Wednesday, September 29, 2010

How to Choose Kid Friendly Toys

If you are looking to buy a toy for your child or someone else's, it is important to make sure that the toy is safe and child friendly. There are a lot of toys being made these days in countries that do not have very good manufacturing standards and so it is especially important to be vigilant concerning the toys that your child comes in contact with. In this short piece, I will give you certain tips and suggestions about picking great child friendly toys that your kids will love and cherish.

When it comes to very young children, the biggest risk is that of choking on small parts. Kids tend to put small objects in their mouth and it is very easy for them to choke on a small piece of plastic so you should be especially careful when buying toys for smaller kids. Look for labels that imply choking hazards and stay away from those toys for smaller children. Remember, the most important thing that you can do as a parent is to supervise your kids. There is no substitute for that.

Because safety standards are constantly improving and we are learning more about our world and the way chemicals affect us every day, it is important to keep older toys and hand-me-downs away from small children. Hand-me-downs have a lot of emotional value but may actually be very dirty. A lot of older stuffed animals, for example, may have germs and bacteria that would not be very healthy for young kids. Also, they may be made from materials that are now considered unsafe for young children.

One other thing to keep in mind is to make sure that the toys are not made from flammable material. Children are intrigued by fire and it is a good idea to surround them with flame resistant materials. Also, if you are considering buying a stuffed animal or a plush toy, then think about getting one that is washable. Kids tend to get very messy at times and washing their stuffed toys in a timely manner can prevent a lot of infections and diseases. If you have pets around, their hair can also get stuck in stuffed toys so it is vital to always wash your kid's teddy bears regularly.

A few years ago lead paint was the norm. These days we have realized the dangers of certain forms of lead and actively keep it away from our children. Make sure that your children's toys are made from lead-free paint. This is another reason not to give them older toys because they also may contain lead paint and that is a significant health risk for children.

Finally, a blanket tip is to make sure that all your kid's toys are made from non-toxic materials. Kids tend to put random objects in their mouths and many emergency room visits are the result of children swallowing toys. These include any small toys and especially crayons and erasers. So it makes sense to choose toys that are made from non-toxic materials so as to avoid expensive emergency room bills and sleepless nights. Let's keep our kids safe and make sure that their childhood remains happy and fulfilled.

Take a look at Melissa and Doug Puzzles for some wonderful gift ideas as well as my blog on gifts

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karan_Trishool

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