Toy Safety: What Parents Need to Know© Copyright DiscoverThis
Product recalls from major toy manufacturers are all over the news these days, prompting widespread concern from parents and educators across the nation. We strive to provide the highest quality, most engaging science toys and kits available, with safety as a top priority.
In keeping with that mission, we've compiled the following facts and recommendations to help you stay informed about toy safety and to help you select the most appropriate products for your children. In addition to this toy safety overview, you can download a product safety brochure from the Toy Industry Association, or visit safekids.org for additional information and resources. If you have any questions about toy safety, you can call the Toy Info Hotline at 888-884-TOYS or check the Toy Info website at toyinfo.org
It's important to remember that all toys sold in the United States are regulated by the same set of standards, regardless of where the toy is manufactured. However, compliance often relies on voluntary testing by the toy industry. In light of recent high profile recalls, consumers can expect more third party testing of toys sold in the United States and even more diligence when it comes to voluntary compliance.
To date, no toys offered through DiscoverThis.com have been subject to recall.
(Please note that most of the products on DiscoverThis.com are not suitable for children under 3 years of age as they may contain small parts that can cause choking. Please check each item for recommended age ranges.)
What Are the Risks?
Choking consistently ranks among the most common causes of toy-related injuries and deaths. Latex balloons are the leading cause of toy-related choking, although any parts small enough to fit easily into a child's mouth can be hazardous.
Riding toys (both powered and non-powered) are associated with more injuries than any other category of toys. Injury and death can occur when a child is hit by a motor vehicle, when a child rides the toy into a pool, pond or other body of water, and when a child rides the toy near stairs or other falling hazards.
Strangulation, burns, drowning and poisoning also are associated with unsafe toys and improper toy usage.
The good news is, the majority of toy-related injuries are minor – approximately 97 percent of children seen in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries are treated and released – but why take the risk if it can be avoided?
Who Is Most At Risk?
Children 4 years and younger are involved in nearly 50 percent of toy-related injuries and almost 90 percent of toy-related deaths.
Children 3 years and younger are at greater risk of choking on small toy parts than older children because of their tendency to put things in their mouths as well as the small size of their airways. However, older children are just as likely to choke on latex balloons.
What Can Parents Do?No one can protect your children more effectively than you. Most toys are packaged with instructions and notes about proper usage, age appropriateness and safe play practices. As parents, we need to read toy packaging carefully before allowing our children to play to ensure safety, entertainment, and educational value. Adequate adult supervision is the best defense against toy-related injuries.
Keep these tips in mind when purchasing toys for your children as well as when supervising their play:
Know Your Child: When selecting toys, always keep in mind your child's age, interests and skill level. Look for quality in both design and construction, and follow the age recommendations on labels. For toys for children 3 years and under, consider purchasing a small parts tester. Other toys to avoid include electrical toys and toys with heating elements for children under 8 and latex balloons for all children. Do not allow younger children to play with older siblings' or friends' toys if inappropriate for their age range.
Avoid Obvious Hazards: Don't allow young children to play with toys that have sharp points or edges that might cut them. Avoid toys that produce loud noises and can damage hearing. Toys that launch projectiles (such as darts) can pose hazards to children and others. Toys with strings, straps or cords longer than 7 inches can unintentionally strangle children. The caps used in toy cap guns can be ignited by the slightest friction and cause serious burns. Always trust your instincts when they tell you a certain toy is not a good idea for your child.
Keep Toys in Good Condition: Inspect toys regularly for damage and potential hazards such as sharp edges. If a toy is damaged, make the necessary repairs immediately or keep the toy out of your children's reach until you can repair it. Discard irreparably broken toys.
Supervise Your Children: Supervision is a key factor in keeping children safe from toy-related injury. Get involved in your child's play rather than supervising from a distance. Playing with your kids not only allows you to watch them more closely, it allows you to bond as a family by sharing the fun.
Review the Rules: Although proper supervision is essential, it's equally important to teach children how to play safely. Teach them not to play with riding toys near stairs, cars, or swimming pools, and always remind them not to hit other children with toys or throw toys that are not intended to be thrown. Teach them to put things away when they're finished playing so no one trips or falls on stray toys.
Get the Gear: Make sure children wear appropriate protective gear. When you give a gift of a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or inline skates, include the recommended safety gear (helmets; elbow, wrist and knee pads; reflective clothing or stickers; etc.) with your gift.
Be Smart About Balloons: Use mylar balloons instead of latex to eliminate the risk of choking. If mylar balloons are not an option, store latex balloons out of children's reach, do not allow children to inflate them, and deflate and discard balloons and balloon pieces after use.
Stay Informed: Toys are frequently recalled for safety reasons. To date, no toys offered through DiscoverThis.com have been subject to recall. You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter which includes articles about science education, discounts, and information about our products.
Who Regulates Toy Safety Anyway?The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the independent federal agency that oversees the safety of 15,000 consumer products in the United States, including toys, and provides governmental regulatory compliance. The agency earmarks about half of its annual budget to ensuring the safety of children's products, so toys sold in the United States are the most highly regulated and monitored in the world. Furthermore, CPSC's annual report consistently lists toys among the safest of 15 common consumer product categories in the home.
Perhaps the most common certification you'll find on toys and other children's products is the CE Mark. This mark indicates that the product complies with European Directives, standards developed for members of the European Union (EU) to ensure product conformity and standard product safety requirements. The CE Mark indicates that the product satisfies applicable essential safety requirements for the EU.
It's also important to remember that the Toy Industry Association (TIA) and its members have a long history of accomplishment and leadership in voluntarily maintaining the highest level of toy safety, as does ASTM International which works with toy manufacturers and the government to maintain safety standards. While parents need to stay informed and alert – providing our children's first line of defense against toy-related injuries – toy safety standards in the United States have historically been exceptional and are widely used as models around the globe.

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