We all know accidents can and do happen. A dose of intervention and a hint of precaution may be the remedy from time to time, but when it comes to children and toys we all have to apply an extra helping.

It is estimated that half a billion toys are sold in the UK each year, but a more sobering statistic is over 40,000 children are treated in hospital for toy-related injuries. The good news is that many of these injuries can be prevented by following basic safety recommendations and by being aware of your child’s various stages of development – focusing on their abilities, interest and behaviour.

Toys bring a great deal of satisfaction and education to children, particularly between their initial development phases of infancy to toddler, engaging them in activities to help inculcate valuable skills. The first two years of a child’s life contribute in laying a sturdy foundation in the growth of their brain, which acts as a thirsty sponge, expanding rapidly with the capacity and curiosity to learn something new.

“The moment an infant or toddler looks at a toy they are curious, inquisitive to explore how it works,” says Lynn Cates M.D, a leading child psychologist. “Toys such as puzzles, building blocks and interactive games are hugely beneficial in developing fine motor skills and a problem solving aptitude. Apart from appealing to their senses, these kind of toys also serve as a medium of providing exercise for the toddler’s hand-eye coordination.”

But it’s the parent’s eye’s that need to be responsive when a child is immersed in a pool of toys on the floor. Every parent is confronted with the problem of finding the appropriate toy or game that matches the raw interests of the toddler. The toy then becomes a fickle friend; an object that delivers boundless joy and entertainment, provoking laughter and memories. But within a split second can cause irrepressible pain and distress; the toy is now the enemy and the parent’s trust is lost forever.

Piaget, the eminent psychologist who was known for recognising cognitive development theory in children during the 1950’s, expanded on earlier work from James Mark Baldwin to cement four levels of development; corresponding roughly to 1) Infancy, 2) Preschool, 3) childhood and 4) adolescence. Each stage represents the child’s understanding of reality and it is the first two stages where we see the child express signs of imbalance with their five senses, particularly when dealing with toys.

From the birth to age two – known as the Sensorimotor stage – children experience the world through movement and senses. During this stage children are extremely egocentric, meaning they cannot perceive the world (or toys) from others viewpoints and investigate using their senses.

Simple reflexes is from birth to one month old, and it is at this premature age that a child will already be drawn to toys that rattle, crinkle, squeak or sing – resulting in early recognition and understanding of sound and rhythm.

Between the ages of four to eight months, the infant will become acutely aware of objects beyond their own body and during this retentive stage they might accidentally shake a rattle and continue to do so for the sake of satisfaction.

From 8 to 12 months the child can begin to do things intentionally. For example, they can combine and recombine skills; like master a visual puzzle or place toys in their correct home. This stage is fundamental to the child’s memory sensors and they even start to understand that their toys exist even when they can’t actually see them.

Although parents can be made aware of these stages, it is still immensely difficult to pre-empt a child’s personality and actions when playing with toys. It is equally difficult to watch your young ones every single minute of the day, and so if an accident is looming, then all a parent can do is make sure they buy the right toy for the right age category – with the advice and reassurance of the retailer too.

Kids Stuff is a family run children’s toy shop with over 20 years of experience of selling traditional toys with unrivalled product knowledge. Dealing with children and toys is a very unpredictable relationship and Kids Stuff make sure parents are buying the right toys without losing the fun and learning aspect.

“At Kids Stuff we know how important your child’s safety is, as do the manufacturers as they spend a lot of time on research and safety issues,” says Stephen Hartfield, owner of Kids Stuff. “That’s why we feel it’s important when recommending toys to parents that we know the age of the child the toy is for, allowing us to suggest toys that are safe for their age group.”

So with the festive season imminent and cautious wish lists being compiled by every parent across the land, let’s not forget that toys are still great fun and are essential in the growth of children. Just be careful and they will grow to be safe and happy!