Save the Date: November to Mark Second Annual “Toy Safety Awareness Month”

September 27, 2022 | The Toy Association’s second annual “Toy Safety Awareness Month” will take place this November.

Sponsored by The Toy Association and its PlaySafe.org resource, Toy Safety Awareness Month will educate parents and caregivers about safe toy shopping, safe product selection, and safe play at home. The initiative will also encourage all in the play industry to share helpful safety tips with consumers on their social media channels, websites, and in stores.

“While the holidays are a time to celebrate the magic and joy toys bring to children everywhere, it is also an essential time to remind families how to remain vigilant to ensure playtime is a safe experience all year long,” said Adrienne Appell, executive vice president of marketing communications at The Toy Association. “As parents, grandparents, and other gift-givers begin to check off their holiday shopping lists, we encourage the play community to help us spread the word about Toy Safety Awareness Month and safe play this November.”

In advance of November, The Toy Association will share a toolkit that will include the safety theme for each week of Toy Safety Awareness Month, sample social media posts, and related assets including the official logo, an infographic, video assets, and more. Manufacturers, retailers, and any other professional working in the business of play is encouraged to get involved by sharing The Toy Association’s safety content throughout the month of November and using the official hashtags, #ToySafetyAwarenessMonth and #PlaySafe in their posts.

As the industry gears up for its most important shopping season, The Toy Association is also conducting a survey of 2,000 U.S. parents to gain an understanding of whether they would purchase a counterfeit toy if their first choice was unavailable, and other toy safety issues. The results will form the basis of a news story that will be pitched to top-tier outlets at the start of Toy Safety Awareness Month. The Toy Association is also monitoring, and preparing its rebuttal, for NGO “toy safety” reports ahead of Thanksgiving.

More information about Toy Safety Awareness Month will be shared in the coming weeks. Questions about how to get involved in this initiative can be directed to Kristin Morency Goldman, senior advisor of strategic communications at The Toy Association.