• To those who are ‘Santa’s helpers’ in giving surprises to kids who have been good, here’s a few tips on buying toys that are safe for children.
• Read labels carefully to check on hazardous chemicals.
• Check on the toy’s design. Avoid toys with sharp edges as it may harm children.
• Toys that need assembly should have parts that cannot be swallowed by children. It is important to read the label of the package which states the recommended age for the toy.

SAFE TOYS FOR CHILDREN -- Read labels and packaging before buying the item. (Manila Bulletin File Photo) ‘Tis the season for giving and gift-giving is one of the endearing qualities of Christmas. Most people are likely shopping for the little ones who look forward to Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve. To those who are “Santa’s helpers” in giving surprises to kids who have been good, here’s a few tips on buying toys that are safe for children. We gathered these tips from parents, advisories of the Food and Drug Administration and press statements of Ecowaste Coalition. EcoWaste Coalition, a toxic-free advocacy group, regularly issues advisories on safe toys. Read labels carefully to check on hazardous chemicals. (Unsplash photo) Ensure that you purchase lead-free art coloring materials. There are still art coloring materials such as crayons and watercolor sets containing hazardous chemicals, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA also advised against toys with phthalates which the agency found on a bathtub dog playset sold in the market. Ecowaste said that phthalates are a “class of plasticizers used to soften and increase the elasticity of plastics, particularly those made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).” (Photo from EcoWaste Coalition) Children are more prone to phthalate exposure because they crawl and touch a lot of objects and then place their hands in their mouths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Avoid buying toys with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), especially benzene. The group in September said it has found VOCs in plastic blowing balloon kits. The United States Environmental Protection Agency explained that VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, loss of coordination. Benzene is “carcinogenic to humans,” Ecowaste said, as also classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Check on the toy’s design. Avoid toys with sharp edges as it may harm children. Avoid buying small plastic toy weapons like plastic balisong (butterfly knife), daggers, swords, and other toy weapons in the market. These toy weapons have sharp edges and points that may result in cuts, lacerations, and even eye injuries to children. Toys that need assembly should have parts that cannot be swallowed by children. It is important to read the label of the package which states the recommended age for the toy. Check the labels of toys and games To ensure that toys and games are safe for children, consumers must check the information on the packaging of the toy and game products before purchasing them, according to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act:

• License-to-operate (LTO) number issued by the FDA to the company that puts the product on the market.
• Age grading is the category used to choose the appropriate toys for children based on “average abilities, interests of various age groups and safety aspects of the toys themselves.” It is identified through age determination guidelines.
• Cautionary statements or warnings that advise the public of the hazards and dangers that could arise from using the toy.
• Instructional literature that indicates information for the safe use or assembly of the toy, or both, which could be found on leaflets or packaging of the product.
• Manufacturer’s marking showing the name and address of the manufacturer, distributor, and trademarks, if there are any, to help the consumer identify the business.
• Item, model, stock keeping unit (SKU) number used to identify items accurately.