Frances Spreer Albert, CPA Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of Albany Medical Center | Albany Medical Health System
Frances Spreer Albert, CPA Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of Albany Medical Center | Albany Medical Health System
As the holiday season approaches, toys often become a focal point for children. However, it is essential for parents to consider factors such as age appropriateness, skill level, and developmental needs when selecting toys.
Dr. Aleeya Healey, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center, has conducted research on this topic and provides guidance on choosing suitable toys.
For younger children, Dr. Healey advises opting for toys that stimulate imagination and creativity. She suggests art supplies like paint, crayons, and Play-Doh to encourage creativity and play sets like kitchen or school setups for role-playing activities.
"People joke that on Christmas morning, kids wind up playing with the box more than the actual toy. But playing with the box is the best kind of play because it’s so open-ended," she noted.
Dr. Healey also emphasizes selecting toys that promote social skills such as attention span development, turn-taking, patience, and compromise. Examples include matching games to enhance focus and memory in young children; Jenga to teach patience; and board games to foster cooperation through turn-taking.
A crucial piece of advice from Dr. Healey is not to let children win all the time during gameplay: "Parents have to be careful running the show," she said. "I see a lot of parents and siblings let the younger child win all the time, but that’s not the purpose of playing a game."
Regarding electronic devices, Dr. Healey recommends limiting screen time while acknowledging certain benefits from educational electronic games that teach subjects like math or spelling or multiplayer games promoting peer interaction.
"It’s not all bad," stated Dr. Healey about electronic gaming experiences. "But you have to be mindful of what you’re playing, who you’re playing with, and for what duration of time."
In addition to traditional toys or electronics purchases during gift-giving occasions like holidays – experiences can serve as excellent presents too: "The best gift any parent or person can give a child is the gift of time," explained Dr.Healey."Interact with them go somewhere with them—or give them 30 minutes your undivided attention."
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