Resources Available to Members for Toy Safety Media Inquiries

November 13, 2018 | The holiday season is a time when toys receive considerable attention, whether from media covering the hottest new products or consumers shopping for the kids on their lists. Unfortunately, certain NGOs (non-governmental organizations) historically take advantage of this time to publish reports on allegedly “harmful” toys to avoid. These reports are consistently riddled with inaccuracies and unnecessarily frighten families rather than assuring them that toys are among the safest consumer products found in the home. 

In the event that a Toy Association member company’s product is included in one of these NGO lists, The Toy Association’s public relations team is available to provide counsel on appropriate actions to take. Companies that are contacted by reporters in search for comment are encouraged to pass the inquiry to The Toy Association, which can supply the media with a statement on the safety-related issue at hand and offer interviews with the Association’s toy safety experts. 

“A main priority of The Toy Association is to work with the media not just during the holiday season but all year round to educate them on the rigorous safety requirements for toys sold in the U.S. and to promote the pro-active measures that toy companies take to help ensure children’s safety as they play,” said Ken Seiter, executive vice president of marketing communications at The Toy Association. “We urge members to reach out to us as soon as possible if they receive any media queries related to toy safety.”

The Toy Association undertakes strategic PR and social media efforts to counter false NGO toy safety claims. The Association also encourages the public to visit PlaySafe.org, which shares information on toy safety and offers parents and caregivers tips on how to choose safe, age-appropriate toys for children during the holiday season and all year long.

Members with questions on this topic are encouraged to contact Adrienne Appell, senior director of strategic communications at The Toy Association.