Toy World – Where fun and safety should meet

The sheer quantity and of toys are enough to any parent’s head spin, as we speak, more are manufactured around the world. This has made it pretty difficult for parents and relatives on the hunt for these precious items to identify suitable and safe toys for their children.

This dilemma is further compounded by the fact that there have been reports of toys being recalled for being hazardous to children and the environment. Each year, scores of children are treated in our hospitals for toy-related injuries that include chocking, infection from dirty toys among others. Scary, I know, but the fact is, you need to beware, even as your children have fun with their play valuables.

Now don’t get me wrong and slip into an over protective mode at the expense of your other responsibilities. It is important to note that toys play an essential role in children’s development because apart from being play things, they are educational. We only need to make sure they are not harmful considering the following:

• Toys made of fabric should be labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant. Make sure you read the labels of these and any other toys you are buying.
• Ensure that stuffed toys are washable and are also easy to dry to avoid any germs that may spread this way.
• Make sure that paint used on toys is lead free.
• Art materials should be non toxic.
• Make sure that a toy is not too loud for your child because it may cause ear damage.
• Avoid magnetic toys, especially those that have small removable magnets to avoid choking.

Age appropriate toys
Always read labels to ensure that the toy you are buying is appropriate for your child’s age. Sometimes relatives may buy presents for your baby without looking at the label. Set a home policy not to give the
child a toy to play with it until she reaches the recommended age.

For infants, toddlers and preschoolers

• Choose strong toys that can withstand pulling and twisting. Be certain that any attached parts cannot be detached easily.
• Buy toys that cannot fit into your baby’s mouth even if they are compressed to a small size. Toddlers love to chew on things.
• Steer clear of marbles, coins, and small balls with a diameter of about 5 cm to avoid choking incidents.
• Avoid toys with cords or long strings because these can pose strangulation hazards.
• Avoid breakable plastic toys, especially those that could leave sharp edges that can cut your baby.
• Avoid toys that make sharp, loud noises because young children are sensitive to powerful noises. This noise may cause damage to the child’s ears, shock or scare the child.

School going children 

• Ensure your child rides his bicycle wearing a helmet and other recommended safety gear.
• Toy guns should be brightly coloured to avoid mistaking them for the real weapons.
• Make sure toy darts and arrows have a soft tip or suction cup at the end. Teach your child not to point them at anyone.

Toy safety
After going through the hustles of buying safe toys, you need to keep your children safe when playing with them. One way of ensuring this is by making sure your children know how to use them. You can do this by supervising and playing with them. As you have fun together:

• Teach your children to put toys away after they have finished playing with them.
• Check your children’s toys on a regular basis just incase they are broken, torn or unusable. Repair them or throw away those that are not repairable.
• Ensure you keep the toys clean, especially for infants. This is because the toys mostly end up in the child’s mouth.
• Do your homework to identify the toys that have been recalled and avoid buying or letting your children play with them.
• Keep potentially dangerous objects like knives, matchboxes, fireworks, scissors and balloons away from children and their play areas.
• Remind your house-help about toy safety and keep any relevant literature within their reach.

END: BL 34/30-31