The Philippine Online Chronicles

“My kid’s smart enough to know not to put that magnet in her mouth.”

“My son’s mature for his age; he can play with toys labelled 7 years and above even if he’s only three.”

“I played with this toy when I was younger and nothing happened to me.”

If any of these statements sound familiar to you, chances are you’ve put your child at risk while he was at play. No matter how smart or mature we think our children are, we can never be too vigilant about their playthings.

Children are naturally inquisitive. Their curiosity will instinctively lead them to take things apart, touch objects, taste them, other times break them. While it’s interesting to watch them interact with their toys, leaving them alone with them is a hazardous thing to do. With their innate inquisitiveness, it’s best to keep a watchful eye on them at all times. Being alert about our children’s toys before, during and after playtime is key to our children’s safety.

Pre-Playtime Toy Check

“I’m OC (obsessive compulsive) about everything,” share Marietta, mother to three-year-old Paolo. “If I’m OC about my own things, I’m extra OC when it comes to my son’s things.” Marietta shares that she inspects her child’s toys very closely before purchasing them, and before giving them to her child for playtime. “You can never tell what happens in between playtimes; a part could’ve gotten loose, so it’s best to inspect.” Loose and broken parts pose as choking hazards.

Some toys overtly state that their product has small pieces. You may not notice that a toy may contain marbles, balls, pellets, and clips that could detach from the object and cause choking. Reading the warning labels is a must.

“If it can be bitten off or pulled off, that toy is off limits,” adds Marietta. Toys with small parts such as magnets, eyes, wheels, charms, buttons and sewn-on items can be easily detached by young children. Avoiding toys with small parts will prevent possible choking accidents.

A choke tube can be used to determine whether an object poses as a choking hazard or not. If an item fits through the tube, then it can jam the windpipe.

If a toy easily breaks or falls apart, the fragments will pose as a risk to children. Toys should be strong and sturdy enough that they do not smash when dropped on the floor. Playthings made from cheap and unreliable sources are the usual culprits for the easily breakable. “From my experience, the toys I bought from market stalls or some tiangges were the most defective,” says Liza, mom to a two-year-old girl. “They were inexpensive, but after my daughter played with them a few times they fell apart. It’s not very safe. Maybe natsamba lang sa amin na pag masmura mas mahina, but our experience has been consistent. So I only buy toys from reputable makers.”

Toys that are hand-me-downs can be special, especially when they come from older family members. However, hand-me-downs may have been played with so many times that they could break more easily and injure children. Because of their compromised durability, hand-me-down toys may not be safe for children.

Checking for sharp and pointed edges is another pre-playtime reminder for toy safety. “My baby was playing with his toy blocks while lying down,” remembers Alice, mother to eight-month-old Lance. “He dropped the block on his face and it almost scratched his eye! I thought I was going to have a heart attack.” Pointed edges can injure children, especially when they shove the object in their mouth or bring it close to their eyes. A child may also step on the toy and wound himself.

If a toy comes with cords or strings attached, make sure to facilitate use of the toy especially with younger children. Toys with cords or strings can cause strangulation when it becomes twisted around a child’s neck. Hanging any stringed object where your child can reach it is dangerous, as he could get caught in it by accident. Toy guitars with straps, toy necklaces, yo-yos, balloons, pull toys and even bags with straps should be carefully scrutinized.

Toys with sounds can be very entertaining for baby, but make sure that the volume level isn’t too loud. Toy cars that honk, toys that play nursery rhymes, books with music – they can keep children amused, but if the toy is too loud it can damage their hearing. “That squeaky rubber ducky was terrible!,” Michelle, mom to a nine-month-old boy, says. “It was bath time and the baby’s ducks were in his tub. I took one duck and squeezed it, but I didn’t realize how loud the sound was!” She was holding the duck right in front of her baby’s face. “He was petrified, and I was so scared I could have hurt his ears. I’ve been wary of squeak toys since.”

“The label ‘non-toxic’ is my friend,” shares Marietta, who checks her son’s crayons, art supplies and toys for this label. Playthings made from natural materials like solid wood and organic textiles are better for children’s health. Make sure your children’s toys are non-toxic. Make sure that their toys are also lead-free. Products have been recalled due to lead content. Toys made in China were a huge watchout in the news several years ago, when Mattel recalled toys made with small magnets and lead paint.

Playtime Toy Checks

Supervise, supervise, supervise. Closely monitoring your children and the way they handle their toys is of utmost importance. Children’s hands can be very quick so watch out for that rattle that he might put in his mouth, or that stuffed toy whose nose he can bite off with his teeth!

To make sure your children are playing with their toys properly, sit down and play with them. Teaching them the right way to play with toys in action, and not in theory, can help them care for their toys better.

“Apart from checking the materials that toys are made of and the sturdiness of their construction, one way to make sure toys are safe is to teach our children to take care of their toys,” shares Rowie, mom to an active toddler. “For the most part I let my son play with toys as he pleases, but when he is playing with a toy in a way that might break the toy, I tell him, `Gently, gently,’ and show him how to handle the toy with greater care.”

Post-Playtime Toy Checks

“After playtime, my son and I clean up together,” says Michelle, whose nine-month-old watches her with curiosity as they clear the playroom together. “I carry him around while I pick up his toys and put them in his toy box, but I think he’s beginning to get the idea that after play, it’s time to clean.” Putting toys away after play helps discipline children as well as helps ensure the children won’t be accidentally stepping on any of the play items.

Toys provide children with fun and entertainment. They can help build children’s physical, intellectual and even their social skills. Toys also help encourage children’s creativity and imagination.  A secure and safe play environment is an environment that nurtures. Being vigilant about our children’s toys before, during and after play ensures they are playing at their safest, and best of all, their happiest.

Photos: “Fireman” by harper07 c/o stock.xchng. “Retro Robot” by Sasan c/o stock.xchng. “Playing” by florant c/o stock.xchng.

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Toni Tiu is a communications planner by profession and a writer at heart. She blogs about marriage, parenthood and home & living on Wifely Steps and random things in her other coves around the net. She enjoys playing video games with her husband and peekaboo with her baby boy.