Children & Adolescents Clinic

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Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0

Toys: Safety Checklist for Older School-Age Children

  • The toy is not too heavy for your child's strength.
  • The toy is well-constructed. (A poorly made toy can break or come apart, easily exposing hazards like wires or springs.)
  • The toy does not have sharp edges that can cut or scratch.
  • All moving parts are securely attached.
  • A broken toy is repaired or thrown away.
  • Indoor toys remain indoors so they do not rust.
  • All riding toys are well-constructed and well-balanced.
  • Any work surface that gets hot is clearly marked. (Some toy ovens heat to over 600 degrees F, or 315 degrees C.)
  • Toys made with cloth carry the labels "flame resistant", "flame retardant", or "nonflammable".
  • Any electrical toy has been approved by the Underwriters Laboratory and carries their symbol (UL) on both the plug and the toy itself.

Written by Donna Warner Manczak, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Copyright 1999 Clinical Reference Systems