Last week, he picked up a wooden train engine and pushed a button. A chugging sound played, followed by a high-pitched whistle.

"It used to be you'd sit down with a box of blocks and play; now they have more and more electronic bells and whistles," Mr. Benjamin said. "Using your imagination is important in play ----I miss that in today's toys."

He's concerned such toys don't let children exercise their brain and may contribute to short attention spans.

Imagination and creating things are important in helping children learn to understand the world, said Amy Noggle, co-director of Hood College's Onica Prall Child Development Laboratory School. While technology can help teach children, it can also make them dependent on it during play.

Ms. Noggle recalled one child's interaction with wooden blocks. He took one look at the pile of bricks then faced her.

"What does it do?" he asked.

She was stunned.

"More and more children are having that reaction because they become more reliant on automated toys," she said. "I told him there's lots of things you can do with a block, and showed him how."

Ms. Noggle teaches students majoring in education how to interact with 4-year-olds.

"Learning how to act upon an object to make it do something is an instant skill -- cause and effect, something 6-month-olds can do," she said. "(Automated toys are) not detrimental to 4-year-olds, but it won't help the child get to the next level."

Ms. Noggle encourages imagination through role play and hands-on activities, such as crafts and toys that allow children to build.

"Children gain autonomy when they can make things from raw materials, talk about and then reflect on what they have made," she said.

Computer games can help children develop problem solving skills, especially when mediated by an adult, she said.

"I can think of several very beneficial high-tech toys that have tremendous educational value," Ms. Noggle said. "But when you think of a child sitting in front of a repetitive video game for three hours at a time, it's not the same thing."

One high-tech toy she likes is the LeapPad, an electronic tablet that teaches children reading skills with a touch-sensitive pen and changeable books and cartridges.

"Nobody is going to tell you an animated toy is bad or a computer game is bad," Ms. Noggle said. "We suggest you analyze the toy and see how it can support your learning objective."

Children learn about the environment by doing and by stimulating the different parts of the brain that are used for storing information, she said.

"A particular toy won't have a negative impact on a child, but they need to be used appropriately -- not as baby sitters," she said. "Imagination is very, very important. It helps them understand the world better."

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.