Buying the best toys with eye safety in mind is something all moms and dads worry about. How can parents make sure they choose toys that keep kids' eyes in mind?
Infants are born with a partially developed visual system which forms throughout their early years with the correct stimulation. There aren't many things that stimulate a child's visual development more efficiently than toys that involve hand-eye coordination and learning about spatial relationships. Ideal toys for stimulating an infant's sight in his or her first year include mobiles with geometric patterns or colors, and activities that have interactive or removable objects, balls, books and puppets. Between the ages of 0-3 months, a baby's ability to see color hasn't properly developed, so toys with bold, black and white pictures can be stimulating for them.
Because children spend so much time engaged in play with toys, parents need to make sure their toys are safe for their eyes as well as their overall wellbeing. To be safe, toys must be right for their age group. And up there with age appropriateness is to make sure that the toy is suited to their developmental stage. Despite the fact that toy manufacturers print targeted age groups on packaging, you still need to make the call, so your son or daughter doesn't play with something that could be harmful to them.
Avoid toys with edges or sharp components for a young child, and if your kids have toys with long handles, like pony sticks, always make sure the end is rounded. Always pay attention when they play with such toys.
If your child is under 6 years old, stay clear of toys with flying parts, like arrows. Even when they're older than 6, always pay attention with those kinds of toys. Whereas, when it comes to teens who play with chemistry sets or woodworking tools, always make sure they have correct safety eyewear.
So the next time you're shopping for a special occasion, keep a close eye out for the company's advice about the intended age range for the toy you had in mind. Ensure that toys you buy won't pose any risk to your child - even if they look really fun.
