December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month.  At this time of the year this is a important message to get across. The aim is to encourage everyone to consider if the toys and gifts they wish to give are suitable for the age, individual skills and abilities of the individual child, who will receive it, especially for infants and children under the age of three.

Everyone wants to get their child their favorite toys but safety factors must be considered before you make these purchases, it is critical to remember to consider the safety and age range of the toys.

Many checks that parents should make when purchasing toys are common sense. There are guide lines to consider when making your purchase:

• Inspect the toy before puchasing. It is important the toy has no sharp edges or parts that might fly off. It should be sturdy to survive impact and not crush easily.
• If purchasing toys for children with special needs try to choose toys that are interactive to play with others. Toys that appeal to different senses like sound, movement and texture.
• Inspect the toys your child have received. Check they are suitable for their age and skill levels.
• Sport equipment gifts should be accompanied by appropriate protective gear, a safety helmet should be worn with a skateboard for example.
• Never give toys with small parts to very young children, for example toys with magnets or small batteries as they tend to put things in their mouths.
• Do Not give toys with ropes or cord or heating elements
• Do Not give crayons or markers unless they are labelled "non-toxic"
• Keep your children safe from lead in toys. Also be aware that old toys may be more likely to contain lead in the paint. 
• The Toy Safety Symbols you may find on toys that you buy may show age warnings and signs of conformity to certain safety standards are there to make choosing the right toy even easier. The Lion Mark (bright red and yellow)identify toys that are safe for children to use. The symbol for the Approved Lion Mark Retailer (Green Background) shows the retailer conforms to EN 71 safety standards. The CE Mark shows their products meet all the relevant consumer safety, environmental or health requirements of the European Directive. The Age symbol shows the toy is unsuitable for children that are younger than three years old. The British Standard kitemark is considered a sign of reliability and safety and is found on all sorts of products from services, toys to outdoor play equipment.