Toys are enjoyable and fun thing for the children. Whether kids are playing with toys or building a Lego car or using his brains to put forward a puzzle, safety should be there in all these toys.
Everyday 500 kids are injured with these toys. 181,500 children were treated in emergency room in 2010, for toy-related injuries. Half of them were under 4 years. Every 101 minutes a child dies in United States from an unintentional injury.
Injuries are a big concern. Besides hefty emergency department bills, missed schools, disabilities and caring for these sick kids all cause a big problem.
Tips to be safe with toys.
• Buying safe toys for young children means it need to match their stages of development and emerging activities.
• When buying the toy consider the age. Spend some time to read the instructions and buy the toy appropriate for the child.
• Always check for any small parts or choking hazards before settling for the toy.
• Games which have smaller pieces are a great game for older kids. But they are all choking hazards younger ones. You should keep extra vigil when your child is dealing with such toys.
• When the playtime is over, all the toys should go inside a big basket or bin type of containers. There should not be any holes or hinges to hurt the kids.
• Bike, skateboards, scooter and other riding equipment need a helmet to keep the child safe.
• Check for damaged toys. Repair them in time.
• Electrical toys are a potential burn hazard. Children under 8 should not use toys with electrical plugs and batteries.
• Riding toys, galloping horses, bouncing balls all should be supervised. There are chances of kids falling from those and getting hurt.
• Magnets and toy boats on water also should be supervised.
• Toys need to be washable and non-toxic ones because all toys eventually end up in baby’s mouth.
• Children love to play with toys and pull them apart. So shop for only sturdy toys.
• Stay away from loose strings or cords because they can become tangled around baby’s neck.
• You should need to look for sharp parts and splinters when buying toys.
• You want your children to follow Einstein’s footsteps. So avoid non-age appropriate, inflammable and toxic and which include dangerous chemicals.
Above all, enjoy the time with your child by playing with them and their toys.