{"id":32160,"date":"2017-12-06T09:16:15","date_gmt":"2017-12-06T16:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wwv.group.com\/childrens-ministry\/?p=32160"},"modified":"2017-12-06T11:02:20","modified_gmt":"2017-12-06T18:02:20","slug":"6-ways-to-keep-holiday-toys-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwv.group.com\/childrens-ministry\/blog\/shepherds-watch\/6-ways-to-keep-holiday-toys-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways to Keep Holiday Toys Safe"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Got toys? Christmas seems to be the time of year we find ourselves shopping for toys. Whether giving or receiving, it\u2019s important that certain guidelines be observed to make sure the toys that\u2019ll be used in your children\u2019s ministry are safe.<\/p>\n<p>Use the following guidelines to make sure your toys are safe.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Age Appropriate<\/strong>\u2014Observe manufacturer recommendations on age-appropriateness of each toy. Age recommendations are usually found on the packaging. For toys donated to your ministry without the original packaging, contact the manufacturer for information on age recommendations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Toy Shape and Size<\/strong>\u2014Toys should be large enough that they can\u2019t be placed in a child\u2019s nose, mouth, or ears. For example, marbles and beads are too small for safe use. Avoid any toy that has sharp edges or points. (You know exactly what will happen with that!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Moving Parts<\/strong>\u2014Check to see that all moving parts and any small pieces are securely fastened.\u00a0 Broken toys should be repaired to their original condition or thrown out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fireproof<\/strong>\u2014Fabric toys and doll clothing should carry a label that says \u201cflame retardant\/flame resistant\u201d or \u201cnonflammable.\u201d This includes stuffed animals and puppets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Clean and Sanitized<\/strong>\u2014Shared toys, such as those in a nursery, should be regularly cleaned and disinfected to keep them sanitary. This is especially important during the cold and flu season. (That would be now.) Experts advise that toys should be sanitized with either a household bleach and water mixture or with a commercial disinfecting product registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. According to the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care, a sanitizing solution of \u00bc cup of household bleach added to one gallon of water (or one tablespoon of bleach added to one quart of water) is an effective way to reduce illness-producing germs on hard surfaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Toy Recalls<\/strong>\u2014This is the time of year many new toys hit the market for Christmas delivery. There are always a few that end up being recalled for defects or design flaws. To check if any toys or nursery furnishings at your church are being recalled, check the Consumer Product Safety Commission website: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cpsc.gov\/en\/Recalls\/\">http:\/\/www.cpsc.gov\/en\/Recalls\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Kids love toys, and our ministries use them to create a fun place that children enjoy. Keep your kids and your ministry safe\u2014with safe toys.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; &#8211; Taken from a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.group.com\/category\/ministry-resources\/volunteer-management\/shepherds-watch-background-checks.do\">Shepherd&#8217;s Watch<\/a> newsletter. Sign up today for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.group.com\/category\/ministry-resources\/volunteer-management\/shepherds-watch-background-checks.do\">Shepherd&#8217;s Watch Background Checks<\/a> and receive your free monthly newsletter filled with advice and tips on keeping your church safe.<\/p>\n<p><em>(We love to provide tips to keep your ministry safe. You may also want to consult your local legal advisors to get their perspective on this topic!)<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Got toys? Christmas seems to be the time of year we find ourselves shopping for toys. Whether giving or receiving, it\u2019s important that certain guidelines be observed to make sure the toys that\u2019ll be used in your children\u2019s ministry are safe. Use the following guidelines to make sure your toys are safe.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Age Appropriate\u2014Observe manufacturer recommendations on age-appropriateness of each [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":32164,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[722],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-shepherds-watch"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>6 Ways to Keep Holiday Toys Safe - Group Children&#039;s Ministry<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Kids love toys, and our ministries use them to create a fun place that children enjoy. 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