Is the toy your child playing with safe? Here’s the lowdown on toy safety
Keeping a child safe is often said to be highly dependent on parental intuition, however, according to toy manufacturers and distributors, parents need to follow and apply all rules stated on toy labeling.
POLOKWANE – Every toy purchased has rules and age restrictions labelled on them, which are there to ensure children are safe while playing with them and that the toy is kept in good condition for longer.
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Humphrey Mamabolo has been working in a popular retail store for several years now and he has over the years learned the importance of following instructions on toys as manufactures do test and evaluate all toys before distributing them out to various retail shops. “Parents need to take into consideration age and time frame in tems of development of their children before purchasing any toy,” he added.
Toys are fun and they play a very important role in a child’s learning and developing process, but one important thing that parents need to consider is how safe the toy that they are getting for their child is. Unfortunately, safe toys do come at a price because they have been tested, approved and longevity and durability assured for a reason.
However, they differ and cater for different age groups. For example, toys which can easily dissemble and break into tiny pieces are usually not safe or recommended for children of three years and below as they have a tendency of picking up tiny pieces and putting them in their mouth which may result in choking.
Children are often admitted and treated for toy related injuries with choking being a common injury for children aged 3 years and below. It is therefore important for parents to supervise younger children when they are playing with toys.
Safe toy checklist:
• Washable
• Flame resistant
• Must use lead free paint
• Must be non-toxic
• Do not rust
• Parents also need to ensure that toys aren’t too loud for their children as they may harm or damage the child’s hearing ability.
Teach children how to use them by reading and following carefully instructions as stated on the toy, age levels for toys are determined by safety factors and not intelligence or maturity.
