Relating Children's Ages to Toy Characteristics and Play Behavior
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AGE DETERMINATION GUIDELINES: Relating Children’s Ages To Toy Characteristics and Play Behavior September 2002 Edited by Timothy P. Smith, Project Manager, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) CPSC STAFF DOCUMENT Based on work performed under contract by Play Today Principal Author: James A. Therrell Additional contributions by Pei-San Brown, John A. Sutterby, and Candra D. Thornton CONTENTS Page Toy Subcategory Index................................................................................................................... iii INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................1 Small Parts Regulation.........................................................................................................1 Use and Abuse Testing ........................................................................................................2 Age Labeling and Determinations .......................................................................................3 Age Determination Guidelines ............................................................................................4 Format of the Guidelines .....................................................................................................5 Using the Guidelines..........................................................................................................10 CHILDREN’S BASIC ABILITIES AND PREFERENCES.........................................................13 EARLY EXPLORATORY/PRACTICE PLAY............................................................................21 Mirrors, Mobiles, & Manipulatives ...................................................................................23 Push & Pull Toys ...............................................................................................................35 CONSTRUCTION PLAY .............................................................................................................45 Blocks ................................................................................................................................47 Interlocking Building Materials.........................................................................................61 PRETEND & ROLE PLAY...........................................................................................................69 Dolls & Stuffed Toys.........................................................................................................71 Play Scenes & Puppets ......................................................................................................85 Dress-Up Materials ............................................................................................................95 Small Vehicle Toys..........................................................................................................105 Tools & Props ..................................................................................................................117 GAME & ACTIVITY PLAY ......................................................................................................129 Puzzles .............................................................................................................................131 Card, Floor, Board, & Table Games................................................................................141 Computer & Video Games...............................................................................................151 SPORTS & RECREATIONAL PLAY........................................................................................165 Ride-On Toys...................................................................................................................167 Recreational Equipment...................................................................................................177 Sports Equipment.............................................................................................................191 MEDIA PLAY.............................................................................................................................199 Arts & Crafts....................................................................................................................201 Audiovisual Equipment ...................................................................................................215 Musical Instruments.........................................................................................................229 i EDUCATIONAL & ACADEMIC PLAY...................................................................................243 Books ...............................................................................................................................245 Learning Toys ..................................................................................................................259 Smart Toys & Educational Software ...............................................................................269 References....................................................................................................................................281 Toy Index......................................................................................................................................295 ii TOY SUBCATEGORY INDEX Page Arts & Crafts................................................................................................................................201 Audiovisual Equipment ...............................................................................................................215 Blocks ............................................................................................................................................47 Books ...........................................................................................................................................245 Card, Floor, Board, & Table Games............................................................................................141 Computer & Video Games...........................................................................................................151 Dolls & Stuffed Toys.....................................................................................................................71 Dress-Up Materials ........................................................................................................................95 Interlocking Building Materials.....................................................................................................61 Learning Toys ..............................................................................................................................259 Mirrors, Mobiles, & Manipulatives ...............................................................................................23 Musical Instruments.....................................................................................................................229 Play Scenes & Puppets ..................................................................................................................85 Push & Pull Toys ...........................................................................................................................35 Puzzles .........................................................................................................................................131 Recreational Equipment...............................................................................................................177 Ride-On Toys...............................................................................................................................167 Small Vehicle Toys......................................................................................................................105 Smart Toys & Educational Software ...........................................................................................269 Sports Equipment.........................................................................................................................191 Tools & Props ..............................................................................................................................117 iii iv INTRODUCTION The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent federal regulatory agency established in 1973 by the Consumer Product Safety Act. The Commission’s mission is to protect the public against unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. As part of its responsibilities, CPSC administers the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA), under which it regulates toys and other children’s products. One major regulation issued under this Act is the Small Parts Regulation, which bans any toy or other article— hereafter referred to as a “toy”—intended for use by children under 3 years of age if it presents a choking, aspiration, or ingestion hazard because of small parts. To determine the applicability of this regulation, CPSC staff members often perform age determinations on toy samples. These determinations involve the staff examining a sample toy to determine for what age children it is commonly recognized as being intended. The results of these age determinations directly impact the type and severity of tests the sample may subsequently undergo to identify potential hazards. Small Parts Regulation1 In 1979, the Commission issued a regulation under provisions