Onus on parents to check safety of children’s toys

Toys bring joy and are a source of entertainment to millions of children. Adults, however, must know that toys can also be dangerous to children. Millions of toys are constantly being recalled by manufacturers for reasons that stretch from safety to manufacturing defects that could actually cause harm to children — detachable parts, high levels of chemical compositions and use of flammable or magnetic materials are but a few of them.

Age appropriateness is also a reason and the onus is on adults to ensure that the purchases made must be corresponding with the age of children.

It is heartening to note that consumer safety regulations are being applied to the sale of toys in the UAE. Officials in Dubai for example are making periodic safety and manufacturing checks after sending products to the Dubai Central Laboratory for tests.

There are regionwide regulations that manufacturers must adhere to and this must be stringently enforced across the board. Penalties for those ignoring instructions must be stiff and swift.

The quality of toys is, ultimately, a judgement call by those who buy them. Ensure that you check your children’s toy collection for wear and tear and for any signs of danger that it could pose to them. Forewarned is forearmed.