Choosing a child's toy is not as easy as one might think, because you also have to pay attention to its safety. If you choose the wrong one, your child may suffer an injury that could endanger his life.
Toys have an important role in stimulating children's growth and development. According to a study, children who are used to playing with toys, such as building blocks or playing with toys, tend to have better physical, mental, and social health than children who only play with gadgets.
Toys that can be given to children are varied and do not have to be expensive. The most important thing is that the toys meet safety standards, are educational, and do not endanger children's health.
Criteria for Safe Toys for Children
There are so many types of toys for children. So that you don't make the wrong choice, here are the criteria for safe toys:
- For toys made of cloth, you should choose a fire-resistant label.
- For dolls, you should choose ones made of washable materials.
- If the toy is painted, make sure the paint used is free of lead.
- For painting tools, such as paints and crayons, make sure that they are free of toxic materials.
- Old toys or used toys from relatives or friends need to be re-examined whether they still meet current health and safety standards.
- For toys that make sounds, make sure the sound isn't too loud. If you give this type of food, don't let your little one bring the toy to his ear, OK, Bun.
In Indonesia, one of the easiest ways to get safe toys is to choose children's toys that have been labeled with SNI. The reason is, toys labeled with SNI have gone through testing and received a Product Certificate for Use of Marks (SPPT) issued by the Product Certification Institute (LSPro).
This is in accordance with Permenpernd No. 24/M-IND/PER/4/2013 concerning the Compulsory Enforcement of the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) for Toys.
Guide to Choosing Safe Toys for Children
Giving toys is more or less the same as giving a playmate for the little one. So, you have to be careful, don't let this thing that is supposed to be entertaining can actually harm it
When choosing toys for children, there are several things to consider, namely:
1. Adjust to the child's age and character
When buying a toy, look at the packaging label and see what age it is intended for. It is important to provide toys that are appropriate for your child's age, interests, and character to match their level of ability and readiness to play.
2. Read the instructions and accompany your little one
Don't forget to read the instructions for using the toy first and keep accompanying your little one while playing, so that he stays safe. After playing, you can teach your little one to store their toys properly.
3. Check toys regularly
Mothers need to check your little one's toys regularly to see if there is any damage. If there is any damage such as the one below, we recommend throwing away or repairing the toy:
- The presence of flakes or the edges of the toy look sharp
- There is rust on toys, especially toys that your little one uses outside the home, such as bicycles
4. Clean toys regularly
When going to clean toys, make sure you read the instructions on how to clean them, okay? Most toys can be washed with mild soap or antibacterial soap and hot water.
For toys that can rust, such as bicycles, you should store them in a room that is not exposed to rain.
5. Eliminate dangerous objects
If your little one's toys contain small objects, such as beads or buttons on a doll's shirt, you should remove them. The reason is, babies under 5 years old don't know about the dangers yet, so it's possible to put small objects into their mouths while playing.
If this happens, your little one may choke. Choking experienced by infants under 5 years of age cannot be underestimated because it can cause death.
In addition to small toys, also avoid toys with loose ribbons or strings because these toys could be wrapped around your little one's neck by accident and suffocate him.
6. Avoid giving electric and magnetic toys
It is best to avoid giving toys that require charging to children under 8 years of age unattended. This is done to avoid the risk of the child being electrocuted. In addition to being electric, toys that have magnets, especially small ones, should also not be given to your little one.
The reason is, if the magnet on the toy comes off and your little one accidentally swallows 2 or more magnets, the magnet can stick in the body and injure it.
The things above are also worth paying attention to when you give gifts to other children, yes. By paying attention to this, Mother can also be calmer because the Little One and his friends can play safely.
In addition to paying attention to how to choose toys that are safe for children, you must also ensure that there are adults who accompany your little ones when playing for safety.
