Toy Safety:

Since an uninflated balloon or a piece of a broken balloon could present a choking or suffocation hazard, adults should inflate balloons and supervise their use with children under the age of eight. Over 2.6 billion toys are purchased each year and parents are naturally very concerned about the products they give their children.

Be certain that eyes, noses, buttons, ribbons and other decorations are securely fastened and cannot be pulled or bitten off. "Toy-caused" accidents, which occur due to a fault in the toy's design, material content, construction or performance, are infrequent. Not all toys are appropriate for all ages of children.

Teach children to store their toys properly in a place selected by you. Spot check toys regularly for minor damage and urge children to let you know when toys need repair.

Playing with toys and behaviour:

Sometimes children's play can appear overly aggressive, causing parents to worry that the child will grow up to believe aggressive behavior and fighting are acceptable. Children are getting older younger - that means they grow out of toys earlier. Toys and play in general are an important part of the process of learning about the world and growing up.

It has been noted by researchers that, "Children as young as 18 months display sex-stereotyped toy choices". If you disapprove of a particular toy, dont buy it. Be careful to explain your reason for refusing as a forbidden toy can even be more attractive! Certain toys, such as barbies and toy soldiers, are often perceived to be more acceptable for one gender then the other.

Toy general information and History:

Toy makers change and adapt their toys to meet the changing demands of children thereby gaining a larger share of the substantial market. There are many different types of puzzles, for example a maze is a type of tour puzzle. The earliest toys were made from materials found in nature, such as rocks, sticks, and clay.

Toy soldiers, perhaps a precursor to modern action figures, have been a popular toy for centuries. In Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, children played with dolls made of wax or terra cotta, sticks, bows and arrows, and yo-yos.
Phil P