When it comes to choosing toys for your toddler, it’s easy to be drawn to the latest gadgets with screens, flashing lights, and interactive touch features. But according to Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD, a pediatric eye care specialist with the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute in Versailles, Kentucky, these electronic devices might not be the best choice for your child’s development.
“Our visual system is designed to operate in a three-dimensional world,” says Dr. Graebe. “When kids focus on shiny, two-dimensional screens, they miss out on crucial developmental experiences.”
So this holiday season, when you’re shopping for toys, think “old school.” Dr. Graebe emphasizes that children need toys that help develop their visual systems and motor skills, which are essential for learning and overall growth.
Why Hands-On Toys Are Important
Toys that encourage children to reach, touch, and manipulate objects activate their senses and help them understand spatial relationships and motor planning. This sensory integration is a developmental process that is heavily influenced by a child’s environment. Dr. Graebe warns that excessive screen time can derail this essential process, especially during the critical early years.
Traditional toys like blocks, bean bags, and balls are perfect for helping kids explore their world. These toys encourage movement, problem-solving, and coordination—skills that screens can’t develop in the same way.
As Dr. Graebe explains, “Our sensory systems need plenty of time and experiences to develop. Toys that require physical interaction are great for waking up a child’s sensory system.”
The Power of Traditional Play
A simple example of this can be seen when children learn to color. At one year old, a child will likely color outside the lines, not because they lack interest, but because their visual system is still learning how to coordinate with their hands. By age three, most children have developed enough motor control and visual coordination to stay within the lines.
Hands-on activities like this help build a strong foundation for more complex skills as children grow. Whether it’s building with blocks, tossing bean bags, or playing traditional games like hopscotch and tag, these activities foster important visual and motor skills that will serve children well in school and beyond.
Dr. Graebe suggests looking for classic toys such as:
- Bean bags
- Balls of any size
- Wooden building blocks, Duplo blocks, Lincoln Logs
- Jacks, pickup sticks, Jenga
“These toys are timeless for a reason,” he says. “They support sensory development and help children interact with the world around them in meaningful ways.”
Building a Foundation for Success
In addition to toys, traditional childhood games like follow the leader, hopscotch, and tag have significant developmental value. Dr. Graebe encourages parents to keep these games in the rotation because they help children develop not only physically but also mentally.
When you’re out shopping for your young ones this holiday season, consider stepping away from the electronics aisle and toward toys that encourage creativity, physical interaction, and hands-on learning. These gifts will have a lasting impact, fostering skills that go far beyond the holiday season.
Schedule a Pediatric Eye Exam Near Lexington Today
At the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, we believe in the importance of hands-on learning and development for children. Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD is dedicated to helping your child achieve their full potential. With locations in Versailles serving the greater Lexington area and in Somerset, we offer specialized pediatric eye care and vision therapy to families throughout Central and Southern Kentucky.
To schedule an appointment at one of our locations, call us at 859-879-0089.
Credit:
This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.