1. Always choose age-appropriate toys for children.  Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings.

2. Include safety gear whenever shopping for sports-related gifts or ride-on toys including bicycles, skates and scooters. Helmets and other safety gear should be worn properly and be sized to fit.

3. Be aware of your child’s surroundings during play. Young children should avoid playing with ride-on toys near streets and traffic, pools or ponds.  They should avoid playing in indoor areas near hazards such as kitchens, bathrooms or rooms with corded window blinds.

4. Once gifts are opened, immediately discard plastic wrappings or other packaging from toys.

5. Battery-charging should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose a thermal burn hazard to young children. 

6. For children younger than 3, avoid toys with small parts and small balls. For Children younger than 6, avoid toys with small magnets. Keep all young children away from broken balloons.  Keep deflated balloons away from children 8 and younger. Balloons are a choking hazard.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com