Tips on buying safe toys for kids

Play is the essential joy of youth; it is also the primary way in which children learn about themselves, others and their world. Play is one of the essential elements for children to develop the physical, mental, social, emotional and creative skills needed for life.

Given the many benefits of play, parents and caregivers naturally want to make the most of it for their children. To choose appropriate toys, encourage positive play experiences and, above all, ensure safe play.

You would never hand your young child a box of matches to play with. You would never give him a full bottle of prescription sedatives to carry around, even if it had a child-resistant cap.

Chances are, he might burn down the house within the first fifteen minutes. It might take a little longer for the pills. In fact, there's a good chance that he might never figure out how to open the lid.

What if instead of matches, or pills, you gave him an unsafe toy? Chances are that ten thousand kids could play with that toy and only one of them would get hurt. Would you take the risk that it would be your child?

It is no surprise to any parent that most of the toys and games sold in Brunei each year are purchased during special occasions like birthday. But what may surprise some parents is that not all toys found in Brunei are made with children's safety in mind. Each year, a number of children require emergency care for injuries resulting from toy-related accidents.

For children toys are fun to play with but once it breaks it could be hazardous to young children. How can parents be sure that a toy is safe? It is not always easy to tell. Keep in mind that the authorities concerned do not test all toys and it is believed that safety standards for toys are not set. When you head to the stores with the general idea of the sort of toys you did like to buy, start by reading the labels, warnings and safety messages on the packaging. If a label says, "Not recommended for children under the age of three," chances are the reason is a safety concern. Until age three most children tend to put toys in their mouths - a signal to steer clear of items with detachable parts or dolls with long hair.

Help avoid mishaps by checking the toy carefully. Look for sharp edges, make sure seams are well stitched and check to see that any small parts are secure.

A toy that is perfectly safe in the hands of a five-year-old may be dangerous for a toddler. RTB Consumer Unit urges parents to keep age appropriateness in mind when making their choices. It is also important that parents teach older children their playthings could be hazardous to younger kids.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin