For many cultures and beliefs, December is a time
when gifts are given in abundance, to celebrate,
to congratulate, and to show gratitude for people
we spend time with. The safety and age
appropriateness of gifts isn't always uppermost
in the gift purchaser's mind though, mostly
because we trust that the retailer is providing
items that are already certified as safe and also
because sometimes we're not totally clued into
the needs or age specific particulars of the gift
recipients.
In the United States, December is observed as "Safe Toys and Gifts
Month" as a means for alerting us to the need to be careful when
making our toy and gift choices, and to prompt us to keep in mind
their safety and suitability. Knowing what to look out for can make a
big difference in preventing possible injuries from well-intentioned
gifts. This article provides an overview of the things to bear in mind
when shopping for those toys and gifts.
!! Steps !!
_ Buy age appropriate toys. Children soon let you
know if you've purchased them a toy that's below their age group and
most shoppers take great care to avoid such a slip-up. Yet, strangely
we're prone to thinking that purchasing toys that are meant for an
older age group is fine, as if somehow it's suggesting that the child
in question is smarter than their age group already, or they'll "grow
into it". The problem is that toys are age graded for safety reasons
as much as for avoiding frustration and undesirability. Many toys
aimed at older children contain small pieces which could be swallowed
by a younger child. Toys for older children can also contain items
that require responsible handling, for example, something an 11 year
old could manage but a 6 year old might do something dangerous with.
* Read How to choose age appropriate gifts for kids and How to give
ideal age related gifts for more ideas.
* Be aware of what's not considered safe this
season. It's a really good idea to keep an eye on a consumer
watchdog site to find out which toys have been recalled recently
so that you can avoid buying them. Many consumer groups and
government entities will send free email updates to your in-box
alerting you to recalls and it only takes a few minutes to glance
through them. If you're not sure, contact them for more
information about specific product recalls before_ seeking to
purchase the product.
_ Read the warnings and safety precautions
accompanying the toy. These will give you a good idea of suitability
and safety issues for the child in question. This requires some
contextual thinking on your behalf, given your knowledge of the
child; for example, the warning may indicate to you that a child who
is quiet and still will use the toy sensibly, while a child who is
restless, always taking things apart and is prone to throwing things
might misuse the toy. Other things to bear in mind when reading the
warnings and safety precautions include:
* Small pieces. Toys with small pieces are always unsuitable for
children under 3. Even if you're purchasing the gift for an older
child, if there is a sibling under 3, can you be certain that the
younger sibling won't have access to the toy?
* Fire hazards. If your home has hazards such as open fires, old and
open radiator heaters, etc., think twice before purchasing
flammable toys.
* Adult supervision. If a safety precaution suggests that the toy
requires adult supervision, are you able to ensure that
supervision in your household or do you know for sure it'll happen
if giving the gift to another household? For example, a toy like
the "Easy Bake Oven" needs adult supervision and assistance with
the cooking. Is that something you're willing to do every time
your child wants to play with it? And are you able to ensure that
your child won't try to use it when you're not about (for example,
by storing it away, etc.).
* Sharp edges. Not only young children can experience problems with
sharp edges but so can older children if they have a marked
history of hurting themselves. Avoid giving toys with sharp edges
to young children under any circumstances and for older children,
be alert to how they normally interact with their toys.
* Fake food gifts. For children, some fake food gifts are very
dangerous because the children mistake them for food and try to
consume them. For example, glass candies are enticing because
they're pretty but they're dangerous if a child bites one. The
only fake foods that are suitable for children are those marked
clearly as made for children, using non-toxic materials and sized
accurately for the age group.
* Toxic items. Avoid any toys that should be non-toxic but are not
(check the labels). Items such as crayons, bath products, markers,
paints, facepaint, etc. should be non-toxic.
Read the instructions accompanying any toys.
Do they make sense? Are they clear? Are you
left with any questions? If you cannot
understand the instructions and the retailer
isn't able to help you out, put the toy back
on the shelf and let the retailer know that
you don't consider the instructions adequately
clear to ensure the toy's safe use. You might
also write the manufacturer if you think this
would help ensure clearer instructions for
other purchasers.
* Read all tags that are attached to stuffed animals. Most stuffed
toys are restricted to ages three and up because they usually
contain small pieces that a child can choke on if removed (such as
eyes, noses, embellishments, and so forth). If you're giving a
stuffed toy to a child who is an infant or under two, please be
sure that the animal is smaller in height and "mass" than the
child and that it is specifically labeled as suitable for a small
child.
* Examine the pictures of toys on boxes. The pictures can help
provide you with an idea of the suitability of a toy along with
the age group indicator. Knowing the child in question, use the
pictures to discern the appropriateness of the toy and how safe it
will be when given to the recipient. For example, a plastic brick
building product might contain small pieces that a kid could place
in his or her mouth and you might need to ask the retailer for a
similar product that is more suitable for the younger age group.
* BB gun hole at kid level - BB guns are not kid's toys Avoid
getting anything that has excess string or cords, such as
slingshots. Never consider BB guns as toys for kids – not only
are these not_ kid's toys, they can take out an eye all too easily
and leave the victim blinded. Equally, avoid buying toys that
shoot off or send off pieces.
Buy for durability. With small children,
durability is essential. Check that the item
cannot be broken easily and ask what happens
if the item is broken. You want to avoid any
toy or product that breaks into shards,
splinters, sharp pieces, or releases anything
toxic.
* If purchasing sunglasses for a small child, be sure that the
lenses are approved for children and can withstand the pressure of
being twisted, chewed, and sat on.
* Inspect all gifts as children open them. if
the gift(s) are from someone outside the family, for example a
neighbor or schoolmate, it's a good idea to inspect the gift
quickly to ensure that it's safe to play with. If you discover
that it isn't, distract your child with another gift and try to
either remedy the unsafe aspect (such as removing small pieces) or
quickly replacing it with something else more suitable. If there
are tears, tell your child that the toy needs repair or safe
keeping for later and return to distracting him or her with the
many other toys he or she has no doubt received, or go and play
somewhere else together.
Take allergies and food or chemical
sensitivities into account when purchasing
gifts for any age group. Both children and
adults can be allergic or highly sensitive to
a range of food gifts, especially such food as
nuts, MSG infused food, chocolate, and so
forth. Ask them if you don't already know, and
avoid purchasing such food items as gifts.
Other gift items that can cause allergies or
sensitivities include perfumes, scented
products, and essential oils.
* Avoid giving nuts, toffees, and other hard candies to young
children as gifts. They can become choking hazards and are not
good gifts for children under 5.
* If in doubt, don't purchase a gift that has potential allergy or
sensitivity issues.
Take time to explain how to use the toy or
gift to a child or to anyone who needs
instruction. If your kid is aware how to use
the toy properly and is aware of how easily it
can be broken or ruined, then they are alerted
to taking care of it in advance.
* Remove all broken toys and gifts immediately. If they cannot be
fixed safely, dispose of them or recycle them where appropriate.
* Ask all gift recipients to be conscious of
where they've placed their gifts after opening them if it's a
family event, such as Christmas. A lot of things happen when there
is a family gathering and family members and friends might feel
tempted to leave opened gifts in places that are easily accessible
to a child. If you don't want to ask them, at least do a sweep of
the present-opening room before leaving it to attend to other
activities, and put all small and child unsafe gifts out of reach.
Be sure to let guests and family members know what you've done
with their goodies!
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* While wrapping gifts, make sure any glass or valuable material is
tightly wrapped in bubblewrap - not paper or plastic. Always use
bubblewrap when sending gifts in the mail; it can also be helpful
to indicate on the packaging that it is fragile and contains
glass. This will help the recipient know to take extra care when
opening, especially if they hear clinking sounds.
* On Christmas Day, have a trashbag handy before opening gifts. Have
everyone open a gift in a circle and then gather all the rubbish
afterwards. Repeating this cycle will keep the area clean of
clutter and will prevent any mishaps of a child or pet playing
with ribbon the wrong way, or having Great Aunt Martha trip over
it when carrying the roast in.
* In the USA, look out for the letters "ASTM", which stands for the
American Society for Testing and Materials. Its presence alerts
you to the fact that the product is considered to meet national
safety standards set by the ASTM. In other countries, similar
standards and testing bodies exist; do an online search or call
your local consumer affairs office.
* Always supervise young children's play and remove objects that are
unsafe for them. Have firmly observed family rules about toys
meant for older children; ask older children to put away their
toys and objects to ensure the safety of younger children in the
household.
!! Things You\'ll Need !!
* Instructions
* Warning or safety precaution labels
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Choose a Gift for Your Friends
* How to Give a Surprise to Someone
* How to Select a Gift for a Guy
* How to Choose Age Appropriate Gifts For Kids
* How to Give Ideal Age Related Gifts
!! Sources And Citations !!
* Prevent Blindness America, Safe Toy Checklist,
http://www.preventblindness.org/children/safetoys.html –
research source
* Healthfinder.gov, December: Safe Toys & Gifts Month,
dev.healthfinder.gov/newsletter/200712.pdf – research source
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