Dear Parents
Please see latest government guidance and resources to help make safe choices when buying toys at Christmas:
Toy Safety at Christmas
Play is not risk-free – and nor should it be – but we can control most of the hazard’s children are exposed to. Toys must be safe by law, but how they are used, and the age of the child are important factors in preventing accidents.
Although toys are involved in more than 40,000 accidents each year, their safety is only part of the problem. Many accidents involving toys occur when people trip over them and when babies play with toys intended for older child.
Online marketplaces don’t do safety checks of toys they sell. And reports show increasing numbers of dangerous toys available on online marketplaces from third party sellers. Financial pressures and the promise of bargains mean unsafe toys may well be bought by unsuspecting parents.
Top 10 toy safety tips
Make sure the toys are suitable. Some children, particularly those under three, are more vulnerable, especially to choking, and less able to cope with some toys than older children. It should also be remembered there will be significant differences in the abilities of those in the same age group, and those children with special needs.
Avoid the following:
Links to safety posters to display in your setting:
While toys sold by well-known, reputable stores are generally safe, toys, novelty items and dressing-up clothes that you can buy in online marketplaces, markets or discount stores may not be. Battery-powered toys have usually passed rigorous safety tests. But as the batteries wear out, try to avoid mixing old and new batteries - the older batteries could overheat in the toy.
Batteries in children’s toys are covered by safety regulations. They should either be enclosed by a screw and a secure compartment or need two independent or simultaneous movements to open the battery compartment. But remember that older children may still be able to open secure battery compartments.
Toys bought online or from markets, discount stores or temporary shops may not follow the appropriate safety regulations. For example, trading standards officers have issued warnings about light-up fidget spinners where the battery is easily accessible to children.
Read more about the dangers posed by button batteries
https://www.capt.org.uk for resources and guidance
https://www.rospa.com for resources and guidance
The CE mark or Lion Mark show toys have been made to approved standards. However, some unscrupulous companies can fake them - so if you already have concerns, don’t rely on these alone.