Safer Holiday Toy Shopping

I found the following on Health & Safety Canada and would encourage you to visit the site for more details - great information!

When purchasing gifts, remember:

1. WHICH TOY FOR WHICH CHILD - Always choose age appropriate toys (I would add: follow the manufacturer's guidelines along with common sense - the guidelines are often based on safety issues, not just developemental milestones!)
2. GEAR UP FOR SAFETY - Include safety gear whenever shopping for sports-related gifts or ride-on toys, including bicycles, skates, and scooters:
• Scooters and other Riding Toys - Helmets and safety gear should be worn properly at all times and be sized to fit
• Small Balls and other Toys with Small Parts - avoid toys with small parts, as they can cause choking, for children under three
• Balloons - Keep deflated balloons away from children younger than eight years old. Discard broken balloons at once.
• Magnets - For children under age six, avoid building or play sets with small magnets as they can cause serious injuries and/or  death can occur if swallowed
3. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION - Be aware of your child’s surroundings during play. Young children should avoid playing with ride-on toys near automobile traffic, pools or ponds. They also should avoid playing in indoor areas associated with hazards such as kitchens and bathrooms and in rooms with corded window blinds.

Once the gifts are open:

• Immediately discard plastic wrappings or other packaging on toys before they become dangerous play things.
• Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings.
• Charging batteries should be supervised by adults as chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to young children. 

I hope this helps with your shopping :-)

Happy Hunting!