Family Tips

There is great number of toys, and hundreds of new ones appear each year. Toys are created for fun and are an integral part of any child’s development. But parents should know that each year thousands kids are treated in hospital emergency departments for toy-related injuries - and that sometimes children died.
Most toy-related deaths and injuries are caused by falls and choking. Choking alone causes one third of all toy-related deaths – and most often from balloons.
Children in age of 4 years old and younger account for almost half of all toy-related injuries and almost all deaths.
Kids younger than 3 years are at the greatest risk of choking because they like to put all objects in their mouths.
Riding toys, such as bicycles and scooters, also cause many injuries in children.
How often do you think whether your toys are safe for your child? Toy manufacturers do follow certain guidelines and label most toys for specific age groups. But all the same the most important thing you can do is to supervise your child.
The American toy manufacturers regularly test toys for safety by consulting with child development experts and by testing toys with infants and preschoolers who play at lab facilities. Toys may go through more than 100 tests - all designed to recreate the wear and tear on a toy by an active child.
Toy companies also consult with development experts to decide which toys are appropriate for each age group. For children younger than 3, the main concern is that small parts can pose a choking hazard. Most of the time, safety - not a child’s actual level of intelligence and development - is the reason for the recommended age range that is indicated on a toy.