Understanding Toy Age Ratings

At Lake Wobegon, "all the children are above average." I love this line from A Prairie Home Companion because it states what we all believe about the children we love. As we should, I might add! But we need to guard against letting this opinion influence our choice of toys too much. We might think that Johnny is ready for the 3+ toys because he's so bright, but we might want to reconsider.

We all know that all toys come with an age recommendation. Still I get many questions about why one toy gets a rating for under age 3, while another is for 3 and above. Indeed, it is this age group that I see people struggle with the most. The under 3 toys can seem "too easy" or "to baby-ish." And the above 3 toys seem more appealing because the child can "grow" with it. While the temptation to buy up an age is understandable, it's not always the safest choice.

First I would like to clarify that all toys for kids under age 12 go through vigorous testing. All toys must be made with non-toxic paints, inks, and fillers. There are significant, differences, however, between toys approved for the younger age groups. The CPSC lists in more detail the criteria for the different age ratings, but to simplify, there are two main differences between toys for the under 3 rating and those for the 3 and above. To be approved for children UNDER the age of 3, the toy must:

(1) be unbreakable to a great degree, even with some abuse. (Think about Johnny dropping it repeatedly or banging it on the table.)
(2) contain NO small parts or pieces that could become lodged in the throat. No exceptions. If one piece is small enough, then the rating must be raised to a higher age.

In contrast, toys for 3 and above just have to label that they contain choking hazards. Toys can get this rating for containing just one piece, either externally or internally, that could get lodged in the throat. Likewise, if a toy can shatter into small pieces when broken, it can require this higher age rating. The ratings at these ages have little to do with the abilities of the child, in other words.

So should people never buy a 3+ toy for a child under the age of three? Only the parents can decide their comfort level for sure. But each individual toy and child should be taken into consideration. One strategy would be to remove the tiny pieces from the set until the child is older. This tactic is common with sets like Calico Critters and play foods which appeal to all ages but contain small pieces. Another approach would be to keep toys in question out of the child's reach. Then they child has to ask for assistance to play with it. Puzzles and building toys work well with younger children when they are supervised while exploring them.

We hope this information helps keep all our above average children safely and happily playing.