Parenting News
‘Smart Toys’ Are Hot, But Experts Differ on Their Value
By Nancy Weiner
W A S H I N G T O N, Jan. 31— A play date for a group of Virginia children often involves toy trains and old-fashioned Legos, but their parents feel pressure to make sure the kids play with "educational" toys too.
"Boy, if you don't have this for your child, they're going to be stupid," half-jokes one parent, Dana Hall, contemplating one of the "smart toys" in question.
Americans spent nearly $1 billion last year on toys that promise to stimulate young brains, but there is debate over their value.
One leading toy manufacturer, Leapfrog, relies on former teachers and tests to develop its products.
"Our experts say you should expose children to letters and sounds and numbers … at the earliest possible age," says Tim Bender, president of Leapfrog.
Too Much Information?
But not all educators agree.
"They're trying to shove facts into young children's minds, and they don't necessarily need those facts," says Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a child psychologist at Temple University who recently co-authored the book Einstein Never Used Flashcards.
Hirsh-Pasek says so-called smart toys take the play out of playtime by emphasizing memorization over creativity.
"The smart toy has one right answer and what we're teaching our kids to be perfectionists," Hirsh-Pasek says, citing toys that test young children in foreign languages or ask them to perform other tasks.
But Bender says the toys bring pleasure and self-esteem to children, as well.
"In many cases, there is one right answer," he says. "The kids feel good. They feel smart. It gives them confidence."
No studies have been done examining whether children learn more from educational toys than traditional toys. But one thing most educators agree on is that kids do some of their most valuable learning when playing with other kids, even if it's with the simplest of toys.
"Sometimes, the most frustrating thing on Christmas Day is, they've torn through all the packages and they're playing with the boxes," says Linda Gyllenhoff, a parent.
In some cases, perhaps, less is more.
Source: ABC News
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