I thought I'd get my kid mostly simple, no-tech toys. Things changed, and I have no regrets.

The author has figured out which types of toys help her son thrive. Bohdan Bevz/Getty Images I thought I'd be a low-tech parent, opting for simple toys for my son. Over time, I realized that he could actually benefit from bright, light-up toys. We balance his exposure to technology by limiting his passive screen time. Like many first-time parents, I assumed I'd go the low-tech route . I do believe that when only simple toys are available to kids, they will often fill in the gaps with imagination, skill-building, and a growing capacity to try something difficult and see it through. I knew that bright plastic, singing, light-up toys dazzle children, but they may not leave as much room for a child's own personality and growth. At the same time, I saw my child drawn, throughout the early years, to the light-up, singing, battery-powered toys of the world.