Choose Safe Toys For Children of All Ages
Submitted by admin on Fri, 12/24/1999 - 6:00pm
Children rely on toys and play throughout their lives as a source of education and creative development. From a first teddy bear to the latest high-tech gizmo or computer game, children of all ages look to toys to befriend and entertain them, as well as provide an outlet for creative energy.
However, thousands of children are hurt each year in accidents involving their favorite toys. The fact is, when it comes to play time, safety is the last thing on your child's mind, but it should always be the first thing on yours.
BABIES AND TODDLERS
Children sure bring home plenty of bumps and bruises on their way to becoming adults. However, too often accidents result from playing with unsafe toys. Eye injuries top the list, along with cuts and choking. According to Prevent Blindness America, hospital emergency rooms treat an estimated 290,000 product-related eye injuries each year. Children under five years of age make up 10 percent of that number. Here's how you can prevent many of these injuries and other toy-related incidents:
Parents should also be concerned about small parts that can be easily swallowed by young children. Also, check the labels and boxes of toys to be sure products are nontoxic and nonflammable.
Look to manufacturers like Brio, Fisher-Price, Playskool, Chicco and Learning Curve for safe and age-appropriate gifts for the youngsters on your gift list.
SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN
As children get older, toys may get more intricate and possibly more dangerous. Plus, these children are becoming more independent and are striking out on their own, making it harder for parents to carefully monitor how their children interact with ther toys. Some important pointers for this age bracket include making sure protective eyewear, helmets and padding are used with any sports equipment, including skateboards, scooters and in-line skates.
BB guns are not toys.
They should never be given to children who are too young to understand how - and why - to control them.
Also, encourage children to play with educational toys, like chemistry sets, puzzles and other games of logic rather than items that fire or have sharp or pointed parts.
As you head out shopping, look to Hasbro, Thames & Kosmos, Mattel, Cadaco and Hoberman as some of the top parent-rated manufacturers for toys and games for children.
TEENS
Adolescents can seem much harder nuts to crack. Trying their hardest to exert independence and probably doing as much as possible to distance themselves from you and their childhood, it can seem pretty difficult to keep up with your teen-aged child, much less monitor the appropriateness of his or her favorite games. Fortunately, it's also easier than ever for parents to monitor one of the biggest areas of concern - computer and video game usage. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has developed a rating system to indicate the content of a game and the recommended age groups that can play the games. You can even determine if the games on your child's holiday "wish list" are appropriate online at www.esrb.com. Just type in a title or set of keywords, then sit back and assess the rating. For example, a game with a rating of "Mature 17+," with a description of "Animated Blood & Gore, Animated Violence" probably wouldn't be a good selection for your 12 year old. This holiday season, look to winning companies like Activision, Nintendo and Electronic Arts for age-appropriate video and computer games.
Never buy hobby kits, like chemistry sets, for any child younger than 12. Be sure to provide adequate adult supervision for children ages 12 to 15. Tips of arrows or darts should be blunt, made of soft rubber or flexible plastic and securely fastened to the shaft.
Protecting your child is an important job, and making sure their toys are safe is a good part of this job. For some popular safe toys and games, try these manufacturers: Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Lego and K'NEX.
Your pediatrician can also be of help in choosing safe and age-appropriate toys for your family. For more information, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.aap.org.
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