How To Increase the Safety of Kids’ Toys
A child’s safety is of the utmost importance to their parents and anyone else who has a hand in their well-being. It doesn’t matter if you’re their babysitter or the person who maintains the local playground; child safety is always the top priority. That’s why it’s good to know how to increase the safety of kids’ toys and what makes them unsafe in the first place.
Fixing Broken Toys
One of the most common ways kids hurt themselves on toys is when the toys break. A toy that breaks can end up dropping a child, cutting them, or even choking them. It’s a good idea to check a child’s toys regularly to ensure they aren’t in any danger of breaking, especially if they are older and well-loved. Of course, a break can happen regardless of precautions, but regular checks will reduce the likelihood.
Teach Kids How To Use It Properly
Some toys can be complex and difficult to use correctly. Sometimes, it’s best to avoid these altogether, but if your child really wants the toy or if you think it will be a good one for their development, ensure that your child fully understands it before they use it on their own. Video games are a great example of this. A game can bring hours of entertainment if the child knows how to play it properly, so supervise them regularly until they get a good grasp of it.
Store Toys Away When Not in Use
Toys that your child leaves out can be a danger to both an unsuspecting child and their parent. They can present tripping hazards or cut the bottom of a bare foot. And we’ve all known the agony of stepping on a Lego piece. Teach your children to put their toys away after they’re done using them to prevent unnecessary injuries.
Buying Toys With Safety Features
As we alluded to before, people are taking the safety of children way more seriously than they used to. That means that toy companies are too. Many of them make a list of all the toy’s safety features somewhere on the box. This is even more common if the toy use to be notoriously unsafe.
Children’s ride-on toys are a great example. Kids were very likely to ride them into the street, and their parents would have to run after them to stop the car. Nowadays, these toys come with parental remotes that allow parents to steer and slow down the ride-on from a distance.
Avoid Toys With Unsafe Features
Unfortunately, there’s not always a solution to increase the safety of kids’ toys. Certain toys simply aren’t appropriate for younger children. Whether it’s because they have small parts or unsafe materials, there is no way to make some of these toys safe. Luckily, most companies realize this and make variations that take young kids into account. A classic example is Lego making their Duplo brand with larger pieces that aren’t possible to swallow.