| Many parents are up in arms about the recent spate | | | | the latest safe toy info and check the recalls |
| of toy recalls. Dolls, action figures, ride-on toys, even | | | | frequently. |
| teethers have been recalled. Lead paint, magnets | | | | When there is a recall, it's important that parents |
| that can detach, chemicals in plastic that are unsafe... | | | | don't leave it up to their kids to find and dispose of |
| It seems like everyday there's a new recall. | | | | the recalled toy. For one thing, children might not |
| Outside of returning the toys and getting a refund, | | | | understand the seriousness of lead paint of magnets |
| what can a parent do? Who is responsible for toy | | | | that can be swallowed by a younger sibling. They |
| safety? Is it enough to buy toys from reputable | | | | might be very attached to the recalled toy and be |
| merchants? Or is there more that parents can do to | | | | unwilling to discard it or give it to their parent. |
| be sure that their kids aren't victims of unsafe toys? | | | | Parents should go through all of the toys in the |
| Ultimately, of course, we as parents are responsible | | | | house every once in awhile, just to make sure that |
| for keeping our kids safe. It's not realistic to think | | | | toys haven't broken or developed sharp surfaces or |
| that every toy can be tested for safety, or that | | | | chipped paint. It's easier to keep track of toys if |
| every so-called safe toy is safe for every child. | | | | children are encouraged to have a "place for |
| It's so important to make sure that toys are | | | | everything" rather than just throwing all their toys |
| age-appropriate and right for the developmental level | | | | into one large bin. Individual baskets for each type of |
| of our children. It's our duty as parents to make our | | | | toy make it easy to go through them quickly. |
| decisions about toy buying based on what we feel is | | | | The bottom line is that we're all responsible for toy |
| right for our child, not what it says on the box or | | | | safety, but the manufacturers bear the biggest |
| what someone else thinks is appropriate. | | | | burden, because they profit from the toys. They |
| So it would seem that keeping kids safe is a shared | | | | control the factories and the workers and that |
| responsibility between manufacturers, parents and | | | | means that they are the first line of defense against |
| government agencies designed to protect consumers. | | | | unsafe toys. When there's a recall, parents will blame |
| Manufacturers need to produce safe toys so that | | | | them, even if they've outsourced the manufacture |
| they will retain the trust of parents, who are the | | | | of the toy. It behooves them to do a better job of |
| biggest buyers of toys. At the same time, parents | | | | protecting children. |
| need to police their children's toys, stay current on | | | | |