Last-Minute Gift Shopping? Skip the Flashy Toys for Kids

When you’re last-minute shopping for a holiday or birthday gift for a child, it’s easy to grab the flashiest toy in the aisle. Those gifts, however, can sometimes do more harm than good. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 200,000 toy-related injuries occur per year, with the majority of those injuries sustained by children 14 years or younger. 

With thousands of toys released each year, choosing one that is both entertaining and safe can be overwhelming for gift-givers, but Salus at Drexel University’s clinical facilities are here to help. Doctors and staff from The Eye Institute (TEI), Speech-Language Institute (SLI), and the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) have offered tips and recommendations for choosing the perfect gift.

The Eye Institute recommends purchasing age-appropriate toys when looking for gifts for children of any age. Manufacturers will typically include an age range right on the front label and gift buyers should use that as the first step in choosing a suitable toy. Additionally, TEI discourages purchasing toy guns or toy weapons of any kind as they are most likely to cause serious eye damage.

• Projectile weapons like darts, bows and arrows, and foam shooters/balls are similar to toy guns and toy weapons in their likelihood of injuring someone.

• Sports equipment, and science or STEM kits should be used with protective eyewear or safetygoggles. 

• Lasers/laser pointers, which can be found on pens or toys, may cause retinal damage if used inappropriately and should be used with extreme caution.

• Drones, while popular, can feature projectile weapons and lasers, and with their ability to fly, can unsuspectingly cause injuries.

Gift buyers should also be mindful of how loud a toy gift can be. The Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) often references the Sight & Hearing Association’s Noisy Toys List, which is regularly updated to include the noisiest toys currently on the shelves. Gift buyers can also use mobile apps to measure a toy’s decibel (dB) levels and should beware of any toys that emit sound over 60 dB. When in doubt remember if a toy sounds too loud to you, then it’s too loud for a child.

For gifts for children under five-years-old, the Speech-Language Institute (SLI), advises against toys with a screen or even batteries and instead encourages toys that promote creativity, imaginative play, and interaction with others. Toys that allow parents to describe the activity or make noises that the child can mimic are also highly encouraged to help aid speech and language development.

• Cars and trucks: Items that move can always catch a young child’s attention. These toys also offer an opportunity to develop their language skills. Vrrmm!

• Animal farm or kitchen sets: These are great for promoting imaginary and creative play. Animal sounds are a great starting point in language development because of their simplicity, while the kitchen sets are a great way to practice everyday commands and speech.

• Clay, paints, and arts and crafts: While these items encourage creativity and imagination, children can also be challenged to describe what they create.

• Stackable blocks, shape sorters: These are highly interactive and can come in a variety of colors and sizes, and may sometimes include numbers or letters for additional learning.

With these tips from the experts at specialty clinical facilities, you won’t have to guess when gift buying this season. Remember, fun and engaging toys can also be safe and can help promote essential skills for learning and development. If you or a loved one are concerned about a child’s speech, vision, or hearing, contact an expert at Salus at Drexel University Health for more information or to schedule an appointment.