Concerns About Toys

In recent weeks toy giant Mattel has recalled over 10 million toys made in China due to a variety of safety concerns. This high-profile recall has raised the anxiety level among both parents and early childhood professionals about the toys children are currently playing with at home and at the center. In the November 1993 issue of Exchange, Francis Wardle presented a checklist for early childhood professionals, “Criteria for Selecting Toys,” which looks at toys both from an educational and a safety perspective. This article can be viewed in its entirety in the “Exchange Ideas for You – FREE” section on the Exchange web site, www.ChildCareExchange.com. To print this article in a checklist format, click on the PDF button in the upper right-hand corner. Here, for example, are some of the criteria Wardle proposes for consideration…

• Can the toy be used with minimal adult supervision? Toys should not use adult rules, need constant attention to solve conflicts, or close adult supervision to prevent misuse or breakage.
• Does the toy strengthen the child's respect for others? Does it expose children to diversity in non-stereotypical ways?
• Is the toy durable? Will it withstand constant, active use by children; will it last over time; if designed for the outside, will it last outside; can it be easily repaired?
• Is the toy versatile? Can it be used in many ways; can a child impose his meaning on it?
• Is the toy adaptable and progressive? Can it be used by children in a variety of different developmental levels; can one child use it in progressively more complex ways?

Here are two additional resources focusing on toy safety:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics offers several Toy Safety guidelines at www.aap.org/new/toyrecall.htm.
• For a complete list of toys that have been recalled go to the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site at www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html

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