With recent media coverage on toy recalls,  it's a good time to do an overall safety check on toys in your early childhood program. Make sure:

• Toys do not have sharp edges or points, loose parts or screws or places where skin and fingers can get pinched.
  
  
• Objects smaller than 1 3/4 inches diameter and toys with small parts must be kept away from children who put objects in their mouths (to prevent choking hazards).
  
  
• Children are not permitted to play with any type of plastic bag, balloon or latex gloves (to prevent choking hazards).
  
  
• Toys are put away when not being used (to prevent tripping or falling over them).
  
  
• Toys are not hung across the cribs of infants who can sit up (to prevent strangulation or choking).
  
  
• Rattles and other objects like pacifiers are NEVER hung around an infant’s neck (to prevent strangulation).
  
  
• Riding toys, such as tricycles and scooters, are appropriate to the age of the child.
  
  
• All children wear helmets when riding tricycles, scooters and other riding toys.
  
  
• Stuffed toys are not placed in the crib (to help reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome-SIDS).
  
  
• Toys can be easily washed and sanitized. For example, stuffed animals should be machine washable.

From The National Resource Center's Healthy Kids, Healthy Care: Toys What's safe? What's appropriate? Web site: English - http://www.healthykids.us/chapters/toys_main.htm and
Spanish - http://www.healthykids.us/spanish/chapters/toys_main.htm