Keep the Holidays Happy: Choose Safe, Kid-Friendly Gifts

The holiday season is often filled with family gatherings, laughter, and gift-giving, but it has unfortunately also been accompanied by toy-related injuries in children. 

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, toy-related injuries from 2015 to 2023 decreased by nearly 5% for children under 15 years of age and by nearly 8% for children under 13. Non-motorized scooters accounted for the largest share of injuries (53,000) in 2023 across all age groups and accounted for more than one in every five toy-related injuries for children under the age of 15. The majority of toy-related deaths were related to choking on small balls or crayons; drownings linked to flotation toys; entrapment inside a toy chest; and ingestion of water beads. 

Fortunately, the doctors and clinical staff at The Eye Institute (TEI), the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI), and the Speech-Language Institute (SLI) of Drexel University have some great tips to keep you and your children safe during the gift-giving season. 

The Eye Institute (TEI) most often sees toy-related injuries in the form of corneal abrasions, orbital contusions/ bruising, and chemical burns. Serious damage, such as retinal detachments, retinal burns, and orbital fractures, although rare, can also occur. 

Here are some key recommendations from eye doctors at TEI for the holiday season:

• Avoid projectile weapons of any kind, including but not limited to BB guns, Airsoft guns, darts, bows and arrows, and rocket launchers. These toys can lead to high-impact and serious eye injuries, so it is best to avoid them.
• Ensure proper protective eyewear when using toys that include chemicals or foreign materials. Science kits often have substances that, if they come in contact with the eyes, can cause chemical burns or adverse reactions. For more information regarding what constitutes proper safety eyewear, see the National Eye Institute. 

• Choose age-appropriate sports equipment at all times. Sports inherently pose a risk to eye safety, so ensure your child is mature enough to understand how to use the equipment in a safe manner. Baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, and hockey pucks are wonderful gifts for athletic kids, but they can also cause severe eye injuries if not used in a safe way. As always, proper protective eyewear can also help reduce the risk of eye injuries. 

• Steer clear of laser pointers which can cause damage to the retina, the structure at the back of the eye responsible for vision, and cause irreversible vision loss. Carefully inspect toys for laser-like features and educate your children to avoid looking directly at a laser light. 

In addition to eye safety and protection, parents must also be aware of the risk that certain children’s toys pose to hearing. The Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) recommends parents assess the volume of a toy before giving it to a child. 

Here are some tips to help protect your child’s hearing:

• Implement the “Arm’s Length Rule” from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which says that if a child is playing with a toy and cannot hear someone speaking to them at one arm’s length away, then the toy’s volume is too loud. Parents can also test this rule on themselves before buying the toy: when held at an arms-length away, if the toy is too loud for you, then it is also too loud for your child.
• Check the decibel levels of the toy before purchasing. The decibel levels are often printed on the box, but parents can also use a mobile app to measure the sound level. PEI recommends volume levels stay below 60 decibels. 

Lastly, the Speech-Language Institute (SLI) recommends age-appropriate toys to help boost speech and communication skills:

• Blocks and building toys are a great way for children to learn important skills such as creativity and problem-solving. They are also relatively inexpensive and considered safer for younger children.
• Books provide practice with language and communication skills. They create a shared space for enjoyment or can act as a way for children to engage in independent discovery. They promote early language-learning, literacy and reinforce social concepts. 

• Art supplies such as crayons, markers, paints and paint brushes, and clay can provide a new and exciting way for children to engage in imaginative play. They promote creativity and offer an alternative for self-expression to language and vocabulary which can be more challenging for some children. 

• Playhouses, props, costumes and play sets encourage pretend and collaborative play, and provide a means for building and practicing vocabulary and communication. They are also super fun and allow kids to let their imaginations run wild. 

Gift-giving is a joyful part of the holiday season, but it’s important to stay mindful of the potential health risks some toys may pose to children. By following the above tips and recommendations from providers at The Eye Institute (TEI), the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI), and the Speech-Language Institute (SLI) you are sure to have a happy and safe holiday season.