Five Basic Toy Safety

1. Before you buy, carefully read the labels for age and safety recommendations, and take them seriously. Toys that aren't age appropriate or used correctly can pose a serious hazard.

2. Look for high quality design and construction. The eyes on a stuffed animal, for example, should be tightly sewed on or secured.

3. Examine hand me down toys closely. Toddlers put everything in their mouth, so toss anything that has chipped paint, broken or removable parts, and sharp points or edges.

4. Avoid playthings with strings, straps, or cords longer than seven inches, which can strangle a little kid.

5. If you have older kids, store their toys out of reach, especially those with batteries, small pieces, or potentially dangerous parts, like magnetic marbles.

Safety Precaution for Parent

Be careful not to undermine the safety lessons you've taught your kids. Take these 3 precautions in mind:

1. Avoid talking to a child you don't know. Address the parent instead. Otherwise, your kid might think that it's okay for strangers to talk to them.

2. Even though it's cute, resist monogramming your child's name on his backpack or clothes. If a stranger addresses your kid by name, he may thinks he knows the person.

3. Don't push your preschooler to give a hug to anyone - even relatives. Children need to realize that it's okay to say "No" when they feel uncomfortable.