Preventing accidents with children’s toys

Around 8% of choking accidents among children occur from young children putting a small toy or part of a toy in their mouth, and a piece becoming dislodged and stuck in their throat.

Pen tops, bells and other small parts are notoriously dangerous for children under three.  However, poisoning from the paint used in cheap toys can also cause serious damage to their health.

To ensure that as a parent, you’re doing all you can to keep them safe during play, follow these guidelines.  Most of them are purely common sense, but as we all know, when we’re rushing around, it’s difficult to watch our children constantly, so rather than chastise ourselves when something goes wrong, why not prevent accidents from occurring in the first place, with a little bit of preparation?

1. ALWAYS give your child a toy that is appropriate for their age.  A toy suitable for an older child may well have removable or small parts, which a toddler or baby will naturally put in their mouth.  Kiddyriffic always labels each product with an appropriate age group to help.
2. If you have a younger child (under three), check that the toy has no parts which could fall off during rough play and that it’s large enough so that the child wouldn’t be able to fit it into their mouth.
3. Check there are no liquid substances inside.
4. Ensure that the toy has passed EC regulations for child safety. 
5. Make sure that there are no sharp edges which could cut your baby or toddler. 
6. And finally, we can’t watch our children all the time, but never leave a child in another room to play for any length of time, where an accident could occur without your knowledge.  Always have them in your eyesight at this early age, so if they begin to choke, you can act immediately.

Toys sold at Kiddryriffic are made to the highest standard to ensure that your child can play in absolute safety.  To choose from our vast selection simply visit our website at www.kiddyriffic.com.

Fun on the move

                                             

It’s that time of year again when we’re forced to sit for hours on an aeroplane or in a car, en route to our holiday destination.  What’s worse is when we’re faced with a bored, wriggling toddler who, after ten minutes, wails “are we there yet?”

Many of us dread such trips, to such an extent that they can actually spoil our holiday.  There’s no need.  If you can just find a handful of travel-friendly toys which are guaranteed to keep your little darling amused for fifteen minutes at a time, then you can simply alternate between toys and you’re home free.

So what makes a good travel-friendly toy? 

Firstly, an item which is self-contained.  A toy which contains several small parts which are loose or can be detached is not only annoying but could potentially be very dangerous, particularly if they roll under the driver’s feet or if you’re being forced to retrieve them from the floor every few minutes. 

Secondly, it must be challenging or at the very least interesting.  If a child can work it out within a few seconds and there is no other functionality, then they will tire of it almost immediately and you’ve lost the battle before you’ve started.

Lastly – variation.  If the outcome can be different each time the child plays with the toy, this will hold their imagination and they will play with it again and again to see what will be the result.

One of our bestselling toys this summer so far has been our patience blocks.  Sold as a set of three, each block is brightly coloured and has its own puzzle contained within.  Because they are so chunky, there’s little chance of them being lost or dropped on the floor.  Priced at £14.99, it’s a small price to pay to keep your child amused for hours!

Sandpits for children – bring the beach into your garden

Sandpits offer a wealth of outdoor adventure for your child in the summer.  Summer and the (hopefully) continued warm weather is an absolute godsend for parents.  Instead of our children being cooped up indoors or us having to spend countless hours in play warehouses, those of us with a secure garden or backyard can simply usher them outside, safe in the knowledge that they’ll be able to run free, expend loads of energy, use their imagination and breathe in bucketfuls of fresh air all day long.

This is when we tend to see sales of children’s outdoor toys soar – trampolines, play centres and children’s picnic tables are always extremely popular.  However, this year’s favourite appears to be the good old-fashioned sandpit.

Whether you live on the coast or miles inland, a sandpit is a great way of exploring the texture of sand, examining how this texture differs between wet and dry and its bonding capabilities.  It can become a desert island, with hidden pirate treasure, ready to be discovered; a fantastic playground for making mud pies or a great platform on which to build dozens of sandcastles.

A good quality sandpit, if well looked after, should last for years.  If low-lying it should have a ground sheet and all sandpits should have a cover, so they can be stored safely over the winter until they’re ready to be used again.

Try introducing a sandpit into your selection of children’s outdoor toys – and prepare for hours of peace, enjoying the sunshine!