Even for the By DEBRA COOPER Copley News Service If you're like millions of other shoppers, walking into a toy store at Christmastime, may be overwhelming. Suddenly, you’re confronted by an array of colors, sizes and shapes that seem as endless as the aisles you walk down. Traditional playthings are side by side with newfangled, high-tech toys. But toys are an important part of the giving season, and even if you don’t have little ones of your own, holiday time in the world of toys can awaken you to the glee and happiness of Christmas. : Parents usually know exactly what their little ones want for Christmas, but if you're choosing a gift for the child of an employer, neighbor or relative, the following recommendations from LJN Toys, Ltd., a toy company and manufac- turer of Photon, a new high-tech interactive game, might help. Get suggestions from friends who are parents. If you haven’t shopped for toys for a while, you might be in for a surprise when you see the diversity of products on the market. One sugges- tion is to find out what the popular TV shows are among kids and check to see if toy collections are available based on the series. Anything a child can easily relate to - a TV or storybook hero - will likely contribute to imaginative play and creativity. GE Select toys that feel good. “All children like cuddly dolls - a doll that feels good to hold is important to the child’s development,” says Dr. Janice Gibson, chairman of the department of psychology and education at the University of Pittsburgh. “Children are attached to toys that feel good to explore both visually and throu touch.” Consider the age of the child. As children develop, their toy preferences change. A toddler needs toys which stimulate imitative play. During the middle school years, children enjoy team play and become concerned with winning. Group play during theages of 8 to 12, according to child care experts, teaches children about the nature of competition, which often helps to stimulate cognitive growth. A game like Photon, a high-tech version of “Cowboys and Indians” that is played in teams, can help children learn about group strategy, ingenuity and team partic- ipation. Select toys that stimulate the imagination. “Playing with figures that have ‘human’ charac- teristics can help a child construct new fantasies and understand their own unique feelings and ideas,” Gibson says. ‘Children are more easily apt to i i i = tively work out conflicts through imaginative play.” Know the child’s preferences. Find out from a parent, baby sitter or neighbor what the child’s interests are. For instance: Is the child artistic? Does he or she enjoy independent or group play? Children have the same likes and dislikes as adults, so it’s important to learn what you can about the child as a “person.” Consider toys that are active. Remember, in addition to intellectual and emotional develop- ment, children need to develop and strengthen their bodies. Whether it be the development of small muscles in the hands and fingers or improving and perfecting eye-hand coordination, many toys are active in nature and allow the child to foster his or her manual dexterity. Select toys that have variety. Children are constantly changing and, as their worlds expand, their toys need to hold enough variet x - 5 ) a TRivers ga Holiday Savings ¢ Je == g | from © APF A k an * ROSEMARY'’S COORleS : m1 9 . 200° o Wn ¢C INC, J 20 % 30 J . * Party Trays * Gift Boxes “> erp b 50% Off * Decorative Ting ¢ ol Hiwiesy “Toe : i SLC es | 2 A Cookies Shipped Throughout » 2 4 IT M J ; . The Continental us - 7176775066 4 [IL | Sweaters, Slacks, | Ph. rder To g i) . HY es dof Or Visa PAST ON STEAMERE. 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