Toy Safety: Preschoolers (3 to 6 Years)

Children's imaginations flourish during the preschool years. Play occupies a considerable amount of preschoolers' time, and much of what they learn is in the context of play. Dramatic play now becomes popular, and children imitate familiar roles with abandon. They also tend to prefer "natural" toys like mud, sand, or water that allow considerable creative expression. Likewise, working with art materials also releases creative energy.

Preschoolers do not like too many rules and regulations imposed upon their play. They love to invent their own games, and activities that require a short span of time are best.

Preschoolers continue to require close supervision as most play-related accidents and injuries occur within this age group. Check if your child's toys are safe and make sure your child has proper adult supervision.

Toy Safety Checklist

• The toy is not too heavy for your child's strength.
• The toy is well-constructed. (A poorly made toy can break or come apart, easily exposing hazards like wires or springs.)
• The toy does not have sharp edges that can cut or scratch.
• All of the toy, including print and decoration, is nonpoisonous.
• Old baby furniture and toys have not been painted or repainted with lead-base paint.
• There are no slots or holes that can pinch your child's fingers.
• A plastic toy cannot break and leave a sharp, jagged edge.
• There are no pointed objects your child can fall on.
• No part of the toy, such as a doll's hairbow, is attached with a straight pin or staple.
• All moving parts are securely attached.
• A broken toy is repaired or thrown away.
• Indoor toys remain indoors so they do not rust.
• The windup mechanism in a mechanical toy is enclosed to avoid catching hair, fingers, and clothing.
• All riding toys are well-constructed and well-balanced.
• The wheels on riding toys are large, sturdy, and spaced far apart.
• A stuffed doll or animal is made with strong material and thread and not filled with small, loose pellets.
• Toys made with cloth carry the labels "flame resistant", "flame retardant", or "nonflammable".
• Uninflated balloons are kept out of reach and broken balloons are thrown away. More children have suffocated on uninflated balloons and pieces of broken balloons than on any other type of toy.

Suggested Play Materials

• Huge carton or box
• Large and small transportation toys
• Cuddly toy animals
• Washable unbreakable doll
• Simple musical instruments
• Farm and zoo animal sets
• Miniature circus, hospital, fire station sets
• Bean bags
• Large balls
• Costume dress-up box
• Sand box and sand toys
• Water toys
• Art materials: paints, modeling clay, paste, colored paper
• Puppets (store-bought or homemade)
• Wagon to ride in
• Tricycle
• Crawl-through play equipment
• Simple construction sets
• Toy walkie-talkie
• Miniature household items: play telephone, toy garden tools, doll house and furniture, plastic dishes
• Books:
  • Nonsense and nursery rhyme
  • Books about familiar people and places
  • Humorous, playful books