Choosing Proper Toys for Children

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Where to begin when searching for safe and educational toys for young children? Several factors are to consider when choosing an appropriate toy for young children. A great resource is NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children). NAEYC recommends, “safe toys for young children are well made (with no shared parts or splinters and do not pinch), painted with nontoxic, lead-free paint, shatter proof, and easily cleaned”. Other factors to consider are your child’s age, the parts of the toys, and the educational value. When selecting toys for young children, certain guidelines need to be met, so that the child is not at risk for harm in any way and so that they can learn effectively. Young children learn by putting toys in their mouths, so any toys selected for a young child to play with, must not have any small or loose parts as this can lead to choking or death. The toys should also be well made and durable so that parts do not break off. The toys need to be interesting and appealing to a young child. The toys should also be well suited for the age group you are selecting toys for. They cannot be too complicated and be well suited to the child’s physical capabilities. If the toy is painted, it must be with non toxic lead free paint and must be able to be cleaned easily. For electronic toys, they should be approved by the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) which is where they test to make sure that all electronic toys are safe for young children. You should check to make sure that the toys you are selecting have not been recalled by the manufacturers which you can do by checking online at the Consumer Product Safety Commission Website. For soft fabric toys, they should be made from flame retardant materials, are washable, and not have any loose stitching where parts inside like rattles can fall out and be a choking hazard. Toys that make

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