Selecting Safe Toys for Children

The biggest threat to the health of children over age one is not some dread disease. It is accidental injury. More children are seriously hurt or killed by accidental injuries than by anything else. And many childhood injuries can be prevented by parents and caregivers who know how.

The suggestions made in this publication are based on national information about the kinds of toys most often involved in accidents. Most of this information was gathered by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the checklist was developed under funding from U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Selecting Toys by Age Group

Up to 1 year

    Awareness of sound, motion, touch & color
    Hand to mouth curiosity (teach the early walker not to walk or run with toys in his mouth)
    Need constant supervision during play

    Safe Toys Include:

  • Unbreakable large-end rattles
  • Squeak toys with molded in noise-maker.
  • Washable dolls and stuffed animals with bright embroidered features
  • Brightly colored objects hanging in view (mobile, etc.) out of reach and with cords less than 12" long
  • Brightly colored cloth or rubber balls with textured surface to grasp
  • Unbreakable cups and smooth objects that can be chewed
  • Brightly colored beads on a strong cord less than 10" long

    Dangerous Toys Include:

  • Rattles with ends smaller than 13/8" in diameter
  • Those with small enough to swallow or with removable parts that are sharp or could be swallowed
  • Those with poisonous paint, or cords over 1 2" long
  • Stuffed animals with glass or button eyes

1 to 2 years

    Time of reckless mobility
    Hand to mouth testing
    Very curious
    Needs extremely close supervision during play

    Safe Toys Include:

  • Blocks with rounded corners
  • Push-pull toys
  • Books with cloth or stiff pasteboard pages
  • Non-glass mirrors
  • Take apart toys with large pieces

    Dangerous Toys Include:

  • Same as above PLUS toys of older children that mobility puts within the toddler's reach
  • Toys with strings over 12" long

2 to 3 years

    Development of language and more curiosity
    Beginning age of most toy related injuries at age 2

    Safe Toys Include:

  • Peg boards with large pieces
  • Wooden animals
  • Large crayons
  • Low rocking horse
  • Dustless chalk and chalkboard
  • Simple musical instruments
  • Simple jigsaw puzzles with large pieces
  • Blocks with numbers and letters
  • Toys that aid color, size and shape identification
  • Sturdy cars and riding toys ( wagons, riding toys, tricycle for 2 1/2 year olds at earliest)

    Dangerous Toys Include:

  • Those with sharp edges or easily breakable material
  • Toys with small removable parts or poisonous paints
  • Marbles, beads and coins
  • Electrical toys
  • Metal toys with unfinished slots, holes or edges that can cut
  • Lead soldiers
  • Tricycles with seats over 12" high (not for children under 2 1/2 years)
  • Riding toys used in hilly areas or inclined driveways

3 to 4 years

    Imagination and imitation combined with vigorous physical activity
    Ending age of most toy related injuries at 4 years

    Safe Toys Include:

  • Those in 2-3 year category plus
  • Toy telephones
  • Metal tea set
  • Dolls with wrap-around clothing
  • Construction sets with easily connecting large pieces
  • Rugged key-wound or friction-operated toys
  • Blunt scissors
  • Lacing cards
  • Simple card and board games
  • Non-electrical trains
  • Selected toys with small parts
  • Tricycles with low-slung seats, used off roadways

    Dangerous Toys Include:

  • Highly flammable costumes
  • Electrical toys
  • Shooting toys that endanger eyes
  • Poorly balanced tricycles or riding toys
  • Lead soldiers
  • Riding toys in hilly areas or inclined driveways
  • Tricycles that take child too far from supervision
  • Broken toys

4 to 6 years

    Will develop cooperative social play. Improve physical coordination
    Begins era of bicycle related injuries

    Safe Toys Include:

  • Pail and shovel
  • Building blocks
  • More advanced construction sets
  • Cut-out paper dolls, hand and finger puppets Modeling clay
  • Paints and paint books
  • Non-electrical trains, battery operated toys
  • Kites
  • Stencils, activity books and picture books
  • More demanding board and card games
  • Simple musical instruments
  • Small sports equipment
  • Selected toys with small parts
  • Bicycle with 20" wheel and training wheels, for 4-7 year olds

    Dangerous Toys Include:

  • Poisonous or oil-based paint sets
  • Flammable costumes or ones with material to the floor
  • Kites made of electrically conductible aluminized polyester film
  • Electrical toys, unless battery operated
  • Shooting toys and darts with pointed tips
  • Poorly-balanced tricycles or wagons
  • Bicycle poorly maintained
  • Bicycle used on roadways
  • Bicycle too large for child
  • Fireworks of any kind
  • Lawn darts

6 to 8 years

    Further cooperative and social play
    Physical and intellectual interests. May have renewed interest in playing alone

    Safe Toys Include:

  • Kites
  • Battery-powered electrical toys with Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approval
  • Puppets and puppet theatre
  • Complicated jigsaw puzzles
  • Games requiring some reading
  • Well constructed, lightweight tool sets
  • Dolls and doll equipment
  • Flower press
  • Set demonstrating simple principles of science. (Magnets & magnifiers, etc.)
  • Equipment for playing bank, store, filling station, etc.
  • Bicycle with 24" wheel for 7-10 year olds

    Dangerous Toys Include:

  • Kites made of electrically conductible aluminized polyester film
  • Poorly made sports equipment
  • Shooting toys and toys with loud noises (cap guns, etc.)
  • Fireworks of any kind
  • Electrical toys run on household current
  • Lawn darts
  • Broken toys

8 to 12 years

    Safe Toys Include:
  • Art, Craft, Building and Science interests
  • Electrical toys with UL approval used on household current only after you have explained how to use toy and electrical plug and outlets
  • Bicycle with 26" wheel for kids over 10
  • Other sidewalk vehicles, skates, skateboards, etc.
  • Well-constructed sports equipment
  • Put together models
  • Chemistry and other science kits
  • Hobby and Arts and Crafts kits and materials

    Dangerous Toys

  • Lawn darts
  • Fireworks of any kind
  • Sharp-edged tools
  • Poorly constructed sports equipment
  • B-B Guns/Air Rifles, until child understands gun safety

Author: Valya Telep, Extension Specialist, Child Development, Virginia State University

RESOURCES
Purchasing Age-Appropriate Toys

Childproofing/Accident Prevention

ORGANIZATIONS


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