Every year in Australia, and all around the world, toys are involved in thousands of accidents so it is vital to take care when buying extra toys and when leaving toys lying all around the home.
Because of the stringent regulations imposed on toy manufacturers, the safety of toys themselves isn't the major problem. Instead, the majority of accidents occur when toys are left lying around the home and when young children have access to toys intended for older children.
Safety tips around the home:
* Check toys methodically for tiny, removable pieces before giving to your children (especially those under 3)
* By no means give babies under the age of 3 balloons, small balls or marbles or anything else they could put into their mouths
* Ensure you keep all magnets and toys with magnetic parts away from children under 6 years of age
* Do not allow children to play with toys made of fluffy fabric or 'hair' that can easily be sucked, chewed or pulled out
* If possible try to avoid giving children under 6 toys with long ribbons or ropes attached
* Make sure children use the correct safety equipment when on a bike, skateboard or roller skates
* Regularly test the state of your children's toys and get rid of any showing signs of wear and tear
* Make sure older children tidy their toys away following use as falling over toys is one of the most frequent household accidents
* Persuade your children to play with just one toy at a time so they are easier to control
By taking the above safety tips into consideration and you provide your children with constant supervision whilst they are playing, the risk of toy connected accidents will be lowered considerably.