November is Toy Safety Awareness Month and The Toy Association is setting out to help families keep kids safe with tips and tricks to make it through the holiday season.
“Play is our business — and keeping kids safe while they play is the number one priority for The Toy Association and our members all year long,” says Joan Lawrence, The Toy Association’s “Toy Safety Mom” and Senior Vice President of Standards and Regulatory Affairs. “With the holidays around the corner, toys are top-of-mind for many families, which makes it the perfect opportunity to remind consumers about how to choose safe and appropriate toys and ensure a child’s safety once the gifts are unwrapped.”
The Toy Association is warning shoppers about counterfeits, which aren’t held to the same safety standards as real toys. Parents can check out the Toy Shopping Checklist for Families to ensure they’re buying real, and safe, toys. If families are getting hand-me-downs or shopping secondhand, they should also be aware of toys that have had recalls issued. They can find toy recalls from the past four years at playsafe.org or visit recalls.gov.
“Toys are among the safest consumer products found in the home and are strictly regulated to ensure battery compartments have locking mechanisms and that high-powered magnets are not found in toy parts that are small enough to be swallowed, among more than 100 additional safety measures,” says Lawrence. “However, kids may come into contact with items that are not meant to be played with, so parents should be knowledgeable about risks and remain vigilant at all times.”
As more and more toys on the market integrate internet features, it is important for parents to have conversations with their kids about internet safety. The Toy Association also urges parents to learn more about toys’ privacy policies, parental controls, and camera and chat functionalities.
The Play Safe website also features other toy safety information for parents at playsafe.org.
