(NAPSA)—With concerns about toy safety making headlines, giving a child a gift that makes their wishes come true may seem more daunting than delightful. Parents, grandparents and othergift givers can take an active role to help ensure safe and fun play. The fol- lowing tips on safe toy selection from the toy experts at eToys.com can help caregivers and gift givers when shopping: Check the manufacturer’s recommended age. Age recommendations measure the safety of a toy—not your child’s IQ. They are based on four different aspects of the toy: Potential choking hazards, which pose the greatest threat to kids underage3; A child’s physical ability to play with the toy; A child’s ability to under- stand how to correctly play with the toy; General developmental needs of a particular age group. Use the age range asa start- ing point based on the information above. You are most familiar with your child’s developmental stage and ability level, so it’s up to you to decideif he or she is ready. A too-advanced toy could be mis- used andlead to an injury. Ensure that younger siblings play only with their own toys. Keep a close eye on youngerchil- dren who want to mimicoldersiblings by playing with the older child’s toys. Instruct older kids to put unused toys away, well out of reach of youngerchildren. Pick well-informed and rep- utable toy retailers. Online toy retailers like eToys.com provide information on the most up-to- date toy recalls, and will notify you if a toy you ordered through their Web site is recalled later. Take the time to teach kids Who’sthat? Toddlers love to look at their reflections. Parents love to give them toysthat are safe. how to use new toys. Accidents can happen when misuse occurs, so help keep your children safe by making sure they’re playing with toys correctly. Remove toy package and wrapping immediately. Don’t store toys in their original packag- ing. Plastic wrap can cause suffo- cation, and staples or sharp plastic edges can cut. Avoid hand-me-down or garage sale toys. As economical as they maybe, these typesof toys may be too worn or contain parts that don’t meet current safety standards. Never give small children plastic bags, wrapping or latex balloons. Choking is a major con- cern for young children and these items could obstruct a child’s air- way completely. Remember the importance of parental supervision. Keep an eye on your child during playtime to ensure age-appropriate choices and safe activities. Even better, take a little time out of your busy day to bond with yourchild through play. For additional tips on toy safety and more ideas to ensure safe play, visit the eToys.com Safety Center (www.etoys.com/ safety).
