Sometimes toys break, or can be a choking hazard if they lose small parts. Electric toys can also pose a risk if they’re not used properly, or with adult supervision. There are many more things you can do to keep your child safe through the holiday season, and the rest of the year.

To help you know what to look out for, today I have a list of 10 toy safety tips from the Seattle Children’s Hospital.

During the holiday season it is difficult to make sense of the millions of toys out there. Which ones are best for your child? Toys are supposed to be fun and are an important part of any child’s development. But each year, scores of kids are treated in hospital emergency departments for toy-related injuries. Choking is a particular risk for kids ages 3 or younger, because they tend to put objects in their mouths.

As parents are shopping for holiday gifts for their children, Dr. Tony Woodward, chief of emergency medicine at Seattle Children’s Hospital, would like to remind them of these 10 important tips on choosing safe and appropriate toys:

1. Check the labels to make sure the toy is age-appropriate and matches your child’s skill level.
2. Avoid toys with small pieces for children under age 3 – these can become choking hazards. A good rule of thumb: if it can fit in a toilet paper role, it is too small.
3. For toddlers and babies, avoid toys with metal parts, cords or strings.
4. Avoid letting young children play with toys that have magnets. Warn older children to never put magnets in their mouth.
5. For electric toys, only choose ones that say “UL Approved” – this means they have passed certain safety standards.
6. Dispose of plastic wrapping and other packaging right away.
7. Help your child understand the instructions.
8. Check toys often for damage – if a toy cannot be fixed, throw it away.
9. If you have older children, remember to keep their toys out of reach of your toddler or infant.
10. Sign up to receive recall notices on child products, including toys, from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov.

Image: sxc.hu

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Ben 10 Alien Force LEGO sets will include Spidermonkey, Swampfire, Chromastone, Humungousaur, Jet Ray, and Big Chill, several of Bens Omnitrix alter egos.

I think the new LEGO sets will be a big hit with young boys my son’s age. The Cartoon Network has made Ben 10 into a large franchise, and with LEGO’s popularity I’m sure the line will be on many kid’s wish list.

The new LEGO sets are recommended for children ages 5-12, and most sets have between 16 and 22 pieces.

The some of the Ben 10 Alien Force LEGO sets are available for pre-order at Amazon right now, I’m sure they’ll be available at most major retailers after the first of the year.

Image: Amazon.com

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So if you’re a fan, or just like to think you’re saying something clever to your friends, go forth and celebrate Star Wars Day, have a Star Wars marathon, and make sure you tell everyone you see, May the 4th be with you.

Everyone else… Happy May 4th!

Image via Art.com

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Doll Day Spa (cute!) at Doll Diaries, have your friends over, have them bring their dolls and have your own doll day spa party!

Eco-Valentine’s Day Ideas for Kids, I think I mentioned it once, but worth mentioning again.

Dirty Words~ Help your kids learn to read by letting them get their hands dirty.

With almost everything peanut butter recalled Marye shares how to make other nut and seed butters you can share with your family.

We have over a foot of snow on the ground right now. If you’re overloaded with snow where you live make a recycled snow scoop, and get outside and build a snow castle, or some snow tunnels.

If your teen or tween isn’t into team sports, here are some ways to keep them active.

Make your winter breakfasts fun with pancake shapes.

Have fun this weekend, whether you some games out and have a family night, or you all watch the Big Game together.

Image via Stock.xchng

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Let the kids help you get ready for the holidays. I have some fun links to help you include your children in your holiday preparations.

Check out these cute Cooking Gadgets, meet the Rhinestone Robots, a set of serving dishes made from recycled parts! They’re not toys, but the kids would love them.

How cute is this March of the Penguins Cheese Ball? There will be smiles all around when your guests glimpse these cute little penguins marching around the cheese ball igloo. It would be so fun for a children’s holiday party.

Walking Can Reduce Chocolate Cravings. But why on earth would you want to? Chocolate is the best part of the holidays!

Let your kids help you get started with the holiday baking, here are 50 Cute and Tasty Christmas Cookies to get you started.

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes- A fun recipe to make with your kids. These mashed potatoes are creamy, fluffy and garlicky — everything good mashed potatoes should be. And they’re perfect for holiday entertaining.

Cooking from scratch is always a good thing to teach your children. Risotto is the basis for many wonder meals (and a great comfort food): here’s one with red peppers and Italian sausage!

Make some scented paper mache Christmas ornaments, or get outside with some scented glittery sidewalk chalk.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Image via Stock.xchng

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Give up? The lowly stick just been inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame. I think it was a wonderful choice. I think it ranks right up their with their 2005 inductee, the cardboard box.

A stick can be anything your child can imagine, from a fishing rod, to a light saber, or magic wand.

According to the museum:

Each toy must not only be widely recognized and foster learning, creativity or discovery through play, but also endure in popularity over generations.

I think the stick definitely meets the criteria of a great toy. My son can be entertained in the yard for hours with a stick for a light saber, or playing fetch with the dog. So why do we have that whole box of toys?

Thank you Maricar for pointing out this fun news.

Image via Stock.xchng

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I like to wrap up the week with some fun interesting links on my other blogs, so I thought I’d give it a try here. Let me know what you think.

Let your kids help with the Thanksgiving and holiday prep this year. It’s a great way to share family time, and it might just cut down on your work load.

The List Maven has some really cool one of a kind Barbie jewelry.

Check out the Little Monsters contest winners at Simply Thrifty. Actually you should check out all the little monsters, they’re adorable!

Make a leaf press- to press some fall leaves for holiday craft projects.

Maybe you can talk your children into making one of these Lego kitchen crafts for you, for Christmas this year.

Go outside and play in the leaves! Have a great weekend!

Image via Stock.xchng

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Which one are you most excited about?

And here are the real pictures along with a couple of others that will be released in March:

Webkinz Bengal Tiger

Webkinz Brown Dog

Lil Kinz Black Lab

Lil Kinz Pink Poodle

Webkinz Tiger Snake

Webkinz Wacky Zingoz

via Webkinz Insider

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My daughter loves to play online dress up games. I have to give her a time limit or she’ll be on there all day. I’ve created a website called Fun Dress Up Games and it’s a safe place, with clean games, for young girls to come and dress up dolls, create room scenes, dress up their favorite celebrity and tons of animal dress up games.

I created this website because there is SO much junk out there and I wanted my daughter to have a place to "play" that I felt comfortable with.

So, come on over and play! Be sure and fill out the form and tell me what kind of dress up games you would like to see on the site. And if there’s one your daughter likes to play and it’s not on there, let me know and if it meets our requirements, then I’ll add it.

Have fun!

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The computer is the place to be for kids of all ages. This is where they go for entertainment, educational purposes and to stay in contact with friends and family.

PBS has just opened beta testing for a new website called PBS Kids Play!.

The service, PBS Kids Play!, opens today (pbskidsplay.org) for a free beta trial period. It’s designed to let children 3 to 6 play and learn with the help of characters such as Curious George and The Berenstain Bears. Activities will be added every week featuring Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends and characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

When the trial ends before spring, the service will cost $9.95 a month or $79 a year. PBS expects some local TV affiliates to offer it at a discount or free to donors.

How do you feel about PBS charging for preschoolers to play on this site? Would you be willing to pay under $10 a month if your child enjoys it enough?

PBS is on the air because of donations, so I personally see no problem with it. I can choose to pay and let my child use it or not. If I choose to not to, there are many other free resources out there. I also see this as a way for the public to help support television that many parents rely on for good, quality and clean shows for their kids to watch. What do you think?

You can read the rest of the article here. 

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