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 mental and emotional side of the holiday season. Instead of looking for the latest DVD or video game as a gift for your child, consider buying books as gifts.
Dr. Pete Stavinoha, a child psychiatrist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says books are some of the best brain builders for kids. For one thing, they encourage parents and children to interact as they read together. Children learn words and build language skills when books are being read to them. Visualizing the things being read about can stimulate a child’s imagination. A gift of books will benefit a child emotionally and mentally, but remember, the important part of the gift is the time you spend reading together.
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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