By Cindy Wick, Cen Clear Child Services
Toys and games are tons of fun for children and adults. Whether your children are working on a puzzle, playing with building blocks or even inventing their own games, here are a few things to think about to help them stay safer and have a blast doing it.
Protecting children from unsafe toys is the responsibility of everyone. Careful toy selection and proper supervision of children at play is still-and always will be-the best way to protect children from toy-related injuries.
This holiday season when we enjoy festive meals with family and friends and listen to squeals of delight, as our children open brightly-wrapped presents, please consider the following guidelines for choosing safe toys for children of all ages:
- Make recommendation to family members and friends about gifts that you feel are appropriate for your child. Be diligent about inspecting these gifts before allowing your child to play with them.
- 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 it. Consult the “AblePlay” Web site for more information.
- Monitor all toys before purchasing. Monitor toys that your child has received as gifts to make sure they are appropriate for your child’s age and development level.
- For younger children, avoid play sets with small magnets and make sure batteries are secured within the toy. If magnets or batteries are ingested, serious injuries and/or death can occur.
- Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear (give a helmet with the skateboard).
- Do not give crayons and markers unless they are labeled “non-toxic.”
- Always save the warranties and directions for every toy. If possible, include a gift receipt. Repair or throw away damaged toys.
- Do not give toys with ropes or cords or heating elements.
- Consider your child’s age when purchasing a toy or game. It’s worth a second to read the instructions and warnings to make sure it’s just right for your child.
- After play time is over, use a bin or container to store toys for next time. Make sure there are no holes or hinges that could catch little fingers.
In the excitement of the season, sometimes we forget that not every gift is appropriate for every child. By taking a few, easy safety precautions, we can keep the holidays happy for everyone. (Information obtained from: Prevent Blindness America, Our Vision is Vision.)
The Women’s Health Task Force is a small group volunteering its time to educate women and families on important health issues. If you have an interest in health, work in a caring profession or want to volunteer with other sincere women, consider attending our monthly planning meetings.
These meetings are held the first Thursday of the month beginning at 12 p.m. The next meeting will be held Dec. 4 in Clearfield. All interested people are encouraged to attend. Additional information is available by calling Penn State Extension, at 814-765-7878.