Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about the holiday state of mind. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype and feel like you have to get the hot gift of the year in order to make your child’s holiday perfect, but doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center say simpler gifts might offer more benefit.
Dr. Pete Stavinoha, a UT Southwestern child psychologist, says it doesn’t take bells and whistles and flashing lights to make a good educational toy. Old stand-bys such as crayons, building blocks and puzzles can help develop a child’s creativity, motor skills and decision-making abilities. The key is parental involvement and interaction. Kids get more out of toys when parents join the playtime.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/patientcare/medicalservices/psych/child.html to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in child and adolescent psychiatry.
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December 2007
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