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Page 8 - CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SPREE - Tuesday, November 20, 1990 Avoid fads: Give a child a gift of learning Sometimes the box keeps a child's attention longer than the gift inside. Or a child asks for months for a toy that's been advertised, only to leave it forgot- ten by New Year's Day. These scenar- 10s are a part of most families' holi- days, but they don't have to be. Parents want kids to have fun, but more and more they also want gifts that foster a love of learning. Here are some quick questions to ask before making your gift selection for that special child. Following simple guidelines can help make the gift you choose more meaningful. Five questions to ask 1. Will it keep a child's attention after the holiday season? No one wants to give a gift that will end up in the back of a closet. So why buy an "in" gift when it will fade "out" in a month? One fad gift in a holiday season is cer- tainly enough for any child. Make sure your gift is practical and useful. Test the product yourself. Does it keep your interest? If not, it probably won't hold a child's attention either. 2. Is the gift well made? By invest- ing in a good quality product you can THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, consider a gift that will hold a child's atten- tion into the new year and beyond. Introduce your child to a whole new world with a gift of learning from World Book. SCUGOG C prevent spending money on replace- ments or repairs. Check with friends or relatives about their satisfaction with a product's quality and durability. 3. Is it a good value? Shopping around helps. Remember to check the quality of each item. The lowest price is not necessarily worth it, so compare carefully with similar products. 4. Is it appropriate for the child's age and interests? Look for a fun gift that will stimulate interest and creativi- ty. Make sure the item is not designed for a younger child, or is not too advanced. 5. Will it help your child learn? Expanding a child's knowledge can be a great benefit in gift giving. Ed- ucational toys and books promote learning and creativity and are enter- taining. Before buying, look to product reviewers for advice. World Book suggests one gift that's a little different. "A book is a rare gift that teaches as it entertains," says nationally known reading expert, author and consultant Dr. Alvin Granowsky, World Book vice president, school and library services. "Reading fosters the active use of a child's imagination," says Dr. Granowsky. "And a child who has an encyclopedia, a dictionary and lots of other reading materials around the home seems to do better in school than someone who doesn't have these resources." Gift ideas for all ages Here are some gift ideas that will last long after the holiday festivities have passed... Early World of Learning®: (Preschool) This research-based program, including more than 100 items such as story books, audio cassettes and activity books, focuses on the 105 skills and concepts teachers deem "desirable" for children to acquire before they reach DON'T MISS THE HAMBER OF COMMERCE kindergarten. Childcraft--The How and Why Library with Childcraft Dictionary: (Preschool and elementary grades) A 15- volume children's leaning library, with an 11,000 word dictionary, provides leaming enrichment in the early forma- tive years. "About Animals," "Places to Know" and "How Things Work" are just a few of the volumes included. The World Book Encyclopedia: (Elementary through adult) This best- selling, comprehensive, 22-volume ref- erence has more than 14,000 pages. It 1s curriculum-coordinated and includes 1,800 entries, 29,000 photographs and illustrations, and more than 2,300 maps. nformation Finder™ by World Book: (Elementary through adult) This compact-disc, read only memory (CD- ROM) reference based on The World Book Encyclopedia runs on IBM and IBM-compatible computers, contains 17,000 articles and 139,000 World Book Dictionary entries. For more information, call World Book Cus- tomer Service, toll free, at (800) 621- 8202 or write to World Book Ed- ucational Products, 101 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007. Look for a World Book representative in your area under "Encyclopedias" in the telephone book. HG903587 SANTA CLadS PARADE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24th, 1990 2:00 p.m. This ad sponsored by the Port Perry Star as a community service