FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Toy Association Urges Families to Follow Important Tips for Safe Play

National Survey Reveals 96% of Parents Don’t Follow Toy’s Age Label & Other Concerning Findings

NEW YORK, NY | November 12, 2019 – With the holiday shopping season here, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the frenzy of buying gifts and overlook safety. But The Toy Association is urging parents, grandparents, and other gift givers to ensure their kids stay safe by following important safety tips – not just leading up to the holidays, but all year long.

"U.S. toy safety standards are among the strictest in the world. Before reaching your house, toys are subject to over a hundred safety standards and tests and must be certified compliant by a third-party testing lab," said Joan Lawrence, senior vice president of standards and regulatory affairs at The Toy Association. "While parents can rest assured that toys and games sold by legitimate retailers are safe, children’s safety is a shared responsibility. We urge parents to visit PlaySafe.org for tips to ensure every play date is a safe one."

1. Age Grading

An alarming 96 percent of parents are confident that their children can play with a toy even if they are younger than the toy’s age recommendation, according to a recent survey of 1,000 U.S. parents conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of The Toy Association.* But the age-grading on a toy isn’t related to how smart a child is or merely a suggestion — it’s based on the developmental abilities of kids at a given age and the specific features of a toy. When children play with a toy above their age grade, they might misuse the toy and get hurt. Age grading is found directly on toy packaging or in the product descriptions for all legitimate toys sold online.

2. Small Parts

Pay special attention to toys labeled 3+, since these toys may contain small parts that can be a choking hazard for children under three (or kids who still mouth toys). Toys with small parts will be labeled, so keep a careful eye out as you shop, and consider getting a Small Parts Tester (available in the baby-proofing section of most toy stores) to test other small objects found around the home.

3. Counterfeits

Thirty-four percent of toy-buying parents don’t know that fake toys – which might be sold on major online marketplaces by unverified third-party sellers – are not always tested for safety. On the other hand, legitimate toys sold by responsible sellers comply with more than 100 federal standards and tests to ensure children’s safety. Always dig deeper into a lesser-known online seller’s history and reviews to determine their legitimacy before making your purchase. You can also make your purchase directly on a brand’s website or follow the provided links to official retailers selling their products.

4. Household Dangers

Kids can find ways to play with anything – including objects that are not toys, like small powerful magnets (found in executive desk toys) or button cell batteries (from remotes, hearing aids, and so on). These objects are not meant to be played with and can be very dangerous if accidentally swallowed. Always keep them out of children’s reach.

Parents are encouraged to share these tips with grandparents and other gift-givers and to supervise children and demonstrate safe play.

"Showing little ones how to properly use a toy or game is the best way to make sure they understand how to safely enjoy it. Best of all, playing together as a family is lots of fun and even has enhanced developmental benefits for children,” added Lawrence.

The Toy Association and its members take toy safety extremely seriously and are committed year-round to educating parents and caregivers about safe play. Following this simple safety advice can go a long way toward preventing unnecessary accidents and injuries. For more toy safety tips and information visit www.PlaySafe.org, The Toy Association’s trusted resource for parents and caregivers.