Every parent wants to give their children the best gifts and toys, but did you know that roughly a quarter of a million children are seen in hospital emergency rooms each year due to toy-related injuries? About half of these injuries are to the head and face, and many affect the eyes. While they may be fun to buy for birthdays and other occasions, certain toys pose a great risk to a child’s vision. Here are 4 things to keep in mind when selecting eye-safe toys for your kids.
#1: Size – Small objects such as marbles, small balls, beads, game pieces, or anything smaller than 1.75 inches can easily be swallowed or become lodged in your child’s eye or nose. These tiny items should not be given to young children unless they are very closely supervised. It is also important that toys with strings still attached (like balloon animals) should never be given to small children as they can cause strangulation if they get caught around the neck.
#2: Materials – All toys should be made from materials that won't break apart or shatter easily if dropped or thrown. Check labels on plastic items for any warning signs about potential hazards such as sharp edges or small parts. It is always better to err on the side of caution when selecting materials for your child's toys.
#3: Projectiles – Any type of projectile toy such as dart guns, slingshots, water guns, etc., should only be used under close adult supervision because of the potential risk of eye injury from flying objects like darts or pellets. Even if there is no chance of an object entering the eye directly (such as with water guns), there is still a chance that it can ricochet off another object and hit someone in the face—or worse—the eyes! #4: Design – Make sure that any toy you purchase has been designed with safety features in mind. Look out for features like soft edges and rounded corners so that your child cannot get injured while playing with it. If possible try to find products which have been safety tested by independent organizations like Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). This will ensure that all components have been tested rigorously and meet safety requirements before being released into the market.
Toy safety is an important factor when considering what gifts to buy for our children this holiday season - or any time of year! When looking at new toys, always keep in mind size, materials, projectiles and design so you can make sure you choose an eye-safe toy every time! With these tips in mind you can rest assured knowing your child will have hours of safe playtime without worry about potential eye damage from unsafe toys!