Size up suitable toys for kids
Research your options before purchasing presents
By Rehana Begg
When Markham, Ont., mom Dilshad Begg discovered inappropriate language on her teenaged sons’ new computer game, she could only exercise damage control. “Foul language and violence are not on the list of things I want my kids to master, so I returned the game to the store,” she says.
Come holiday time, the last thing we want to do is have to return the gifts we give our children. That’s why it makes good sense to check out your child’s holiday wish list in advance by consulting consumer toy guides and online market ratings. After all, even Santa makes a list and checks it twice.
Checking out children’s toys is easier than ever if you turn to the Internet. With some online research you can easily discover whether the toys and games your children hope to receive this season are safe, educational, entertaining and age-appropriate. Here are some pointers to assist your toy research and bring joy to all this season.
Find valuable toy research right away
Every year since 1952, the Canadian Toy Testing Council (CTTC) has provided Canadian families with a toy report that allows consumers to check out brands and prices before making toy purchases. The report is now available online for easy access — just click on Toy Reports on the left-hand side. The council selects hundreds of toys on the market. These toys are then tested by Canadian children in everyday settings.
Toys are awarded the highest rating of three stars if they are “distinguished by excellence in design, function, durability and play value,” says Leigh Poirier, executive director of the CTTC in Ottawa. If no stars have been assigned, the toy exhibits major deficiencies in function, play value or durability, and is therefore not recommended by the council.
Be selective when buying toys
When shopping for toys, take into account the child’s age, personality type, his or her developmental needs and interests as well as any challenges that can affect his or her physical limitations while playing with the toy.
“Toys give the opportunity for all kinds of mastery, such as physical dexterity, motor skills, problem solving, creative expression and artistic outlets,” says Joanne Oppenheim, president of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, a New York-based company that reviews children’s media.
For instance, children in their preschool years — three to five years old — are fascinated with how and why things work, says Oppenheim, co-author of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio: 2006 Edition (Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, 2005), a guide to the best toys, books, videos, audio and software for kids. Children learn through pretend, which is why dress-up clothes, blocks, sand and water toys, and housekeeping toys are good options for preschoolers.
Pick your shopping criteria before you go
Toy ratings and awards can be useful tools in making toy selections, but don’t be bound by them, warn toy reviewers. Advertisers sponsor many seals of achievement and, in some instances, their claims are based on children’s opinions. While kids are ultimately the consumers of toys, “kid-testers should be one of many criteria used to rate toys, including the educational and play value, safety and age-appropriateness,” says Oppenheim.
Pay close attention to age recommendations and read the labels, say the experts. There are often instances when the CTTC may adjust the manufacturers’ suggested age recommendations, says Poirier.
According to Oppenheim, many people disregard the age labels. “Parents make the false assumption that their kids are mature enough to play with a particular toy that’s not recommended for them. When a label says ‘adult supervision is required,’ it should be a signal that you ought not to bring the toy home.”
Focus on safety issues
On several occasions, Toronto mom Yhumna Moosa has confiscated toys her young son, Ozzie, received as gifts because she believed they were unsafe. Her instincts are well-founded. Parents should go through the toy box every season and judge whether the toys are still suitable, recommends Marianne Szymanski, co-author of Toy Tips: A Parent’s Essential Guide to Smart Toy Choices (Jossey-Bass, 2004). Her Toy Tips web site also offers reviews and listings of toy recalls.
“Buying toys that are too old for a child may pose a safety hazard,” says Szymanski. “All toys with small parts must be out of reach of any child under four and those older than four who routinely put things in their mouth.”
According to Health Canada’s Product Safety Office, risks to children’s health from unsafe toys or the unsafe use of toys include
- stretchy cords that can pose a strangulation threat
- loudness that can damage hearing
- sharp edges that can cut through skin
- packaging that can pose a suffocation or choking hazard
- ride-on toys that can tip
- latex balloons that can block a child’s airway
If a toy does not appear safe, you should notify the manufacturer of your concern and also find out how to report the defect or danger on Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety site. A list of contact addresses and telephone numbers can be found at the federal agency’s web site. In addition, make a habit of consulting toy recall lists.
