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Dear Child Care Providers and Parents:

TRUCE members are worried about the many ways that the play of today's children is being undermined, especially by the toys that are heavily marketed to them through the media.

Play is essential to children's healthy development and learning. Children use play to actively construct knowledge and acquire life skills. The content of their play comes from their experiences. Changes in today's childhood are undermining play. The pervasive influence of the media means more of children's experience takes place in front of a screen instead of engaged in creative play.

Toys are the tools to use in play. They influence how children play. Toys of value enhance children's natural ability to engage in imaginative, meaningful play by allowing room for children to bring their own ideas and solve their own problems. Many toys on the market today are highly structured and linked to TV and videos. They ...