What To Think About Before Buying Toys For Children

In any house where you find children, you can almost be sure to find toys as well. It’s like a marriage made in heaven. Toys for children are a cool way for them to pass the time and an opportunity for parents or caregivers to catch a breather. Children can quickly drift into their world with construction, electronics, car, and radio-controlled toys. 

However, parents and caregivers might feel hesitant or worried about what toys are safe for children to use. And rightly so, in 2016, 174,100 children under 15 were hospitalized for toy-related injuries. More concerning is that over half of these kids were under 5. No one wants the gift they gift their kid to send them right to the hospital. 

This article was shared with the owner of this blog to provide valuable resources to readers.

The Benefits of Play

Irrespective of the dangers associated with toys, their use has tremendous benefits. There are endless toy options available in retail stores and on the market in terms of merchandise for kids. Popular toys include puzzles, doll houses, cars, garages, and electronic books.   

Toys, especially for preschoolers, play a key role in child development. Toys help improve learning, motor skills, cognitive capacity, and creativity. It helps build a solid foundation for social skills like communication, sharing, and collaboration. Seeing how important toys are, caregivers should consider considerations before purchasing or allowing kids to play with them. 

Child Proofing Playtime

Parents might have genuine concerns about what toys their kids are handling. Some toys result in more injuries than others. Riding toys are the most culpable and the biggest cause of injuries. The injury occurs when the kid falls from the toy. 

Choking, suffocation, and drowning are also other concerns caregivers might have. This is more common in little kids that put everything in their mouth the first chance they get. This means they’ll likely require careful supervision around toys like puzzles. This can make parents wary of getting small toys, but big toys could also pose serious dangers to little kids. Toys like teddy bears, balls, and ballon can cause choking and suffocation in kids. 

Research shows that children under three are at a higher risk of choking than older kids. About half of these injuries affect the face area and could lead to serious complications. These and more are why caregivers should vet items before handing them off to kids to use unsupervised. 

Safety is Fun 

Some toys might visibly have guides to help you make the best choice. However, this is not always the case, and some things aren’t obvious. Here are principles for parents and caregivers to follow while choosing toys for their kids. 

Study the Label 

Labels carry important information that helps reduce the risk of injuries. It explains how kids should use the toy and the appropriate age range. It can also serve as a guide to teach your kids how best to use the toy. All electric toys should carry the UL approval, a global safety certification. 

Avoid Harmful Materials in Toys For Children

Some toys contain toxic materials that could harm little kids. Ensure labels carry “non-toxic” before purchasing. Also, avoid purchasing chemistry sets for kids less than 12 years old. If not handled properly, it can cause an explosion and expose dangerous chemicals. 

Consider The Child’s Age  

The kid’s age will determine the most important functions to aid child development. It will determine the safety of the toy for the child and the ability to understand the toy. The child’s age will also determine the toy’s size. 

Be Wary of Choking and Suffocation Tendencies 

For stuffed toys, ensure all parts are properly sewn together and remove strings. Have a proper toy storage system and remove small pellets out of reach. Remove soft objects from cribs to avoid suffocation, especially when the baby is over five months old. 

Consider a Child’s Fragile Body 

Kids are still in their developmental phase, and you need to be careful of the toy’s impact on their sense organs. Avoid loud toys so as not to damage your kids’ hearing. Avoid projectile-like toys, as they can cause eye injury.

Kids are carefree and practically have no worries. As they grow, they become more adventurous and explore different possibilities with their toys. Taking risks helps them size their boundaries, know their physical capabilities, and be self-sufficient. But you want to ensure your kids’ safety by providing a safe environment.

Ensure you demonstrate safe behaviours and repeat safety rules consistently. For instance, when kids are playing outdoors, you want to encourage the use of sunglasses and invest in more durable prescription sunglasses for kids. Then use fun and interactive ways to teach the benefits of sunglasses, so it sticks. Also, teach them how to avoid injuries by taking preventive measures like using a helmet on a bicycle.

Ensure an Enabling Environment

Toys offer opportunities for family bonding, increased physical activities, and numerical development. Once you follow safety precautions, your kids can make the most of these toys’ learning opportunities. With proper supervision and the right environment, your kids are on their way to living their best life.