Nursery World - Hi-tech Christmas 'stifles imagination'

Parents who splash out on expensive hi-tech Christmas gifts such as DVD players for pre-school children are stifling their imagination and creativity, a children's charity has warned. NCH Cymru said that the average child under four spent nearly five hours a day watching television and videos or playing computer games. Spokesman Patrick Legge said parents might think they were being generous, but in fact they were losing sight of what young children needed and enjoyed, such as painting sets, play costumes and traditional games and toys. These were much better at encouraging active play than screen-based entertainment.

NCH Cymru said that the average child under four spent nearly five hours a day watching television and videos or playing computer games. Spokesman Patrick Legge said parents might think they were being generous, but in fact they were losing sight of what young children needed and enjoyed, such as painting sets, play costumes and traditional games and toys. These were much better at encouraging active play than screen-based entertainment.

Mr Legge said, 'Young children get an enormous amount of fun and play experience from simple games and toys. Some parents may be tempted to buy expensive gifts from an adult point of view, rather than from an understanding of what young children need and enjoy.'

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