December 13, 2011
We at CooperVision would like to remind everyone that December is “Safe Toys and Gifts Month”. It is important to keep children’s safety in mind when Holiday shopping; be sure to follow the tips listed below when purchasing gifts for children:
- Always follow age recommendations when purchasing gifts for children.
- Keep the ages of younger siblings in mind when choosing a gift, always air on the side of caution when there are younger siblings in the household. ¹
- Choose toys that may inspire creativity and imagination; these toys will make learning fun.
- Select toys and gifts that encourage visual development; this will build a child’s spatial awareness.¹
Here are some last minute gift ideas listed by age group recommended by www.gifts.com that are considered eye-friendly and will help build visual awareness:
- Age: 0 to 11 mos. Chicco Fun Travel Activity Nest Colorful and great for traveling.
- Age: 1 to 3 years. Fat Brain Toy Tobbles Round shape makes this safer than your average building block set.
- Age: 3 to 5 years. Fisher-Price Kid-Tough See Yourself Camera (available in boy or girl colors) Built tough to withstand dropping, this camera is a great for building visual creativity.
- Age: 6 to 9 years. LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Game System Comes loaded with many games, also includes a camera which is video capable. Great for learning and encouraging visual ingenuity.
Please visit the American Optometric Association for more tips and suggestions on Safe Toys and Gifts ideas!