Play Toys

• Imagiix Walker with Blocks

• Kid Kraft 55 Pc. Train Set

• Kid Kraft Cash Register

• Kid Kraft Fire House with Truck and 20 Piece Accessory Set

• Kid Kraft Four Holiday Puzzles & Rack

• Kid Kraft John Deere Tool Set

• Kid Kraft PGA Tour Clubhouse

• Kid Kraft PGA Tour Scorecard Display

• Kid Kraft Strawberry Shortcake Kitchen With Accessories

• Kid Kraft Train Table

• Kid Kraft Train Table and 2 Drawers Set

• Kid Kraft Wooden Baking Set

• Kid Kraft Wooden Blender Set

• Kid Kraft Wooden Chanukah Set

• Kid Kraft Wooden Childproof Kitchen

• Kid Kraft Wooden Coffee Maker

• Kid Kraft Wooden Dollhouse - 30 pc. Set

• Kid Kraft Wooden Lawn Mower

• Kid Kraft Wooden Passover Set

• Kid Kraft Wooden Sewing Machine

• Kid Kraft Wooden Shabbat Dinner Set

• Kid Kraft Wooden Toaster Set

• Kid's Kitchen

• Kid's Refrigerator

• Mission Design Wood Easel

• Play Stand

Toys are the treasures of childhood, but they must be chosen with care. Consider these guidelines when choosing one for your child and share them with anyone who may be buying gifts for your child.

• Is it suited to your child's developmental level? Most toys bear a "recommended age" sticker, which should be taken as a starting point in the selection process. Be realistic about your child's abilities and level of maturity when choosing an age-appropriate toy. Any toys that have projectiles, for example, are never suitable for a child under age 4 — yet even some 6-year-olds aren't mature enough to handle these toys. Likewise, if your 3-year old still puts everything into his mouth, continue to steer clear of toys and games with small parts and pieces.

• Think big. Toy parts should be bigger than the child's mouth up to age 3 to avoid the chance of choking. To determine if a toy could potentially cause choking, try fitting it through a toilet paper roll. If a toy or part of a toy can fit inside this cylinder, then it's not safe.

• Is the toy too heavy? Could your baby be harmed if it fell on him? If so, pass.

• Look for toys that are well put together. Make sure tails are securely sewn, seams of stuffed animals are reinforced, and paint is not peeling. Stuffed animals should also be free of buttons, yarn, ribbons, and anything else your child could yank off and put in his mouth.

• Is your child physically ready for this toy? For example, parents with older children often buy a bike one size too big to save themselves from buying a new bike the next year. This tactic can lead to serious injury if the child doesn't have the physical skills to safely control the bigger bike.

• Is the toy in good condition? Used toys passed down from older relatives or siblings or bought at yard sales can be worn or frayed, which can be sometimes be harmful. Examine all new or used toys for buttons, batteries, ribbons, eyes, beads, or plastic appendages that could easily be chewed or snapped off.

• Is there a string or cord on the toy longer than 12 inches? A cord can too easily be wrapped around a young child's neck, causing strangulation. Once your child can climb up on his hands and knees, remove crib gyms and hanging mobiles from his crib. Be particularly vigilant about older toys. For example, the five-year-old model of a popular play kitchen has a phone attached with a potentially deadly cord, while the latest model of the same kitchen has the more current and safer cordless phone.

For further information, the publication "Standard Consumer Safety Specifications for Toy Safety" (F963) is available from the American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia, PA 19103.

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