To the editor:

As a member of the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice I am writing to ask parents who are shopping for Christmas presents for their children to please not buy war toys or video war games this year.

Some studies suggest that playing video war games may increase aggression in children. Video games also portray war in an unrealistic way. Players don’t experience the suffering that war causes and may become numb to the violence portrayed.

Children can also become aggressive while playing together with war toys.

Buy some of the many alternatives to war toys instead — such as board games, building blocks, art and craft supplies, puzzles and nonviolent video games — that can help children develop imagination, cooperation, sharing and intellectual skills while also having fun.

Patricia A. Miller,

Lawrence