Bounce House Safety and Kids…

How safe is a bounce house?

Safety is of prime concern when raising children or taking care of kids.  This week we have been watching a horrible story involving a bounce house.

If you have one of these playful houses in your yard or your child uses them at other kids’ homes then you need to be aware of the safety of this “toy”.

Children should never be playing in these inflatable houses when it is windy outside as they may be lifted off the ground, as happened in upstate New York, a couple of days ago.

There are several other cases of injuries when commercial bouncing houses have been tossed about by winds…truly dangerous and sometimes tragic injuries have been sustained during such accidents.

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A bounce house can be safe but children should always be observed by an adult while they are playing outside in these enclosures.

What are “STEM” Toys?

Do you know what “STEM” toys are?

 

 

Toys

Toy Fair 2014 NYC sounded like the place to be for anyone who loves toys, buys toys or sells toys.

As a grandmother, I am particularly interested in toy quality and what is educational as well as age appropriate.

I am not particularly bothered by toys that target gender because I buy and encourage my grandchild to play with items whether they are considered “boy” or “girl” toys.

The princess rage does not bother me either…I try to watch the princess stories so I can explain the positive qualities that each character possesses along with the issues that the villain presents to my grandchild.

This all being said…I came across some interesting posts that were driven by visits to the Toy Fair 2014.

toysI was not familiar with the acronym STEM– which refers to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Apparently this word describes characteristics, which parents like when shopping for play items.

Samantha Murphy Kelly, describes several toys which teach children architecture, programming and construction…including creating your own robot.

Quite a change from Barbie, as she says!

Another favorite mom blogger of mine Liz Gumbinner from Mom 101 and Cool Mom Picks devoted a piece to toys that she felt were not so gender specific.  Why are we so committed to pink for girls and primary colors for boys or fireman outfits for boys and princess gear for girls?

My wish is that toy manufacturers would catch up to parents, and grandparents, who are looking for toys that do not single out gender but instead help to create a world wide open to boys and girls in their world of play.

 

Related:

7 STEM Toys That Put Barbie to Shame

 

Smart Toys for Girls-No Princesses Pink Aisle by Samantha Kelly Murphy

Fashionista Kids….

 

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Little Fashion Gallery is a beautiful online store for kids’ fashion, furniture, toys and books.

They have also just launched their own great label for kids … it is European so I am including it here because I do have some readers who live across the pond.

I do not know if they ship to the U.S. but I have contacted them for more information and will share it just as soon I receive a reply.

I hope you have a look and let me know what you think.

 

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Little Fashion Gallery also has a magazine which is just beautiful.

Enjoy!

 http://www.littlefashiongallery.com/en/lfs-press/magazine/

 

DANGEROUS TOYS….SUGGESTIONS

NOTEWORTHY WEDNESDAY!  FRIDAY!

This has been a short week for me…due to a migraine headache that just will not go away.

I have however found a wonderful post about toddler toys that pose a danger to a younger child. There are some GREAT responses from moms that have dealt with this issue very efficiently.

A happy holiday is also a safe holiday.

Now that my younger child is mobile, Im looking for ways to keep his 4-year-old brothers small toys such as Legos out of his reach. I want my older son to be able to play with his things around the rest of the family and not be banished to another room, but Im also worried about the baby choking on these toys. What can I do?

via My 4-year-olds toys are dangerous for babies. How can I keep our baby safe without banishing his brother? | BabyCenter.

Toy Safety….from the March of Dimes

Noteworthy Wednesday!!!

I want to post this directly from the March of Dimes as toy safety can be a problem after the holidays especially when your children receive gifts from family and friends that may mean well but do not do the research as to what is appropriate for what age child.

News Moms Need is a wonderful reference site.

Toy safety

toysThe holiday season is winding down and the kiddies have new things to play with.  If you’re like me, you might not have read every inch of the instructions before assembling that toddler-sized tricycle or push toy. But they do serve a purpose when it comes to ensuring the safety of our children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has some good tips on toy safety that I thought I’d share:
• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child.  Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
• Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
• To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet.  Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
• Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
• Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems – including death — after swallowing button batteries and magnets.  Keep them away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one.
• Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
• Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
• Parents should store toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toy chest, and keep older kids’ toys away from young children.

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Happy New Year and be safe!