Loving Family Group Workshop Toys & Outdoor Play Equipment
Hi All: You are welcome to join the Loving Family Group and participate in the workshop on "Toys and Outdoor Play Equipment". I have enclosed the information for your convenience. You may also go to www.lovingfamilygroup.org to access the information. I am available to answer questions, receive comments, and participate in discussions. I encourage you to also discuss the information with your other friends and group members of Loving Family Group. I hope you find the workshop to be an informative and enjoyable experience and helpful as well as you shop for toys and play equipment for children during this Christmas season. God Bless You!
Sharen
Toys. It can be difficult at times for parents to know which toys are safe and appropriate and which toys are not. To help parents make those choices, the following guidelines are recommended by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; Administration for Children & Families; Office of Head Start (1995):
Choosing Safe and Appropriate Toys
BUYING TOYS
* Choose toys with care. Keep in mind the child's age, interests and skill level.
* Look for quality design and construction in all toys for all ages.
* Make sure that all directions or instructions are clear - to you, and, when appropriate, to the child. Plastic wrappings on toys should be discarded at once before they become deadly playthings.
* Be a label reader. Look for and heed age recommendations, such as "Not recommended for children under three." Look for other safety labels including: "Flame retardant/Flame resistant" on fabric products and "Washable/hygienic materials" on stuffed toys and dolls.
MAINTAINING TOYS
* Check all toys periodically for breakage and potential hazards. A damaged or dangerous toy should be thrown away or repaired immediately.
* Check edges on wooden toys that might have become sharp -- surfaces covered with splinters should be sanded smooth. When repainting toys and toy boxes, avoid using leftover paint, unless purchased recently, since older paints may contain more lead than new paint, which is regulated by CPSC.
* Examine all outdoor toys regularly for rust or weak parts that could become hazardous.
STORING TOYS
* Teach children to put their toys safely away on shelves or in a toy chest after playing to prevent trips and falls.
* Toy boxes, too, should be checked for safety. Use a toy chest that has a lid that will stay open in any position to which it is raised, and will not fall unexpectedly on a child. For extra safety, be sure there are ventilation holes for fresh air. Watch for sharp edges that could cut and hinges that could pinch or squeeze. See that toys used outdoors are stored after play -- rain or dew can rust or damage a variety of toys and toy parts creating hazards.
SHARP EDGES
* New toys intended for children less than eight years of age should, by regulation, be free of sharp glass and metal edges.
* With use, however, older toys may break, exposing cutting edges.
SMALL PARTS
* Older toys can break to reveal parts small enough to be swallowed or to become lodged in a child's windpipe, ears or nose. The law bans small parts in new toys intended for children under three. This includes removable small eyes and noses on stuffed toys and dolls, and small, removable squeakers on squeeze toys.
LOUD NOISES
* Toy caps and some noisemaking guns and other toys can produce sounds at noise levels that can damage hearing. The law requires the following label on boxes of caps producing noise above a certain level: "WARNING -- Do not fire closer than one foot to the ear. Do not use indoors." Caps producing noise that can injure a child's hearing are banned.
CORDS AND STRINGS
* Toys with long strings or cords may be dangerous for infants and very young children. The cords may become wrapped around an infant's neck, causing strangulation. Never hang toys with long strings, cords, loops, or ribbons in cribs or playpens where children can become entangled. Remove crib gyms from the crib when the child can pull up on hands and knees; some children have strangled when they fell across crib gyms stretched across the crib.
SHARP POINTS
* Toys which have been broken may have dangerous points or prongs. Stuffed toys may have wires inside the toy which could cut or stab if exposed. A CPSC regulation prohibits sharp points in new toys and other articles intended for use by children under eight years of age.
PROPELLED OBJECTS
* Projectiles -- guided missiles and similar flying toys -- can be turned into weapons and can injure eyes in particular. Children should never be permitted to play with adult lawn darts or other hobby or sporting equipment that have sharp points. Arrows or darts used by children should have soft cork tips, rubber suction cups or other protective tips intended to prevent injury. Check to be sure the tips are secure. Avoid those dart guns or other toys which might be capable of firing articles not intended for use in the toy, such as pencils or nails.
ALL TOYS ARE NOT FOR ALL CHILDREN
* Keep toys designed for older children out of the hands of little ones. Follow labels that give age recommendations -- some toys are recommended for older children because they may be hazardous in the hands of a younger child. Teach older children to help keep their toys away from younger brothers and sisters.
* Even balloons, when uninflated or broken, can choke or suffocate if young children try to swallow them. More children have suffocated on uninflated balloons and pieces of broken balloons than on any other type of toy.
ELECTRIC TOYS
* Electric toys that are improperly constructed, wired or misused can shock or burn. Electric toys must meet mandatory requirements for maximum surface temperatures, electrical construction and prominent warning labels. Electric toys with heating elements are recommended only for children over eight years old. Children should be taught to use electric toys properly, cautiously and under adult supervision.
INFANT TOYS
* Infant toys, such as rattles, squeeze toys, and teethers, should be large enough so that they cannot enter and become lodged in an infant's throat.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
* Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Commission has set safety regulations for certain toys and other children's articles. Manufacturers must design and manufacture their products to meet these regulations so that hazardous products are not sold.
RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS AND OTHER ADULTS
* Protecting children from unsafe toys is the responsibility of everyone. Careful toy selection and proper supervision of children at play is still -- and always will be -- the best way to protect children from toy-related injuries. To report a product hazard or a product-related injury, write to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C., 20207, or call the toll-free hotline: 1-800-638-2772. A teletypewriter for the deaf is available at 1-800-638-8270. For information visit www.cpsc.gov
"The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets" (Zechariah 8:5). In Loving Family, we provide our children with safe play toys appropriate for their particular age group. For small children, we avoid purchasing toys that are flammable, toys that shoot things, electrical toys, toys that contain lead, balloons that can be choked on, toys with sharp pointed parts or edges, or toys with small detachable parts that can be swallowed or put in the ears or nose. We avoid toys for infants and small children with cords that could cause choking or strangulation. We frequently check our children's toys to make sure they are in good repair, and we discard toys that are broken. We remove and discard plastic wrapping and bags as soon as the toy is opened to protect children from suffocation.We store adult games out of the reach of children. We always supervise children closely, and we do not permit younger children to plat with toys designed for older children or adults. We teach our children to put their toys safely away on shelves or in a toy chest after playing to prevent trips and falls.
Outdoor Play Equipment. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC Document #323) provides the following information about home playground safety:
Each year, about 200,000 children are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for playground equipment-related injuries - an estimated 148,000 of these injuries involve public playground equipment and an estimated 51,000 involve home playground equipment. Also, about 15 children die each year as a result of playground equipment-related incidents. Most of the injuries are the result of falls. These are primarily falls to the ground below the equipment, but falls from one piece of equipment to another are also reported. Most of the deaths are due to strangulations, though some are due to falls.
Use this simple checklist provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to help make sure your home playground is a safe place to play:
1. Install and maintain a shock-absorbing surface around the play equipment. Use at least 9 inches of wood chips, mulch, or shredded rubber for play equipment up to 7 feet high. If sand or pea gravel is used, install at least a 9-inch layer for play equipment up to 5 feet high. Or, use surfacing mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials.
2. Install protective surfacing at least 6 feet in all directions from play equipment. For swings, be sure surfacing extends, in back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar.
3. Never attach–or allow children to attach–ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to play equipment; children can strangle on these.
4. Check for hardware, like open "S" hooks or protruding bolt ends, which can be hazardous.
5. Check for spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs; these spaces should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
6. Make sure platforms and ramps have guardrails to prevent falls.
7. Check for sharp points or edges in equipment.
8. Remove tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings, tree stumps, and rocks.
9. Regularly check play equipment and surfacing to make sure both are in good condition.
10. Carefully supervise children on play equipment to make sure they are safe.
We make certain that our children's outdoor playground equipment is safe, sturdy, well maintained, clean, and in good repair. We cover the ground under and around playground equipment with a thick layer (9-12 inches) of mulch, wood chips, or other safety material to protect children who fall off of play equipment. We regularly check play equipment and surfacing to make sure both are in good condition. We teach our children and their visitors the proper use of play equipment, and we supervise children during play.
Sharen
Toys. It can be difficult at times for parents to know which toys are safe and appropriate and which toys are not. To help parents make those choices, the following guidelines are recommended by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; Administration for Children & Families; Office of Head Start (1995):
Choosing Safe and Appropriate Toys
BUYING TOYS
* Choose toys with care. Keep in mind the child's age, interests and skill level.
* Look for quality design and construction in all toys for all ages.
* Make sure that all directions or instructions are clear - to you, and, when appropriate, to the child. Plastic wrappings on toys should be discarded at once before they become deadly playthings.
* Be a label reader. Look for and heed age recommendations, such as "Not recommended for children under three." Look for other safety labels including: "Flame retardant/Flame resistant" on fabric products and "Washable/hygienic materials" on stuffed toys and dolls.
MAINTAINING TOYS
* Check all toys periodically for breakage and potential hazards. A damaged or dangerous toy should be thrown away or repaired immediately.
* Check edges on wooden toys that might have become sharp -- surfaces covered with splinters should be sanded smooth. When repainting toys and toy boxes, avoid using leftover paint, unless purchased recently, since older paints may contain more lead than new paint, which is regulated by CPSC.
* Examine all outdoor toys regularly for rust or weak parts that could become hazardous.
STORING TOYS
* Teach children to put their toys safely away on shelves or in a toy chest after playing to prevent trips and falls.
* Toy boxes, too, should be checked for safety. Use a toy chest that has a lid that will stay open in any position to which it is raised, and will not fall unexpectedly on a child. For extra safety, be sure there are ventilation holes for fresh air. Watch for sharp edges that could cut and hinges that could pinch or squeeze. See that toys used outdoors are stored after play -- rain or dew can rust or damage a variety of toys and toy parts creating hazards.
SHARP EDGES
* New toys intended for children less than eight years of age should, by regulation, be free of sharp glass and metal edges.
* With use, however, older toys may break, exposing cutting edges.
SMALL PARTS
* Older toys can break to reveal parts small enough to be swallowed or to become lodged in a child's windpipe, ears or nose. The law bans small parts in new toys intended for children under three. This includes removable small eyes and noses on stuffed toys and dolls, and small, removable squeakers on squeeze toys.
LOUD NOISES
* Toy caps and some noisemaking guns and other toys can produce sounds at noise levels that can damage hearing. The law requires the following label on boxes of caps producing noise above a certain level: "WARNING -- Do not fire closer than one foot to the ear. Do not use indoors." Caps producing noise that can injure a child's hearing are banned.
CORDS AND STRINGS
* Toys with long strings or cords may be dangerous for infants and very young children. The cords may become wrapped around an infant's neck, causing strangulation. Never hang toys with long strings, cords, loops, or ribbons in cribs or playpens where children can become entangled. Remove crib gyms from the crib when the child can pull up on hands and knees; some children have strangled when they fell across crib gyms stretched across the crib.
SHARP POINTS
* Toys which have been broken may have dangerous points or prongs. Stuffed toys may have wires inside the toy which could cut or stab if exposed. A CPSC regulation prohibits sharp points in new toys and other articles intended for use by children under eight years of age.
PROPELLED OBJECTS
* Projectiles -- guided missiles and similar flying toys -- can be turned into weapons and can injure eyes in particular. Children should never be permitted to play with adult lawn darts or other hobby or sporting equipment that have sharp points. Arrows or darts used by children should have soft cork tips, rubber suction cups or other protective tips intended to prevent injury. Check to be sure the tips are secure. Avoid those dart guns or other toys which might be capable of firing articles not intended for use in the toy, such as pencils or nails.
ALL TOYS ARE NOT FOR ALL CHILDREN
* Keep toys designed for older children out of the hands of little ones. Follow labels that give age recommendations -- some toys are recommended for older children because they may be hazardous in the hands of a younger child. Teach older children to help keep their toys away from younger brothers and sisters.
* Even balloons, when uninflated or broken, can choke or suffocate if young children try to swallow them. More children have suffocated on uninflated balloons and pieces of broken balloons than on any other type of toy.
ELECTRIC TOYS
* Electric toys that are improperly constructed, wired or misused can shock or burn. Electric toys must meet mandatory requirements for maximum surface temperatures, electrical construction and prominent warning labels. Electric toys with heating elements are recommended only for children over eight years old. Children should be taught to use electric toys properly, cautiously and under adult supervision.
INFANT TOYS
* Infant toys, such as rattles, squeeze toys, and teethers, should be large enough so that they cannot enter and become lodged in an infant's throat.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
* Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Commission has set safety regulations for certain toys and other children's articles. Manufacturers must design and manufacture their products to meet these regulations so that hazardous products are not sold.
RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS AND OTHER ADULTS
* Protecting children from unsafe toys is the responsibility of everyone. Careful toy selection and proper supervision of children at play is still -- and always will be -- the best way to protect children from toy-related injuries. To report a product hazard or a product-related injury, write to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C., 20207, or call the toll-free hotline: 1-800-638-2772. A teletypewriter for the deaf is available at 1-800-638-8270. For information visit www.cpsc.gov
"The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets" (Zechariah 8:5). In Loving Family, we provide our children with safe play toys appropriate for their particular age group. For small children, we avoid purchasing toys that are flammable, toys that shoot things, electrical toys, toys that contain lead, balloons that can be choked on, toys with sharp pointed parts or edges, or toys with small detachable parts that can be swallowed or put in the ears or nose. We avoid toys for infants and small children with cords that could cause choking or strangulation. We frequently check our children's toys to make sure they are in good repair, and we discard toys that are broken. We remove and discard plastic wrapping and bags as soon as the toy is opened to protect children from suffocation.We store adult games out of the reach of children. We always supervise children closely, and we do not permit younger children to plat with toys designed for older children or adults. We teach our children to put their toys safely away on shelves or in a toy chest after playing to prevent trips and falls.
Outdoor Play Equipment. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC Document #323) provides the following information about home playground safety:
Each year, about 200,000 children are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for playground equipment-related injuries - an estimated 148,000 of these injuries involve public playground equipment and an estimated 51,000 involve home playground equipment. Also, about 15 children die each year as a result of playground equipment-related incidents. Most of the injuries are the result of falls. These are primarily falls to the ground below the equipment, but falls from one piece of equipment to another are also reported. Most of the deaths are due to strangulations, though some are due to falls.
Use this simple checklist provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to help make sure your home playground is a safe place to play:
1. Install and maintain a shock-absorbing surface around the play equipment. Use at least 9 inches of wood chips, mulch, or shredded rubber for play equipment up to 7 feet high. If sand or pea gravel is used, install at least a 9-inch layer for play equipment up to 5 feet high. Or, use surfacing mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials.
2. Install protective surfacing at least 6 feet in all directions from play equipment. For swings, be sure surfacing extends, in back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar.
3. Never attach–or allow children to attach–ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to play equipment; children can strangle on these.
4. Check for hardware, like open "S" hooks or protruding bolt ends, which can be hazardous.
5. Check for spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs; these spaces should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
6. Make sure platforms and ramps have guardrails to prevent falls.
7. Check for sharp points or edges in equipment.
8. Remove tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings, tree stumps, and rocks.
9. Regularly check play equipment and surfacing to make sure both are in good condition.
10. Carefully supervise children on play equipment to make sure they are safe.
We make certain that our children's outdoor playground equipment is safe, sturdy, well maintained, clean, and in good repair. We cover the ground under and around playground equipment with a thick layer (9-12 inches) of mulch, wood chips, or other safety material to protect children who fall off of play equipment. We regularly check play equipment and surfacing to make sure both are in good condition. We teach our children and their visitors the proper use of play equipment, and we supervise children during play.
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