Before you visit the toy store this holiday season keep in mind that "Toys Teach". Play time is also learning time for your kids. News Specialist Kelley Day played Santa, with an expert. She joins us now with some helpful hints:

Have you ever bought your kids a toy and they just don't play with it ? It's a frustrating waste of money for parents every Christmas. So how can you crack the "Toy Story?" -- Here's some advise..

Toddlers love toys. In fact, this little gal wants to load up her own shopping cart. But the experts say, parents should pick out toys. They also say kids' favorite toys are usually the ones they learn from. The most important tips is to pick age appropriate toys.

INFANTS - NEWBORN - 1 YR.

Let's start with infants, up to one year of age. They love mobiles in the crib, but the cute ones don't always catch an infants attention.

Cindy Berg/Proff. Developmental Psychology: ((YOUNG INFANTS LOVE CONSTRASTIVE SHAPES AND COLORS.. BLACK AND WHITE, THEY'RE REALLY DRAWN TO.))

So experts recommend mobiles like this one with sharp constrast of black, white and red. Research shows they stimulate a child's perspective, especially since at this age they mostly learn visually.

These psychadelic flash cards are popular now too. They may look ugly, but if you place these cards above the changing table, infants will lie still and focus on the shapes.

Infants also love play stations, they help develop a different perspective.

Cindy Berg: ((SOMETHING LIKE THIS - A GYM, HAS THINGS THEY CAN SWAT AT, CAN SHOW TAHT THEY HAVE AN EFFECT ON THEIR ENVIRONMENT.))

These play gyms are also nice because they don't move. Many times parents give infants things like stuffed animals or rattles, but babies usually can't hold on to them for very long.

TODDLER - 1 - 2 YRS.

Moving on to toddlers, one to two years of age, the key word is movement. They're on the go. Play shopping carts. Balls and trucks help exercise their large motor skills at this age.

Toddlers also need to tune fine motor skills. Experts recommend snap lock beeds, stacking trays, and toys that sort shapes--all of the old favorites.

((ALL OF THESE KINDS OF TOYS ARE CLASSIC TOYS WE HAD AND OUR PARENTS HAD AS CHILDREN. THEY'RE CLASSIC TOYS FOR A REASON - BECAUSE THEY WORK? BECAUSE THEY WORK.))

And don't forget books: always a great educational toy for any age. Books with thick, cardbord pages work the best for toddlers who find it frustrating to turn pages.

Tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 14) at Five, we'll tell you which toys are best for preschoolers and elementary children.