The right toy |

Pick the Right Toy, the Safe Toy

Make sure the gifts you give this holiday season are safe. You can help ensure a happy and healthy holiday season for your family by keeping a few tips in mind when doing your holiday shopping:

Avoid purchasing toys or games with sharp, protruding or projectile parts.
Consider carefully before giving toys such as darts, bows and arrows, BB or pellet guns or air-powered rifles. These can be dangerous in a child’s hands.
Check labels for ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) approval to be sure toys meet national safety standards.
Check packaging for age recommendations. Give toys that are age and maturity-level appropriate.
When giving sports equipment, make sure you also include the appropriate protective eyewear — helmets, facemasks and goggles. Check with your pediatrician or Eye M.D. for recommendations of protective eyewear.
Do not select science sets that contain chemicals that can burn, poison or explode.
Make sure you keep unsuitable toys away from younger children. A toy that is suitable for an older child may be very dangerous or inappropriate for a younger sibling.