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Children develop at different rates, so don’t worry if your baby’s favourite toy is one marketed
at a younger age range. Also children develop natural preferences and favourite toys,
so don’t be in a hurry to discard them too early, not least because they will find inventive ways
to incorporate simpler toys into their games.
Make Time to Play
In our very busy lives it is
sometimes very difficult to make
time to play with our children.
The Make Time to Play campaign
exists to help you do just this.
With regular updates on social
media, a website and app full
of play ideas, and contributions
from leading play experts this
project aims to give you simple
and enjoyable tips to make
playing with your children even
more fun!
www.maketime2play.co.uk
www.facebook.com/
maketime2play
Be safe!
Make sure you give your child’s
toys a regular check-up.
Remove any broken or damaged
toys and give them a quick
wash where appropriate. If you
have children of different ages,
why not put those with smaller
pieces on a shelf out of reach or
a container with a secure lid to
keep your baby safe.
When choosing toys for the
under threes always ensure
you have checked the safety
advice on the packaging. At this
age children put things in their
mouths and toys that have small
parts are dangerous as they can
cause choking. Avoid toys with
a warning “not suitable for
0-36 months”.
When buying toys, look for the
Lion Mark. This is a sign that
the company is a member
of the British Toy and Hobby
Association and that they have
signed up to a strict set of
guidelines on safety, ethical
marketing and manufacturing of
toys amongst other things.
For more information visit
www.btha.co.uk
Be aware when buying
handmade toys that they may
not have been made following
the very strict quality and
safety criteria that applies to
mainstream manufacturers
or been subject to any testing
with regards to flammability,
chemical content or robustness.
The BTHA website has
guidelines on passing used toys
on safely.
Do pay attention to age
appropriate guidelines. These
often relate to the hazards posed
by small parts rather than your
child’s ability to play with a toy.
Where toys have batteries,
remove them if there is a
likelihood the toy will not be
played with for some time.
When replacing batteries do
not mix old and new and keep
any battery chargers well out of
reach of inquisitive little people.
Discard any burst balloons
immediately and never allow
your child to hold noisy toys close
to their ears – or yours!
And finally – teach your children
to put their toys away when they
have finished playing with them.
Leaving them lying on the stairs
or on the kitchen
floor can be the
cause of a
nasty accident.