TOYS SHOULD BE FUN.

Children at play are one of the most important human activities. Through this activity a child learns coordination, an understanding about the way the body works and helps form a personal identity.

A child at play also establishes and understanding of physical limitations: hitting something too hard can make hands hurt, the higher he or she falls the worse the pain, and other basic physical understandings.

All of which allows the child to grow physically and emotionally.

WHAT DO WE REALLY MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TOY SAFETY?

At ICQ, it means we need to take all measures necessary to protect a child from non predictable hazards that can cause serious consequences. Technical standards in the toy industry have been written with this overwhelming objective.

For example, if toys aren’t constructed properly they can release toxic substances, can break or easily come apart into smaller pieces that can be accidentally swallowed, just to identify a few examples.

WHAT SHOULD CONSUMERS DO TO GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF THEIR CHILDREN?

One of the most important instruments that guarantees the safety of your children’s’ products is the certification by an independent laboratory. The ICQ Safe Toys mark is more and more recognised by consumers as a symbol of safety and trust.

WHAT DOES ICQ DO BEFORE GRANTING THE SAFE TOYS MARK?

1 – age grading evaluation of the toy

At ICQ the proper age grading is determined by an experienced psychologist who establishes the playing age of the toy according to cognitive and motor abilities possessed by the children during their development.

The recommended age of a toy is an essential element to guarantee the safety of the product, and it is important that parents are aware of its importance on the packaging.

2 – risk assessment

Toys under development are studied in technical sessions by an ICQ team of experts with diversified skill sets to appraise possible risks connected with their use and abuse. Based on these evaluations the team establishes specific tests necessary for the certification and the granting of the mark Safe Toys.

3 – physical and mechanical tests

The ICQ laboratory technicians check for the presence of any sharp edges or sharp points in the toy structure, the possibility of detaching parts that can provoke traumas or could cause choking hazards. Toys intended to bear the weight of a child (for example electrical or mechanical vehicles), must pass the crash test of the structure launched against an obstacle. Teddy bears are put through hard tests of torsion, tension, simulated bites, in order to withstand the accidental removal of small parts.

4 – chemical analysis, hygiene and radioactivity

A chemical analysis is carried out on toys and all the other articles related to children.  The objective is to check raw materials, varnishes, adhesives and more to verify they are not hazardous and they conform to all safety requirements related to heavy metals and toxic substances.

5 – electrical tests

At our labs we test electromagnetic compatibility and radio frequencies. Special tests are performed to evaluate the overheating of toy parts which could be in contact with the child. Special tests are carried out for electrical toys operating in contact with water such as bath toys.

6 – flammability tests

Soft toys and other toys made of textile or cushioned material are submitted to flammability tests. We analyze the ignition and the fire reaction of the materials with our special equipment. To successfully pass the test, the speed of flame spreading on the toy must be inferior to an industry established safety threshold.

7 – production inspections

Certifying a product with our Safe Toys mark doesn't end with laboratory tests. We also follow the product through the production and inspection phases with sampling procedures. This allows us to ensure that the toys conform to safety requirements established by law and quality standards required by the purchaser.

8 – granting the mark Safe Toys also involves random samplings and testing after the products are in the marketplace.

HOW TO CHOOSE A SAFE TOY

Here are a few suggestions about how you can verify the safety of toys prior to purchasing them. No product is 100% safe from accidental usage, but there are ways to recognize that there are no hidden dangers in the products you purchase.

1. You should always read the labels and instructions—they have the specific purpose to inform the consumer. The presence of a tracking label on toys and their packaging is mandatory. The tracking label should enable purchasers to find out the manufacturing location, date of production and other information such as batch or run numbers. The producer's name, importer or distributor, is compulsory as well: you must have this data available to be able to contact them in case of problems.
   
   Make sure you understand all the instructions. It’s up to you to help your child to understand them in order to use the toy in a safe way. Identify the age grading of the toys; in the absence of a recommended age the toy it is generally assumed to be safe and intended for the children of all the ages.  Look closely at the age suggestions because some are not always accurate. Keep in mind, buying toys labelled for older children does not accelerate the growth of your child and could expose him or her to potential dangers.
2. When you buy a toy for children under 3 years old (36 months), you should personally make sure that the toy doesn't contain small parts. These can be dangerous because a child in the first three years tend to put just about anything and everything that fits in the mouth.
3. You should check to make sure that toys don’t have points, edges or angles too sharp.
4. Pay attention to strings or laces that are too long because they pose a risk of strangulation.
5. Functional electric toys with parts that undergo overheating are not suggested for children under 8 years old. Children under 8 generally do not have a proper sense of danger.
6. Bow and arrows used as toys by children must have appropriate protections in order to prevent possible lacerations. You should always observe how your children play with these types of toys because improper use can be very dangerous.
7. Air balloons in latex are dangerous, if broken or flat, for children under 8. Make sure to remove with care the broken or flat air balloons used for decoration during birthday parties.
8. To prevent hearing damage from noise or sound, the law has established specific levels of noise that safe toys can produce. If the sound of a toy inside the shop seems too elevated, don't purchase it: children are much more sensitive to the sounds in comparison to adults.
9. Make sure to eliminate plastic bags toys are packaged in since they can cause choking if used by the child in improper way.
10. You should teach your child to tidy up toys once they are done playing with them. Far too many accidents are caused by accidental falls on toys left on the floor.

ONCE AT HOME, ARE TOYS ALWAYS SAFE?

You should always explain the instructions of the toys that you give to your child and how they must be cared for.

Carefully separate toys appropriate for children of different ages: for example, chemical sets or toys with small parts can be particularly dangerous if used by young children.

You should avoid hanging toys with strings, laces or bows to a cradle or to the crib if they are not specifically intended for this use.

Immediately remove and eliminate broken toys.

A TOY FOR EVERY AGE

Examples of toys you can buy for children of different ages.

0–3 months > mobile to fix on the crib

3–6 months > rattles, tethers, textile balls, rubber balls to grab, blanket with games, baby gyms

6–9 months > rubber or plastic keys and rings, washable rag dolls and rubber dolls, textile cubes, small teddy bears

9 – 12 months > music boxes, plastic bath books, push and pull, pull along animals

12–18 months > 2 or 4 pieces puzzles, bath toys, small vehicles with simple shapes, little trains

18–24 months > beach buckets and spades, small tricycles, horses or other assembling animals, push and pull

2–3 years > strollers and prams for dolls, shopping trolleys, tunnels, little houses, small slides, 4–12 piece puzzles, talking dolls, feeding utensils, phones, cash registers, cranes, trucks, simple musical instruments (drum), big colored pencils and drawing paper, coloring books, small plastic cars

3–4 years > tricycles, bicycles, dolls’ house with furniture, dolls’ clothing, doctor’s case, bubbles soap, toy soldiers, cosmetic toys, radio cassette players

4–5 years > more than 20 piece puzzles, building sets with more complicated characters and landscapes, coloring books, water guns

5–6 years > sports equipment toys: rollerblades, roller skates, boxing gloves; small computers to learn games, calculating or writing, electric cars or motorbikes, little theatres, cutting books with models to build

7–8 years > game cards, jump ropes, marbles, chalkboards, building constructions, board games, moulding sets

9–10 years > experiment sets, latex balloons, books, tricks, buildings, mechanical sets, videogames

10–14 years > books, microscopes, sport games