5 Tips for Choosing Kid-Safe Gifts This Holiday Season

Gift giving can be a hassle – especially with a choosy little one than home. Choosing a toy that his safe for your little Livingston elf may be more difficult than you think. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were more than 188,000 toy-related emergency room visits for children under the age of 15 in 2013.

The Commission also reports that the top three toys to cause injuries in all age groups were non-motorized scooters, toy balls and toy vehicles.

Prevent Blindness, a national eye health and safety group, named December as Safe Toys and Gifts Month to encourage consumers to take a second look at a child’s wish list.

Feeling a little overwhelmed? Local insurance company, Amica, shares these tips from Prevent Blindness to help find safe gifts this holiday season.

• Choose toys made of fabric labeled as flame-resistant or flame-retardant.

• Art materials should be non-toxic.

• Avoid toys with long strings, cords or heating elements.

• Sports equipment should always include the appropriate protective gear, such as a helmet for a bike.

• Ask yourself – or the child’s parents – if a toy is suitable for both the age and the individual skills and abilities of the child who will receive it. Every child is different, and what is safe for one may not be as safe for another.

Where’s your favorite holiday shopping spot in Livingston? Planning a holiday fundraiser? Tell us about it by emailing Livingston@patch.com.

Photo courtesy of Amica Mutual Insurance.