What is Safe Toys & Gifts Month 2025?
Safe Toys & Gifts Month focuses on raising awareness about the importance of selecting toys and gifts that meet safety standards and align with a child’s age and developmental stage. The goal is to prevent accidents and injuries caused by inappropriate or hazardous toys, especially during a time when gift-giving is common.
Safe Toys and Gifts Month is observed every December to promote the selection of safe, age-appropriate, and non-toxic toys for children, aiming to prevent toy-related injuries during the holiday season.
Goals and Importance
The primary goals of Safe Toys and Gifts Month include:
- Promoting Safety: Educating parents, caregivers, and gift-givers about the importance of selecting toys that meet safety standards and are appropriate for a child's age and developmental stage.
- Preventing Injuries: Highlighting the risks of toy-related injuries, such as choking hazards, sharp edges, and toxic materials, to encourage informed purchasing decisions.
- Encouraging Supervision: Advocating for adult supervision during playtime to ensure children use toys safely.
Tips for Safe Gift-Giving
To ensure safe toy selection during this month, consider the following tips:
- Check Labels: Always look for age-appropriate labels and safety certifications on toys.
- Avoid Small Parts: Steer clear of toys with small parts that could pose choking hazards for young children.
- Inspect for Hazards: Examine toys for sharp edges, loose parts, or any potential dangers.
- Research and Reviews: Read reviews and ask for recommendations from other parents and caregivers.
- Support Educational Toys: Choose toys that encourage learning, creativity, and development.
How to Promote Safe Toys & Gifts
Promoting safe toys and gifts during this month is essential for children’s well-being. Here are ways to ensure safe gift-giving:
- Check Labels: Always look for age-appropriate labels on toys and gifts and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Avoid Small Parts: Steer clear of toys with small parts or choking hazards for young children.
- Inspect for Hazards: Examine toys for sharp edges, loose parts, or any potential dangers that could harm children.
- Read Reviews: Research toys and gifts online, read reviews, and ask for recommendations from other parents and caregivers.
- Consider Child’s Age: Consider a child’s age, interests, and abilities when selecting gifts.
- Support Educational Toys: Choose toys and gifts that encourage learning, creativity, and development.
- Spread Awareness: Share safety tips and information about Safe Toys & Gifts Month with your community and on social media.
This holiday season (and beyond), please consider the following guidelines for choosing safe toys for all ages:
- Inspect all toys before buying. Avoid those that shoot or include parts that fly off. The toy should have no sharp edges or points and should be sturdy enough to withstand impact without breaking, being crushed, or being pulled apart easily.
- When purchasing toys for children with special needs try to: Choose toys that may appeal to different senses such as sound, movement, and texture; consider interactive toys to allow the child to play with others; and think about the size of the toy and the position a child would need to be in to play with it.
- Be diligent about inspecting toys your child has received. Check them for age, skill level, and developmental appropriateness before allowing them to be played with.
- Look for labels that assure you the toys have passed a safety inspection – “ATSM” means the toy has met the American Society for Testing and Materials standards.
- Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear (give a helmet with the skateboard)
- Keep kids safe from lead in toys by: Educating yourself about lead exposure from toys, symptoms of lead poisoning, and what kinds of toys have been recalled; being aware that old toys may be more likely to contain lead in the paint; having your children wash their hands frequently and calling your doctor if you suspect your child has been exposed to lead. Consult the last two websites listed below for more information.
- Do NOT give toys with small parts (including magnets and “button” batteries which can cause serious injury or death if ingested) to young children as they tend to put things in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking. If the piece can fit inside a toilet paper roll, it is not appropriate for kids under age three.
- Do NOT give toys with ropes and cords or heating elements.
- Do NOT give crayons and markers unless they are labeled “nontoxic.”
Sources American Public Health Association, Prevent Blindness