NAEYC For Children

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NAEYC offers the following information on selecting the safest and most appropriate toys for young children. 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 * easily cleaned Electric toys should be "UL Approved." Be sure to check the label, which should indicate the toy has been approved by the Underwriters Laboratories. In addition, when choosing toys for children under age 3, make sure there are no small parts or pieces that could become lodged in a child's throat and cause suffocation. It is important to remember that typical wear and tear can result in a once-safe toy becoming hazardous. Adults should check toys…show more content…
Guidelines published by the CPSC and other groups can help you make those buying decisions. Still, use your own best judgment — and consider your child's temperament, habits, and behavior whenever you buy a new toy. You may think that a child who's advanced in comparison to peers can handle toys meant for older kids. But the age levels for toys are determined by safety factors, not intelligence or maturity. Here are some age-specific guidelines to keep in mind: For Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers * Toys should be large enough - at least 1¼" (3 centimeters) in diameter and 2¼" (6 centimeters) in length - so that they can't be swallowed or lodged in the windpipe. A small-parts tester, or choke tube, can determine if a toy is too small. These tubes are designed to be about the same diameter as a child's windpipe. If an object fits inside the tube, then it's too small for a young child. If you can't find one of these products, a toilet paper roll can be used for the same purpose. * Avoid marbles, coins, balls, and games with balls that are 1.75 inches (4.4 centimeters) in diameter or less because they can become lodged in the throat above the windpipe and restrict…show more content…
Toys are the tools of play. Which play materials are provided and how they are used are equally important. Adults caring for children can be reminded that toys facilitate but do not substitute for the most important aspect of nurture—warm, loving, dependable relationships. Toys should be safe, affordable, and developmentally appropriate. Children do not need expensive toys. Toys should be appealing to engage the child over a period of time. Information and resources are provided in this report so pediatricians can give parents advice about selecting toys. Children learn from the time they are born, and parents/guardians are primarily responsible for providing quality experiences from which their children learn. Parents often ask their pediatrician for advice about appropriate toys, books, and computer or video games, because they know that these tools may be important in their child’s development. Pediatricians can use questions about toys as opportunities to discuss the importance of a child’s environment at home and in child care. A young child’s growth and development can be supported and enhanced through play. Toys bring parents or caregivers and children together in play. Early brain development is enhanced through these relationships.1 These discussions are also an opportunity for the pediatrician to help parents understand the role of play in all areas of development, including cognitive, language, social, physical, and emotional
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