National Safe Toys and Gifts Month

We're just a little over two weeks away from Christmas! Since most of us are shopping for gifts and toys during the holiday season, we wanted to share a few details to make sure your little ones are safe from any toy-related injuries. 

 "Prevent Blindness America has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month.  The group encourages everyone to consider if the toys they wish to give suits the age and individual skills and abilities of the individual child who will receive it, especially for infants and children under age three" (Health Tradition). 

Here's a few pointers to keep in mind when shopping for toys this holiday season -

• Toys made of fabric should be labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Stuffed toys should be washable.
• Painted toys should be covered with lead-free paint.
• Art materials should say nontoxic.
• Inspect all toys before purchasing. Avoid those that shoot or include parts that fly off. The toy should have no sharp edges or points and should be sturdy enough to withstand impact without breaking, being crushed, or being pulled apart easily.
• When purchasing toys for children with special needs try to: Choose toys that may appeal to different senses such as sound, movement, and texture; consider interactive toys to allow the child to play with others; and think about the size of the toy and the position a child would need to be in to play with it. Consult the “AblePlay” website at http://www.ableplay.org/ for more information.

For more details how shopping for safe toys, check out the following resources: 

Kids' Health - http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/safe-toys.html# 

Health Tradition - https://www.healthtradition.com/december-is-safe-toys-and-gifts-month/

Image Source - Fisher Price