Choosing Safe Toys for Children part 2 (1powershop)

3 to 4 years
Age Group
Imagination and imitation combined with vigorous physical activity
Ending age of most toy related injuries at 4 years
Safe Toys
Those in 2-3 year category plus
Toy telephones
Metal tea set
Dolls with wrap-around clothing
Construction sets with easily connecting large pieces
Rugged key-wound or friction-operated toys
Blunt scissors
Lacing cards
Simple card and board games
Non-electrical trains
Selected toys with small parts
Tricycles with low-slung seats, used off roadways
Dangerous Toys
Highly flammable costumes
Electrical toys
Shooting toys that endanger eyes
Poorly balanced tricycles or riding toys
Lead soldiers
Riding toys in hilly areas or inclined driveways
Tricycles that take child too far from supervision
Broken toys
Welcome to 1powershop
4 to 6 years
Age Group
Will develop cooperative social play. Improve physical coordination
Begins era of bicycle related injuries
Safe Toys
Pail and shovel
Building blocks
More advanced construction sets
Cut-out paper dolls, hand and finger puppets Modeling clay
Paints and paint books
Non-electrical trains, battery operated toys
Kites
Stencils, activity books and picture books
More demanding board and card games
Simple musical instruments
Small sports equipment
Selected toys with small parts
Bicycle with 20" wheel and training wheels, for 4-7 year olds
Dangerous Toys
Poisonous or oil-based paint sets
Flammable costumes or ones with material to the floor
Kites made of electrically conductible aluminized polyester film
Electrical toys, unless battery operated
Shooting toys and darts with pointed tips
Poorly-balanced tricycles or wagons
Bicycle poorly maintained
Bicycle used on roadways
Bicycle too large for child
Fireworks of any kind
Lawn darts
Welcome to 1powershop
6 to 8 years
Age Group
Further cooperative and social play
Physical and intellectual interests. May have renewed interest in playing alone
Safe Toys
Kites
Battery-powered electrical toys with Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approval
Puppets and puppet theatre
Complicated jigsaw puzzles
Games requiring some reading
Well constructed, lightweight tool sets
Dolls and doll equipment
Flower press
Set demonstrating simple principles of science. (Magnets & magnifiers, etc.)
Equipment for playing bank, store, filling station, etc.
Bicycle with 24" wheel for 7-10 year olds
Dangerous Toys
Kites made of electrically conductible aluminized polyester film
Poorly made sports equipment
Shooting toys and toys with loud noises (cap guns, etc.)
Fireworks of any kind
Electrical toys run on household current
Lawn darts
Broken toys
Welcome to 1powershop
8 to 12 years
Age Group
Art, Craft, Building and Science interests
Safe Toys
Electrical toys with UL approval used on household current only after you have explained how to use toy and electrical plug and outlets
Bicycle with 26" wheel for kids over 10
Other sidewalk vehicles, skates, skateboards, etc.
Well-constructed sports equipment
Put together models
Chemistry and other science kits
Hobby and Arts and Crafts kits and materials
Some projectile toys (dart guns, etc.)
Dangerous Toys
Lawn darts
Fireworks of any kind
Sharp-edged tools
Poorly constructed sports equipment
B-B Guns/Air Rifles, until child understands gun safety

MP3 Player Shopping Tips (1powershop)

Choosing the right MP3 playerisn't that difficult, but one player does not fit all. People will want different things from their players.
Think about how you'll use the player. Joggers will almost certainly want a lightweight, flash-memory-based device, since hard drives don't react well to the shock of bouncing around all the time; audio aficionados who want lots of music at their fingertips should keep their eyes on the highest-capacity hard-drive models. And if you want to view video or photos on the device, the quality of the screen is an even more critical consideration.
Try your favorite before taking it home. We can't stress this enough. Make sure you can use the on-screen display to navigate to a specific song, and ask a clerk to show you how to transfer music to the device, if possible. Always bring your own set of headphones to listen to the sound quality of each unit you're interested in.