Electronic Gifts for Kids: They're Not All Bad

The days when doe-eyed youngsters asked for dolls or trains for Christmas or their birthday are for the most part gone. Today, children are becoming technologically active at increasingly younger ages.

Parents who grew up hearing that "television will rot your brains" and now have extensive DVD collections and home theater systems may find themselves in a quandary when their third-grader asks for an iPod. Do you buy it? Do you give the child something more traditional?

The answer to both questions is yes.

Ken Haller, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, says the key is to make sure any gift is appropriate for the child's age. If the third-grader wants a new game for the Xbox or Playstation, check the rating. Games rated T for teen or M for Mature are not appropriate.

"Electronic devices help kids with hand-eye coordination," says Haller, who also is a SLUCare pediatrician at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. "And a lot of video games are so inexpensive they're not necessarily a budget buster."

But, there is some truth to the theory that children can spend too much time with their electronics. Haller warns that a little electronic exposure goes a long way.

"If a kid is going to play with video games, they need to spend less time watching TV and being on the Internet," Haller says. "Playing with a video game counts as screen time, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours a day in front of a screen."

Parents should be aware that spending too much time with video games can rob their child of the chance to socialize and play with others.

"They're very solitary activities," Haller says. "They generally don't seem to promote social interactions among kids."

This is where traditional toys like building blocks, art kits, matchbox cars, dolls and games come into play. Encouraging your children to play with these sorts of gifts will give them more opportunity to socialize and use their imaginations.

"These kinds of toys allow children to make up stories about the dolls and toys they have rather than have a story forced upon them," Haller says. "It's probably more creative to stick with dolls and toys and games that spark the imagination."