| ext">According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1.3 million | | | | substance that the item might contain. It may be |
| children are entrusted to their grandparents every | | | | wise to consult your local poison control to use as a |
| day. Roles of a grandparent include spoiling and | | | | reference if you need one. |
| enlightening their grandkids with toys they will enjoy. | | | | * Some toys come with cords or strings. If a cord or |
| After all, toys are considered to be treasures of | | | | string is longer than 12 inches in length, it can pose a |
| childhood. With this role comes an added responsibility | | | | strangulation hazard if looped. Never cut an electrical |
| to make sure that grandchildren stay safe and enjoy | | | | cord! Make sure electrical cords or wires are secured |
| a toy that is age-appropriate. Grandparents make up | | | | and protected. Make sure to supervise if an electrical |
| a large percentage of toy buyers. Thousands of toys | | | | toy needs to be plugged into an outlet. |
| are marketed with the promise to educate and | | | | Battery-operated toys are preferable to purchase, |
| entertain kids. Unfortunately, not every toy is safe | | | | especially with young children around. However, |
| for children to play with. What can a grandparent | | | | battery doors need to be checked frequently to |
| look for when purchasing a toy for the kids that | | | | make sure they are secured and cannot be opened. |
| they love? | | | | If strings have been cut, make sure frayed edges |
| Most pediatricians and child experts believe there are | | | | are cut also. When purchasing crib mobiles, make sure |
| a lot of hidden hazards concerning toys that people | | | | the mobile can be safely mounted high on the crib |
| should be made aware of. Here is a guide that | | | | and out of babies’ reach. |
| grandparents can use when it comes time to buy a | | | | * If you choose to purchase a toy over the Internet |
| distinctive toy for that special little person: | | | | there are a few things that you should be aware of: |
| * Make sure the toy is age-appropriate. Labels on toy | | | | Internet sold toys may not comply with U.S. Toy |
| packaging should specify the age group the toy is | | | | regulations. Auction sites may sell toys that have |
| made for. Consider that children at any age have | | | | been recalled by the CPSC. This could be due to the |
| different maturity levels. You may want to avoid | | | | fact the toys were hazards to children’s |
| buying a toy that won’t hold the child’s | | | | safety. If you happen to come across a recalled toy, |
| attention. Make sure to buy educational toys that | | | | or you would like to see what toys have been |
| match every child’s age group. This will make | | | | recalled, there are web sites available to you. CPSC |
| the toy effective and fun to play with. | | | | or provides sites with helpful information. |
| * Read and follow all warning labels. According to the | | | | * Supervise and be realistic about your |
| Consumer Product Safety Commission or CPSC, | | | | grandchild’s abilities and maturity levels. Ask |
| choking is the most common cause of toy-related | | | | yourself the following questions: Is the child physically |
| deaths. Warning labels are made to alert if a toy | | | | ready for a certain toy? Is the toy too heavy? A |
| poses a choking hazard for younger children, typically | | | | heavy toy can cause severe injury if the toy falls on |
| under the ages of three. Federal law requires these | | | | the child. Gauge if the child can physically control a |
| labels. Make sure toys made for older children are | | | | heavy toy. Teach the child the safest way |
| kept out of the reach of younger children. Objects | | | | recommended by the manufacturer to use the toy |
| such as balls should not be less than 1.75" in diameter. | | | | properly. Again, SUPERVISE! |
| Avoid toys that have small parts that can potentially | | | | * Follow these tips when buying video games: follow |
| be pried off by tiny curious hands. Examples of toys | | | | age recommendations of each game and observe a |
| that contain small parts are stuffed teddy | | | | game’s ratings. Games rated T for Teen can |
| bear’s eyes or a wooden car’s wheels. | | | | contain violence, profanity and content not suitable |
| Stuffed and wooden toys are still very popular | | | | for children under the age of 13. EC for early |
| among children; just think BIG when checking out the | | | | childhood or E for everyone would be the best |
| parts attached to the toy. Toys should be | | | | choice of rating when buying a video game for |
| larger than the child’s mouth. Tip: if a toy or | | | | younger children. |
| toy part can fit inside an empty toilet paper roll, | | | | * Remember the days when you would buy toys for |
| chances are the toy is too small. This would not be a | | | | your children? How many dollars have we spent to |
| safe toy. If a toy contains small parts, parts should | | | | watch our children and now our children’s |
| be secured and guaranteed not to come off. | | | | children go to the kitchen cupboard, pull out all the |
| * Make sure toys are free from sharp and pointy | | | | pots and pans and wooden spoons and bang away |
| edges. As an experienced mother or father, you are | | | | and be happy for hours at play? Or grandparents |
| probably aware, small children have a tendency to | | | | made or bought wooden toy vehicles and wood |
| put most things in their mouth. It is important toys | | | | constructed pull toys that were safe and entertaining. |
| are free from sharp edges as to avoid cuts and | | | | Maybe all the banging of pots and pans is no longer a |
| injuries. There may be danger of a child falling on top | | | | situation we wish to experience but fun and |
| of a toy while playing. To avoid injuries, make sure | | | | educational wooden toys are still available. |
| pointy edges are buffered or eliminated, | | | | There was a time when toys were put on the |
| * Avoid LOUD toys. Children’s ears are highly | | | | market and bought without a lot of regard for |
| sensitive and hearing can easily be damaged by loud | | | | safety. Grandparents could buy any toy that surely |
| noises. In order to find out if a toy is too loud, use | | | | the grandchildren would enjoy without considering if |
| your own ears as a tool. If the toy is too loud for | | | | the toy was age-appropriate. It was assumed that |
| you, it’s twice as loud for the child. You can | | | | kids were thought to have the automatic knowledge |
| choose to take out batteries of the toy or cover | | | | not to pick up monopoly money and put it in their |
| speakers with tape. This method is not preferred | | | | mouth. Slinkys were toys made to walk down |
| since tape can be pulled off and the child can swallow | | | | your closest set of stairs. Who knew kids would |
| it. | | | | start to use the Slinky as a rope from which to hoist |
| * Make sure toys are free of toxic chemicals. Toys | | | | their little brothers up to the highest treetop? Times |
| such as art supplies, play make-up and crayons have | | | | have changed. So many toy accidents have taken |
| been known to contain toxic chemicals. Before | | | | place, it is now important to teach kids and |
| making a purchase, investigate ingredients and | | | | grandparents the importance of toy safety. The |
| contents of the product by looking at the label. The | | | | most exciting thing about being a grandparent is |
| same label should also provide instructions on what to | | | | watching grandchildren grow up happy and healthy. |
| do in case of accidental ingestion of any hazardous | | | | |