Toy Safety Tips

These tips come from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

Contents

• The Matching Game
• Purchasing Tips
• Age-appropriate Toys

A printable copy of this brochure is available online:

• Toy Safety Tips
• Download Adobe Acrobat Reader

To order copies of this brochure, contact Primary Children's Medical Center's Child Advocacy department, (801) 662-6580.

For a brochure on toy safety, which includes a list of age-appropriate toys for newborns to 14-year-olds, parents can send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:
attn: Dept. C: Toy Safety
American Academy of Pediatrics
PO Box 927
Elk Grove Village, IL 60009-0927

The Matching Game

1. Toys should be matched to the child's abilities. The manufacturer's recommendations serve as a useful guide.
2. A toy that is too advanced or too simple for a child may be misused, which can lead to injury.
3. Think BIG when choosing toys. All toy parts should be larger than the child's mouth to prevent injuries, including choking.

Purchasing Tips

1. Before buying a toy, read the instructions. If the toy is appropriate for the child, read the instructions to the child for proper use of the toy.
2. To avoid risk of serious eye or ear injury, avoid toys that shoot small objects in the air, or make loud or shrill noises. Parents can hold the noise making toy next to their ear to determine whether it will be too loud for a child's ear.
3. Look for sturdy toy construction. The eyes, nose and other small parts on soft toys and stuffed animals should be securely fastened on the toy. In addition, avoid toys with sharp edges.

Age-appropriate ToysThe following is a list of toys that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for specific age groups. Use these recommendations when shopping for toys. However, always remember that these are merely guidelines. Parents should continue to watch out for mislabeled toys and always provide proper supervision for younger children.

Newborn to 1-Year-Old Baby

1. Large blocks of wood or plastic
2. Pots and Pans
3. Rattles
4. Soft, washable animals, dolls or balls
5. Bright, movable objects that are out of the baby's reach
6. Busy boards
7. Floating bath toys
8. Squeeze toys

1 to 2-Year-Old Toddler
Toys for this age group should be safe and able to withstand a toddler's curious nature.

1. Cloth or plastic books with large pictures
2. Sturdy dolls
3. Kiddy cars
4. Musical tops
5. Nesting blocks
6. Push and pull toys (remember, no long strings)
7. Stacking toys
8. Toy telephones

2 to 5-Year-Old Preschoolers
Toys for this age group are usually experimental and should imitate the activity of parents and older children.

1. Books (Short stories or action stories)
2. Blackboard and chalk
3. Building blocks
4. Crayons, nontoxic finger paints, clay
5. Hammer and bench
6. Housekeeping toys
7. Outdoor toys: sandbox (with a lid), slide, swing, playhouse
8. Transportation toys (tricycles, cars, wagons)
9. Tape player
10. Simple puzzles with large pieces
11. Dress-up clothes
12. Tea party utensils

5 to 9-Year-Old Child
Toys for this age group should help your child promote skill.

1. Blunt scissors, sewing sets
2. Doctor and nurse kits
3. Hand puppets
4. Balls
5. Bicycles
6. Crafts
7. Electric trains
8. Paper dolls
9. Jump ropes
10. Sports equipment
11. Table games

10 to 14-Year-Old Child

1. Computer games
2. Sewing, knitting, needlework
3. Microscope/telescopes
4. Table and board games
5. Sports equipment
6. Hobby collections

For the Older Crowd

• Don't ever buy hobby kits, such as chemistry sets for any child younger than 12 years old. Provide proper supervision for children 12 to 15 years of age.
• Tips of arrows should be blunt, made of soft rubber or flexible plastic and securely fastened to the shaft.