Choosing Holiday Gifts for Children

The holiday season is upon us, and my kids have already started making their holiday wish lists.  With all the choices available, it's no wonder that parents have questions swirling in their heads, the same way visions of sugarplums are dancing in their kids' heads!  Should we buy them educational toys?  Electronic toys?  What factors should we look for?  Where can we find recommendations?  Help!

Last week I had the opportunity to interview child development expert Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos, a math and science development expert from the Leapfrog Learning Team.  She was able to give me some great advice on shopping for appropriate toys and books for children of every age and development stage.  Here's a video of Dr. Sherman LeVos answering my questions via phone:


I especially liked Dr. Sherman LeVos' tips on what to look for when purchasing a toy for your child.  She says she looks for four main things:

Durability -- the product needs to stand up to repeated use
Age Appropriateness -- whether the product is designed for your child's age
Fun Factor -- will your child want to come back to it again and again?
Educational Factor -- if your child can learn and play at the same time

Hey, your child has her own holiday list, and now you have yours.  What a great list to have when you go holiday shopping for your child's toys!

MORE ABOUT DR. JODY SHERMAN LeVOS: As the math and science development expert of LeapFrog’s Learning Team, Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos works on products across all platforms to teach math and science concepts in developmentally appropriate ways using research-based techniques. Before joining LeapFrog, she was a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, a researcher and instructor, and a math textbook author. She is also the proud mother of two LeapFrog-aged boys. She earned her doctorate in developmental psychology (specializing in mathematical and cognitive development) at the University of Alberta, in Canada.


 Disclosure: This interview opportunity was provided by Leapfrog.  Leapfrog will send me an assortment of educational toys as a thank-you for participating in the interview. The views and opinions expressed here are my own. Tweet this!