Interactive toys spur brain-building.

• Position: Learning

Parents often search for intellectually stimulating toys for holiday gift giving. However, a child psychologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas maintains that the best toy is one that fosters parent-child interaction. "Learning and play experiences take place when the toy is more interactive, and, more importantly, the parent takes time to [engage] the child while he [or she] plays," asserts Peter Stavinoha, assistant professor of psychiatry. "Stimulating your child is a parent's job, not a toy's job."

Mothers and fathers should remember that toys--no matter how much they cost or how much they amuse with buttons, sounds, or flashing lights--can not substitute for parent-child playtime interaction, according to Stavinoha. He adds that there is no conclusive proof that one kind of plaything is best. "The toys touted as intellectually stimulating are not necessarily going to make your child smarter than any other toy. The ... impact on development depends on how it is used, the interaction it promotes, the language that is used to discuss the toy, and the level of pretend...