Two professors at California State University, Northridge offer some tips for making the right choices that will put a smile on a child's face.

"My feeling about this year particularly, given the downswing in the economy and other issues in the world right now, it's very important to pick things that have a lasting meaning -- photo albums, memory type books, those types of things," said Veda Ward, chair of CSUN's Department of Leisure and Recreation Studies.

"We don't want to give our kids things that further isolate them from the rest of the world. I think gifts that provide them with a sense of connectedness are important," Ward said. "With all the tension in the world right now -- with the talk of war, invading other countries, terrorism -- it's important to keep our kids engaged. People should think about gifts that give kids more information about the world, that raise global awareness and encourage learning about other cultures and foreign countries."

Barbara Hill, director of the university's Child and Family Studies Center, said that in our consumer-oriented society, children tend to be over-indulged when it comes to gifts.

"My suggestion is to keep it simple," Hill said. "Look for toys that last, have some staying power and require your child to think and do some problem solving or encourage pretend play." She also suggests that for the sanity of parents, they do not take their children with them when they go holiday shopping.

"It will save a lot of stress for both the parents and the child," she said.

Hill suggested that adults ask themselves some basic questions before they make any purchases:

Is the toy safe? Is it washable? Will it last? Will it cause frustration? Is the toy interesting? Can it be used alone? And, most importantly, is the toy fun and appropriate to the age of the child?

Hill suggested that parents and grandparents also avoid television- and commercially-driven toys, saying they tend to discourage creativity and often times encourage violence and passivity.

Hill and Ward have come up with some age-appropriate suggestions for the types of toys parents and grandparents might consider as gifts for the children in their lives:

• Birth to crawling -- mirrors, musical or colorful mobiles, crib gyms, teethers, cloth blocks and clutch balls;

• One year to 18 months -- simple, sturdy riding toys with no pedals, surprise boxes, balls, small wooden blocks, stacking toys, toys for the bath, books and music;

• Two to three years -- children's musical instruments, bristle blocks, pegs and pegboards, large wooden beads for stringing, dolls, doll carriages, cars and construction trucks, paper, markers, crayons, chalk, a chalkboard, books and music;

• Four to five years -- an outdoor swing set, games, big wheels, tool sets, Lincoln logs, play tiles, a child's tape recorder, books and music;

• Six and older -- exercise balls, jump ropes and other exercise equipment, maps, puzzles, games and dolls that reflect a variety of world cultures and enhance awareness of geography and the full spectrum of diversity, books and music; and

• Preteen and up -- journals, diaries, blank tapes and CDs to encourage individual creative expression, books and music.