Holiday toy shopping must factor in safety

Hey Santa, listen up. As you’re making your list and checking it twice this holiday season, don’t forget to check for toy safety — especially Internet toys.

That’s right, Bearded One. From your workshop to mega toy-store chains to the Internet, toy safety is paramount — even if your elves have to work a little overtime to assure it.

Chances are, most of the toys from your workshop will be distributed to stores around the world. In the United States, we have the Child Safety Protection Act that requires toy manufacturers to label toys which could pose a threat to youngsters less than 3 years old.

But that doesn’t apply to toys sold on the Internet. Toys sold online must make age-appropriate recommendations but they don’t have to carry the same hazard warnings as toys sold in stores. That might lead some parents to think the toy is safe for their little ones. However, it could have small parts to choke on, strings and cords that could get wrapped around little necks and even toxic chemicals linked to liver and kidney damage. Not the kind of stuff you want to be thinking about this time of year.

We know you’re on information overload right now, Santa — especially after just surviving Thanksgiving and the busiest shopping day of the year. Fortunately, there are organizations out there that do a lot of the work for you. May we recommend the Washington Public Interest Research Group, WashPIRG? You can check out their toy safety information at www.toysafety.net. They talk about everything from consumer tips to a list of potentially hazardous toys. You could even print the information and tuck it between your belt and your bowl full of jelly while you go shopping.

If you’re brave enough to bring an empty toilet roll on shopping excursions, you can conduct your own safety test on some toys for small children. It’s pretty easy. If a ball-like object fits in the tube, it is considered dangerous because it could block a child’s air passage.

Trust us, Santa, it’s all worth the extra effort. We know you’d much rather do the work ahead of time than send Rudolph back to the North Pole to make a last-minute exchange — especially if you’ve lost your receipt.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, Feb. 6

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Curtains act as doors for a handful of classrooms at Glenwood Elementary on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Schools’ building needs point to election reform

Construction funding requests in Arlington and Lake Stevens show need for a change to bond elections.

Lake Stevens school bond funds needed safety work at all schools

A parent’s greatest fear is for something bad to happen to their… Continue reading

Arlington schools capital levy: Say yes to new Post Middle School

Schools are the backbone of the Arlington community. Families want to move… Continue reading

Long sentences not much of a deterrent but serve justice

A recent column by Todd Welch mentions a trope that ignores one… Continue reading

Comment: Trump’s stress-test of Constitution shows it’s up to job

Keep filing lawsuits and the courts will bat down his unconstitutional orders; as long as he follows the rulings.

Stephens: Trump endangers stability of Pax Americana

Discarding the values of a ‘Great Power’ for a ‘Big Power’ will cost the U.S. its standing in the world.

FILE- In this Nov. 14, 2017, file photo Jaìme Ceja operates a forklift while loading boxes of Red Delicious apples on to a trailer during his shift in an orchard in Tieton, Wash. Cherry and apple growers in Washington state are worried their exports to China will be hurt by a trade war that escalated on Monday when that country raised import duties on a $3 billion list of products. (Shawn Gust/Yakima Herald-Republic via AP, File)
Editorial: Trade war would harm state’s consumers, jobs

Trump’s threat of tariffs to win non-trade concessions complicates talks, says a state trade advocate.

A press operator grabs a Herald newspaper to check over as the papers roll off the press in March 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald file photo)
Editorial: Push back news desert with journalism support

A bill in the state Senate would tax big tech to support a hiring fund for local news outlets.

Jayden Hill, 15, an incoming sophomore at Monroe High School is reflected in the screen of a cellphone on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Students need limits on cellphones in school

School districts needn’t wait for legislation to start work on policies to limit phones in class.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, Feb. 5

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Comment: Costco’s work to defend its DEI values isn’t over

Costco successfully argued its values to shareholders, but a bigger fight looms with ‘anti-woke’ forces.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.