Teaching Adults about Safe Toys By: Danielle Morse

What you should look for on the toys! Read the labels on the toys to make sure they are age appropriate for the child playing with them! Toys made of fabric should be labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant. Stuffed toys should be washable. Painted toys should be covered with lead-free paint. Art materials should say nontoxic.

Choose toys that are well made! Used toys passed down from older relatives or siblings or bought at yard sales can be worn or frayed, which can sometimes be dangerous. Check all toys – new or used – for buttons, batteries, yarn, ribbons, eyes, beads, and plastic parts that could easily be chewed or snapped off.

The Right toys at the Right Ages! You may think that a child who's advanced in comparison to peers can handle toys meant for older kids. But the age levels for toys are determined by safety factors, not intelligence or maturity.

Age Appropriate! Make sure your child is physically ready for the toy. For example, parents of older kids may buy a bike one size too big so as not to have to buy a new bike the next year. This tactic can lead to serious injury. Skip the balloons. They may be cheerful party decorations and fun to bounce around, but latex balloons are the main cause of toy-related choking fatalities in children.

For Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers Toys should be large enough — at least 1¼ inches (3 centimeters) in diameter and 2¼ inches (6 centimeters) in length — so that they can't be swallowed or lodged in the windpipe. Battery-operated toys should have battery cases that secure with screws so that kids cannot pry them open.

For Grade-Schoolers Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and inline skates should never be used without helmets. Nets should be well constructed and firmly attached to the rim so that they don't become strangulation hazards. Toy darts or arrows should have soft tips or suction cups at the end, not hard points.

Keeping Toys Safe at Home Teach kids to put toys away. Wooden toys shouldn't have splinters. Bikes and outdoor toys shouldn't have rust. Stuffed toys shouldn't have broken seams or exposed removable parts. Throw away broken toys or repair them right away. And be sure to keep toys clean

Dangerous Objects Many non-toys also can tempt kids. It's important to keep them away from: fireworks matches sharp scissors balloons (uninflated or broken balloons can be choking hazards)