While electronic gadgets push young minds into passive mode, simpler, non-digital toys invite the greatest independent breakthroughs.
In a world of toys with flashing lights and loud sounds, it's easy to think more is better for learning.
But toy advertising has colored our ideas; many of those letters and numbers were added just to sell more products, not because they help babies.
If you want your baby to be actively engaged, choose toys that are baby-powered, not battery-powered.
Electronic toys often put kids into "passive mode"—kids push a button and wait to be entertained.
We have experienced this in my family - my kids' grandma got them a digital book and my sons kept pressing the “home” button over and over again so they could hear the book’s theme song instead of reading the pages.
Simple wooden toys, on the other hand, require the child to activate them, which invites creativity and concentration.
Displaying just a few good options on a low shelf allows even a baby who isn't walking yet to choose independently.
A child feels overwhelmed by an overflowing play area, just like you feel overwhelmed by a messy desk.
Think of it like a plate of food: putting electronic and non-electronic toys together is like serving junk food and brain food side-by-side.
Curate their environment to encourage healthy choices today.
Dr. Camilla Gupta is a board-certified pediatrician at ABC Pediatrics in Corpus Christi, TX.
Visit her main website to book a prenatal visit, transfer care or book an appointment.