EcoWaste Coalition Shares Tips on Picking Safe Toys this Christmas Gift-Giving Season
13 November 2024, Quezon City. As Christmas is fast approaching, the environmental and health advocacy group EcoWaste Coalition has released a set of tips to guide consumers, parents and godparents in particular, in picking the right toys for children.
The group, which has been advocating for non-hazardous toys for over 15 years now, emphasized that all children have the right to quality and safe toys that can support their development and make them explore, discover, learn, and be creative and happy.
As parents, as well as godparents, have a crucial role to play to keep children safe from hazardous toys, the EcoWaste Coalition reminded all concerned to observe the following tips in selecting safe child-friendly toys:
1. Examine the product label: check the age suggestion, warnings and usage instructions; look for the manufacturer’s markings and the FDA-issued license to operate (LTO) number.
2. Buy from legitimate sources and save the proof of purchase to facilitate replacement, refund or warranty claim if needed.
3. Seek toys that are suitable for the child’s age, aptitude, skill and temperament, and follow the age recommendation.
4. Pick toys that are bigger than a child’s mouth to avoid choking (“the smaller the child, the bigger the toy”); avoid toys that can easily break into small parts or with small unsecured components like button cell batteries that may be ingested or placed in the nose or the ears.
5. Avoid painted toys unless the paint used is certified lead-safe, and steer clear of toys made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, which contains hidden toxic additives such as heavy metals like cadmium and lead, and phthalates.
6. Avoid art toys and toy cosmetics that are not verified as non-toxic.
7. Avoid toys that shoot small or pointed objects into the air that may cause eye or body injuries.
8. Avoid toys with sharp edges or points that may bruise or cut a child’s sensitive skin.
9. Avoid toys with cords or strings longer than 12 inches that may get tangled around the neck and suffocate the child.
10. Avoid toys that create excessive noise, which can damage a child’s sensitive hearing.
11. Avoid stuffed toys with buttons or eyes that may be pulled loose and get swallowed by a child; avoid those with pellet-like stuffing that may get into a child’s hand and mouth when the toy breaks open.
12. Avoid toys that tend to induce aggression and violence such as toy guns, toy knives and other toy weapons.
As part of its advocacy for children’s health, the EcoWaste Coalition will continue to monitor the market for unsafe toys and make constant efforts to alert and guide consumers. (PR)
