(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Parents and adults have a lot of options when selecting the appropriate toys and games to give while supporting children’s development and safety.
Dr. Joel Steinberg, pediatrician at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says, “Parents should be very careful selecting presents that may encourage violent behaviors, such as toy guns, knives, bows and arrows, computer games, or violent videos.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reviewing a video game’s content before allowing a child or teen to buy it, download it, or play it on- or offline. Parents and caregivers are often unaware of the content of video games, including factors such as virtual violence and mature sexual content. “Studies of children exposed to violent media have shown that they may become numb to violence, imitate the violence, and show more aggressive behavior,” Dr. Steinberg says.
Other safe shopping recommendations for infants and preschoolers include:
- Developmentally appropriate toys that are colorful and have different textures will grab a young child’s attention and stimulate the senses.
- Toys that are above a child’s age level can pose a safety hazard so check for warnings, especially about the risk of choking on parts.
- Pretest a noise-making toy next to your ear. If the sound is too loud or irritating for you, then it’s likely to be harmful to your child.
- Pull toys with strings more than 12 inches in length could pose a strangulation hazard for babies and toddlers.