| The holidays are filled with anticipation of gifts and | | | | toy with a younger sibling. |
| new toys. When making decisions for selecting new | | | | Avoid slingshots, dart guns and arrows for children |
| toys, parents need to tell Santa and loved ones to | | | | under 6. "The best suggestion is to avoid these toys |
| pick eye-safe and age appropriate toys for children. | | | | completely, especially if you have younger children in |
| "Many times an accident can happen when a toy is | | | | the house," said Dr. Silverman. "Second best |
| not age or developmentally appropriate," said Cary M. | | | | suggestion is to supervise any child with these toys - |
| Silverman, M.D. Medical Director of EyeCare 20/20 in | | | | they have the potential to be harmful." |
| East Hanover, "We want to avoid eye injuries by | | | | Great toys for children are those that stimulate visual |
| suggesting to parents that they be careful in | | | | development, improve hand-eye coordination and |
| selecting toys with this in mind." | | | | demonstrate spatial relationships. |
| So, in general, what toys should parents avoid? Toys | | | | Toys for children under age 2 include: brightly colored |
| with pointed, sharp or rough edges or pieces. Blocks | | | | mobiles, stuffed animals, activity gyms, blocks, balls, |
| are great for almost any age as long as corners and | | | | stacking and nesting toys, buckets and measuring |
| edges are blunted to reduce the risk of eye injury. | | | | cups, puzzles, shape sorters, and musical toys. |
| Also, to avoid eye injuries, beware of long-handled | | | | Appropriate and eye-friendly toys for children over |
| toys, like mops, brooms, pony sticks and rakes. | | | | age 2 include: child-sized household items like brooms, |
| Check to make sure that they have rounded handles | | | | vacuums, rakes, lawn mowers, refrigerator and stove |
| and watch closely children under 2 with such toys. | | | | sets and outside toys like sandboxes, kiddie pools, |
| Be careful to avoid toys that may be age | | | | riding toys and backyard gyms and swings. Magnetic |
| appropriate for an older child but could be dangerous | | | | letters, stringing beads, toy cash registers are great |
| for a younger child. Always supervise children in | | | | for fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. |
| situations when they might share an inappropriate | | | | |