5 Important Tips to Remember When Buying Used Toys
Whether you are just starting your child care business and looking to purchase low-cost toys and equipment, or you simply want to upgrade your child's toy supply, yard sales, flea markets and family fairs are the perfect way to do so.
But just how safe are the used toys you are buying? The following five tips will help you ensure your child(ren) will get a lot of enjoyment out of your purchases and that through your due diligence no one become injured in the process.
1) Make a list of some of the toys and equipment you'd like to have for your facility. Before you head out the door, check the following Websites for recalled toys or items to stay clear of:
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html - " Child Product Safety
http://www.childproductsafety.com/ - " Health Canada Consumer Product Safety
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/advisories-avis/child-enfant/index_e.html - Or, visit the manufacturer of the brands you like, such as Fisher Price, Toys-R-Us, etc. for their specific brand recalls.
2) Inspect the toy or piece of equipment for lose, broken, cracked or chipped parts. The seller may tell you the toy was "hardly used" but that does not mean it is safe. Inspect every inch of the piece. Tug at the joints. Fiddle with the moveable parts. Look at it from a child's perspective. Will it be mouthed, chewed on, pulled at, stepped on, thrown about, etc.? If so, could a broken part cause a child to choke? Would a broken piece be sharp enough to cut or scratch? Is there any paint peeling that a child could ingest? If so, can you be sure the paint is lead free? Are there long strings or chords that could wrap around a child's neck? Does it still seem worth buying, bargain or not?
You can learn more about toy and equipment safety from Health Canada's "Is Your Child Safe?" page and download their free .pdf booklet before you head out: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/child-enfant/index_e.html
3) Know what toys are appropriate for the age of the child(ren) you are buying for. You might be tempted to buy a toy that is not recommended for your child thinking he/she will grow into it. Truth is, toys for older children have smaller parts that pose a choking hazard in a younger child. If you want to buy the item, put it away until the child is old enough to play with it. Likewise, electronic toys can shock or burn a child younger than the recommended age. Batteries pose another concern. Even toys that have nets have been proven dangerous when used by the wrong age group. For more detailed information visit Kids Health Org. at: http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/growth/learning/safe_toys.html
4) Make certain you sanitize every item you buy. Chances are you know little or nothing about the people you are buying from. Heck, you've no idea about where that toy has been, how it's been stored, or what chemicals it came in contact with. Wash it thoroughly then clean it with part bleach, part water solution before handing it over to any child.
5) Choose toys that will have a long shelf life and inspire imagination. Often it is the simplest toys that provide children with the most pleasure and learning experiences. Ask yourself how many different ways your child(ren) could use the toy. Can the toy be played with by more than one child at a time to encourage co-operative play? Is the toy a fad that will lose its appeal in a short time or will it be the first one off the shelf? Finally, avoid toys that limit your child's natural creativity, or promote violence .
Why bother will all the research? For the safety and well-being of every child in your care and for your liability as a child care provider is why.
If a child is severely injured using a second-hand toy or piece of equipment you purchased, and you were found negligent of not researching whether or not the item was on a recall list or you had not taken the time to ensure the item was safe for use, and that a reasonable person in your profession should have been aware of the danger the item posed to the children in your care, you could be sued for a whole lot more than your insurance will cover you for.
Happy shopping!
Catherine Pruissen
CEO/Founder
http://childcare.net
