CPSC staff will begin using the 2020 Age Determination Guidelines on June 1st, 2020, at which time the 2020 Guidelines will supersede the 2002 Guidelines. AGE DETERMINATION GUIDELINES: Relating Consumer Product Characteristics to the Skills, Play Behaviors, and Interests of Children January 2020 CPSC STAFF DOCUMENT Revised by: Melissa N. Richards, Ph.D., Diane L. Putnick, Ph.D., Joan T.D. Suwalsky, M.A., & Marc H. Bornstein, Ph.D., Child and Family Research Section, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Khalisa H. Phillips, Ph.D., Psychologist Jill Hurley, M.A., Engineering Psychologist Division of Human Factors Directorate of Engineering Sciences U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission1 (800) 638-2772 CPSC Hotline 1 This document was revised by NICHD and CPSC staff under Interagency Agreement #CPSC-I-14-0016 and has not been reviewed by, and does not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. (This page intentionally left blank) CONTENTS Page PRODUCT SUBCATEGORY INDEX ........................................................................................ III INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................ 3 Small Parts Regulation ............................................................................................................... 3 Use and Abuse Testing............................................................................................................... 4 Age Labeling and Determinations ............................................................................................. 5 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act ............................................................................. 6 ASTM F963 Toy Safety Standard.............................................................................................. 7 Children’s Toy ........................................................................................................................... 9 Child Care Article ...................................................................................................................... 9 Children’s Products .................................................................................................................... 9 A USER GUIDE TO THE AGE DETERMINATION GUIDELINES ........................................ 11 History of the Age Determination Guidelines ......................................................................... 11 Organization of the Age Determination Guidelines................................................................. 12 CHILDREN’S BASIC ABILITIES AND PREFERENCES ........................................................ 19 EXPLORATORY AND PRACTICE PLAY ................................................................................ 29 Mirrors, Mobiles, & Manipulatives ......................................................................................... 31 Push & Pull Toys ..................................................................................................................... 45 BUILDING PLAY ........................................................................................................................ 55 Blocks ....................................................................................................................................... 57 Interlocking Building Materials ............................................................................................... 71 PRETEND & ROLE PLAY.......................................................................................................... 81 Dolls & Stuffed Toys ............................................................................................................... 83 Play Scenes & Puppets ............................................................................................................. 99 Dress-Up Materials ................................................................................................................ 109 Small Vehicle Toys ................................................................................................................ 121 Tools & Props ........................................................................................................................ 135 GAME & ACTIVITY PLAY ..................................................................................................... 147 Puzzles.................................................................................................................................... 149 Card, Floor, Board, & Table Games ...................................................................................... 159 i SPORTS, RECREATIONAL, & OUTDOOR PLAY ................................................................ 169 Ride-On Toys ......................................................................................................................... 171 Recreational Equipment ......................................................................................................... 181 Sports Equipment ................................................................................................................... 197 MEDIA PLAY ............................................................................................................................ 207 Arts & Crafts .......................................................................................................................... 209 Musical Instruments ............................................................................................................... 223 EDUCATIONAL & ACADEMIC PLAY .................................................................................. 237 Books ..................................................................................................................................... 239 Learning Products .................................................................................................................. 253 TECHNOLOGY PLAY .............................................................................................................. 263 Smart Toys & Educational Software...................................................................................... 265 Audiovisual Equipment .......................................................................................................... 277 Computer & Video Games ..................................................................................................... 293 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 307 PRODUCT INDEX .................................................................................................................... 323 ii PRODUCT SUBCATEGORY INDEX Page Arts & Crafts ............................................................................................................................... 209 Audiovisual Equipment .............................................................................................................. 277 Blocks ........................................................................................................................................... 57 Books .......................................................................................................................................... 239 Card, Floor, Board, & Table Games ........................................................................................... 159 Computer & Video Games.......................................................................................................... 293 Dolls & Stuffed Toys .................................................................................................................... 83 Dress-Up Materials ..................................................................................................................... 109 Interlocking Building Materials .................................................................................................... 71 Learning Products ......................................................................................................................... 15 Mirrors, Mobiles, & Manipulatives .............................................................................................. 31 Musical Instruments .................................................................................................................... 223 Play Scenes & Puppets.................................................................................................................. 99 Push & Pull Toys .......................................................................................................................... 45 Puzzles ........................................................................................................................................ 149 Recreational Equipment .............................................................................................................. 181 Ride-On Toys .............................................................................................................................. 171 Small Vehicle Toys ....................................................................................................................