Toy Safety Tips and an Antonetti Family New Edition
A little over a year ago my brother and his wife gave me the gift of a beautiful, but very feisty niece/ God Daughter (typical of the Antonetti girls). This week brought the gift of another member joining the Antonetti family, another beautiful little girl that I am sure will have a personality all her own.
This is my brother’s third child (actually his beautiful, amazing wife gave birth three glorious times… my brother got the easier role). 
It has been a great week for me to reflect on the magic of children and how important our roles are to them either as parents, grandparents, friends, aunts or uncles. Each and every choice can end up being a challenge, or a success… but you never know which.
From the business that I do on Fox News to the work I do as a mentor and a turn around specialist, in order for me to be on top of my game for my clients I need to be an expert in these fields. This requires a lot of reading and studying across many platforms on a wide range of topics.
I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a female or if it’s because I’m a Mother to a toddler and a teen at the same time, but I’m often asked about the best gifts, toys, and activities for all age groups. So when I recently ran across this article on Top 10 Tips for Toy Safety, I thought I’d share it and of course add my 2 cents to help whoever wanted to listen.
So here goes…
As parents we all believe that our kids are advanced and ahead of the curve. So we tend to buy gifts that according to the recommendations are for older than our children. I have a 4 year old and I look at products and toys that go from 3 to 6 or 7 years of age. I always have to do a check and balance before I purchase because there is a reason (often greater than what’s at first glance) why the products are recommended for that age group.
Toys or products that are designed for an older child can frustrate or confuse younger children without us knowing the impact. It can leave a mark on self-esteem and self-image. I am no child psychologist but since most of the companies I have grown or worked with are family focused companies, kids in one form or another have been in and part of my primary world for 25 plus years.
What I can share for sure is that MOST, and I mean MOST of us buy toys and products, don’t take the time to learn about it ourselves, and don’t teach our kids how to properly use and care for the toys. C’mon… admit it, most of us give a gift, watch them open it and assume they will figure it out (often times faster than we can) but there are many reasons to get familiar with the toy or product first.
Plus… spending the showing our kids how to properly use a new toy is a GREAT opportunity for you (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc.) to bond with that child. It’s one of those VERY special moments in time that you will watch them look up to you for guidance knowledge and instruction.
Not teaching our kids how to properly use a toy can leads to injury. Pinched fingers, cuts and bruises and for some of us a nice lesson on how hair can get tangled in a propeller with no choice but to have a spontaneous Christmas haircut.
Here are a few of the tips. I hope that my 2 cents helps you to take another look at the toys you give your kids not only from a safety perspective, but also as an opportunity to spend time with them in this holiday season.
- Avoid toys with sharp points and edges.
- Put toys intended for older kids out of reach of babies and toddlers.
- Kids love to yank and pull apart toys, so choose sturdy toys that don’t have loose, moving parts that can easily come off.
- Buy age-appropriate toys. Read the label, and if it’s not recommended for children under a certain age, then don’t buy it for your baby.
- Search for toys that are washable or include the words non-toxic on the label, since so many toys end up in baby’s mouth.
Enjoy the rest of the article, Top 10 Tips for Toy Safety here and please feel free to share some of your similar experiences in the comments below or on my Facebook page.
