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CLEVELAND -- Experts say playing with Legos, or other hands-on toys can make your child smarter.
Dr. Meghan Barlow, a child psychologist with the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital explains, "Play is the work of children. That is what they are supposed to do. When you can turn off the TV and electronics and just allow them to play, they're really developing their own creativity and their own skills. They're also developing patience and tolerance."
Dr. Barlow says younger kids focus on the fundamentals like shapes and colors, even physics like the law of gravity. The older a child becomes, the more they focus on creativity and imagination.
What about technology? There have been many studies touting technology, as well as studies saying technology is detrimental to a child's brain development.
Dr. Barlow says the key is balance. She recommends not relying too heavily on electronic devices or TV to keep your child entertained. In fact, experts recommend keeping children under 2 years old away from these types of entertainment.
Dr. Barlow also stresses that iPads, iPhones, any smart phone or computer do not directly translate into a smarter child.
Barlow says, "Certainly these are tools that you can use and be helpful but they're not essential to a child's development or progress in school."
So if you can't afford to buy these gadgets for the holiday season? Barlow says don't feel guilty. In fact, she recommends going back to the basics. She says, the more interactivity, the better the brain activity.
Meanwhile, the I-X Center in Cleveland is hosting a 3 day event called Lego KidsFest.
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