183 Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety Annexes
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This article is from the Woodworking FAQ Collection 5, by multiple authors.
183 Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety Annexes
these are useful comments so I'll type them out.
Good age grading practices are important to assure a toy is
appropriate and safe at particular stages of physical and mental
development. Some criteria must be considered. The physical ability
of a child to manipulate and play with the specific features of a toy
necessitates an understanding of the physical coordination, motor
capabilities, size, and strength generally available at a given age. The
mental ability of a child to understand how to use a toy is important
to provide a concept which will challenge and stimulate, yet not
frustrate. Accomplishment should be neither too easy nor too
difficult to be satisfying to the child.
Understanding developmental levels and identifying play materials
and play environments to enhance each developmental stage is
important in assigning appropriate age grades. Interests and
preferences change rapidly; a toy must be appealing to its user.
The toy must be safe for the intended user.
Age grades are indicators of "average" development which does not
necessarily reflect suitability for the exceptional child.
A primary consideration should be potential choking and aspiration
hazards associated with small parts.
Toys appropriate for children under three years: squeeze toys,
teethers, crib exercisers, crib gyms, mobiles, stroller, playpen or
baby carriage, pull and push toys, pounding toys, blocks and stacking
sets, bathtub toys, sand toys, rocking horses, spring and stick horses
and other figures, chime and musical balls and carousels, jacks-in-
the-box, stuffed animals; and those toys, games, puzzles, riding toys,
dolls, cars, and trucks that are intended for use by children under 3
years.
Specific characteristics of the above toys:
A1.4.4.2 Infant toys, intended to be used in a crib or playpen, to be
held easily by small hands, shaken, grasped, rattled, or cuddled.
A1.4.4.3 Toy Vehicles - cars, trucks, boats, trains of simple chunky
shape, decorated in primary colors without extensive descriptive
detail or representation of a particular make or model of vehicle.
A1.4.4.4 Action Toys - Simple action toys for identification of sounds
or pictures and surprise action toys.
A1.4.4.5 Early Learning - Toys and books for learning the basics,
letters, numbers shapes, and simple physical motions such as turning
wheels or knobs, pulling and letting go, sorting by size, etc.
A1.4.4.6 Blocks and stacking toys that do not require finger dexterity
or fitting together of small intricate pieces.
A1.4.4.7 Soft Balls or other shapes for squeezing, shaking, rolling, or
tossing.
Toys that are inappropriate for very young children are: those that
require intricate finger movements or controlled adjustments, fitting
intricate pieces together; games or toys that require or incorporate
elements of reading ability; toys that simulate adult figures or
characters and their associated accessories; collecting sets;
projectile or launched toys; makeup sets; toys with long cords or
straps.
Some toys require instructions and caution statements and should
only be used by children who can read those for themselves, generally
age 8 or greater. Such products include: science sets with glass
components and or complex instructions; complex model and craft
sets; electrically operated toys incorporating heating elements;
chemistry sets or model vehicles (like rockets or gas-powered cars)
which use hazardous chemicals. Many of these articles would require
adult supervision as well.
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