Careful Toy Selection Keeps Children Safe and Happy
Submitted by admin on Fri, 12/24/1999 - 6:00pm
Play is an important part of a child's development. While most toys are safe, some of them can be quite dangerous if misused or given to children who are too young or not developmentally ready to play with them.
According to National SAFE KIDS Campaign, a child-safety advocacy group, at least 13 children ages 14 and under died from toy-related injuries and an estimated 165,200 children in that same age group were treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries in 2002.
Consider these guidelines, courtesy of Baby Center, an online parenting resource, when choosing a toy for your child. Share the information with anyone who may be buying gifts for your child.
BIRTH TO 3 MONTHS
Babies vision and motor skills are developing. They begin to move their arms and legs, follow bright objects with their eyes, and turn toward sounds. Choose toys with contrasting patterns and fabrics and soothing sounds. Appropriate choices are bright mobiles, soft books, wrist rattles, and soft music such as wind chimes or a music box.
3 TO 6 MONTHS
Babies' vision and motor skills improve. They discover their hands and feet and grasp and reach for toys. They respond to high-pitched sounds and begin to babble. Choose toys with interesting shapes, fun sounds, and intriguing textures. Some examples: activity centers, bars, quilts and play mats, lightweight rattles, squeaky rubber toys, board books, and colorful teething rings.
6 TO 9 MONTHS
A baby's senses are developing quickly now. Items that she can sort, stack and arrange help her explore shapes and spatial relationships. Busy boards, soft dolls or stuffed animals, household items (plastic bowls, measuring cups and wooden spoons), stacking blocks, pop-up or push and pull toys, and cloth or board books are all great choices.
9 TO 12 MONTHS
Babies start walking now, and their problem-solving skills are improving. They are beginning to understand words and recognize names of familiar objects. Appropriate toys include push toys, shape sorters, balls (they can start bouncing them), toy telephones, and stackable blocks.
12 TO 18 MONTHS
Toddlers are developing their imaginations and increasing their energy levels. They like experimenting and are interested in the consequences of their actions. Some toy ideas include large building bricks, push and pull toys, a climbing gym, beach balls, washable crayons and paper, ride-on vehicles, a tool bench and toy kitchen.
18 TO 24 MONTHS
Independent toddlers learn best from unstructured play. Trucks with doors that open and shut, play kitchens with knobs and doors, beginner puzzles, train sets, and nesting and sorting toys are all appropriate for children at this age.
24 TO 30 MONTHS
Your child can speak in short sentences and can tell you his wants or needs. Look for toys that challenge his developing mind. Intriguing toys include percussion instruments, dress-up clothes, child-size household items like toy dishes, telephones or plastic foods, and construction toys.
30 TO 36 MONTHS
Your child walks, runs and jumps with confidence. That means it's time to let him play with scaled-down sports equipment (plastic balls and bats, miniature basketballs and hoops, soft soccer balls, and play golf sets) and outdoor equipment like swings. Jigsaw puzzles with large pieces and simple pictures develop his problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination; beginning board or memory games, a card game, and toys that promote imagination and creativity are ideal.
3 TO 5 YEARS
By this age, children can kick, throw and catch a ball fairly consistently. For that reason, balls of all sizes are popular. At around age three, your child can trace a shape and scribble freely, so equip her with plenty of paper and washable crayons.
For more information on toy safety and product recalls, visit www.safekids.org.
SectionName:
