How to Keep Your Child Safe when Using Ride-On Toys

Showering children with all kinds of toys is one of the main ways parents show affection. Unfortunately, there have been product recalls of some children's toys and these have prompted worried parents to take a second and even third look at the types of toys they buy. After all, no one wants their child to be poisoned or injured by something that was meant to make them happy.

In light of these recent product recalls, many parents have shifted to traditional toys which have been tried and tested by generations of children. These items are usually characterized by durability, quality and safety. Not only are they fun, they are also educational. One of the well-loved examples is the ride-on toy.

Nevertheless, even these traditional toys are potentially deadly. That may seem like an exaggeration, but you only have to do a quick Google search to find out about the hundreds of freak accidents involving toys. The safest toys can still malfunction when they are used incorrectly.

It is a parent's responsibility to find out as much as possible about these potential hazards and to take the appropriate safety precautions. The following guidelines apply to all ride-on toys.

1. Make sure the ride-on toy is age-appropriate. Kids are more likely to get hurt when they are playing with a toy that is not suitable for their developmental level. Always check the packaging to see what age bracket the toy was designed for. Most ride-on toys were made for toddlers, who have sufficiently developed motor skills to operate the low slung apparatus on their own. Don't buy ride-on toys for a baby who has just learned to walk.
2. Test the stability of the toy before buying. Children love to experiment with ride-on toys. They'll ride them forwards, backwards and sideways. They'll probably even try to make them go up the wall. Always test the toy in the store to make sure it will only tip over in extreme positions.
3. Designate a safe play area. This should be a wide open space far from vehicular traffic, open water or steep hills. Keep them away from wooded areas. These places may be home to wild or rabid animals. It would be ideal to let your children play in a large walled garden or indoor space, but make sure there are no pieces of furniture with sharp corners. Secure any breakable items like glass vases and remove any electrical cords running across the floor.
4. Assign an adult to keep watch. Constant vigilance is key, especially when dealing with small children. An adult or responsible teenager should always keep an eye on the children.
5. Secure their clothing. Make sure their shoelaces are tied and that there are no other dangling articles of clothing that may get caught in the wheels of the ride-on toy.
6. Apply sunscreen. This will help prevent skin cancer and premature aging.
7. Keep the kids hydrated. This is will help avoid exhaustion and heatstroke.

Coupled with the manufacturer's instructions, these tips will help keep your kids healthy, happy and best of all, safe.

*Toy Hazard Recalls, US Consumer Product Safety Commission

*Select Children's Toys with Safety in Mind, Home Safety Council.org