not ready to play with
them.
Age labels on boxes have a
purpose and "are worth checking,"
says Dr. Webster. They are based
on "the ability of a child to
physically manipulate and play
with the features of a toy; the
ability of a child to understand
how to use a toy; the child's play
needs and interests at different
developmental levels; and the
safety aspects of the toy itself,"
according to the Toy Manufac-
turers of America.
"But what you have to keep in
mind is that not all kids are at the
same stage at the same age,"
explains Dr. Maria Fracasso,
developmental psychologist and
a colleague of Dr. Webster's at
Towson State. "What might be
appropriate for one 6-year-old,
might be totally inappropriate for
another."
Some idea of justhow that child
ranks socially, intellectually and
physically is needed. But, while
appreciating differences in
children, the TMA still cautions
against buying younger children
toys that are marked for older
boys and girls because of safety
considerations.
Once you have a handle on the
age aspect of toy buying, thebest
advice from Dr. Robin Chernoff,
assistant professor of general
pediatrics and adolescent medi-
cine at the Johns Hopkins
Children's Center, is to look for

toys that foster imagination and
imaginative play. She also opts for
toys that invite sharing and
interaction rather than toys that
only require adult supervision.
But where do you begin in a
toy store loaded down with
thousands of toys? Once you
get by Barbie dolls, the Lion King
and Mighty Morphin Power
Rangers, all expected to be hot
items during the holiday season,
what toy do you buy? To ease the
confusion, we have some sugges-
tions.

Birth To 18 Months:
The Two S's
"In general, I think the two
most important requirements for
toys at this age are safety - no
small parts or sharp edges - and
simplicity - nothing complicated,"
says Dr. Chernoff.
Sensory stimulation is also
important as infants are looking
at things, touching things,
smelling things, tasting things
and hearing things. Mobiles and
safety mirrors, musical toys, small
stuffed animals - with well con-
nected seams and securely
fastened eyes - and anything that
rattles or squeaks are toys geared
to babies.
"A favorite item at our store is
Educo's Roller Coaster," says Judy
Baxtresser, manager at the Cre-
ative Learning Center in Walled
Lake. "It is relaxing for the baby
to play with it and, best of all, it
has no loose pieces."
While babies can see colors,
they seem particularly fascinated
with black and white pattern,s
adds Ms. Baxtresser. The newest
toy in the Wimmer- Ferguson line
is the Car Seat Gallery, which —in-
dudes a set of patterned black and
white cards that attach to the
back of a car seat for babies to
view as they ride along with Mom
and Dad.
Once babies sit up, crawl and
then walk, they are ready for a
whole new set of toys including
stacking toys, blocks, nesting cups,
pop-up toys, and push-pull toys.
And, by the time they are 1, babies
are getting acquainted with lan-
guage. Sturdy cardboard books
and cloth books with pictures of
familiar items teach them to con-
nect words with objects. "As soon
as children are able to sit on laps,
they are ready for someone to read
to them," adds Dr. Chernoff.

18 Months to 3 Years:
On The Go
Toddlers are active. They like
to run and jump. They also like to
ride on things like tricycles or wag-
ons and throw and catch balls -
the bigger the better. Fine motor
skills are just developing, but they
can handle large pieces of wood
and plastic to build.
Blocks are tops for this age
group. The best, according to
Ms. Baxtresser, are painted
or plain maple blocks made by
T.C. Timber. They range from
moderately priced 13-piece.
beginner sets to huge collections
that costs over $200. Duplo by
Lego is a set of pre-school build-
ing pieces that comes in plastic
buckets or suitcases for easy stor-
age.
Playmobil 1-2-3 is the pre-
school version of Playmobil toys.

Three to Six Years:
Make Believe
"Memory is much bet-
ter and language is the
name of the game for
kids between 3 and 6,"
says Dr. Webster. Inter-
active play with other
children becomes the
norm. Interest turns to
beginning board games,

Imported from Germany, the
toys, which include a house, a
barn, a train and dozens of
community helpers, are made
of high-quality plastic that is
durable and safe. Prices range
from $5 to $55. "Unlike the
Playmobil for older kids that have
a lot of pieces, these don't," adds
Ms. Baxtresser. "Nothing comes
apart."
New toys expected to capture
some attention this holiday sea-
son include Mattel's Talking Baby
Simba, a plush baby lion that gig-
gles, talks and roars when his
paws, tummy, tail or head are
squeezed, and Storytelling Pooh,
a loveable plush toy that tells 1700

simple craft kits, tape players and
tapes. Make-believe is also strong
at this age and children like to role
play either as grown-ups or as
imaginary characters. Dress-up
costumes and accessories are pop-
ular.
A top seller in most specialty
toy shops for children in this age
bracket are Playmobil and Brio.
Both toy lines reinforce imagina-
tive play. Playmobil offers large
sets, including a castle, a pirate
ship and a circus, plus dozens of
smaller items, all somehow relat-
ed to a larger set.
Top of the line is the Victorian
Dollhouse ($180). Divided into sev-
eral rooms, each can be decorat-
ed using furniture and people

mini stories when his
tummy is hugged. When
tucked into bed, he says
"Let's sleep now," and
then softly snores.

This colorful train set
reinforces imaginative play.

