How do you explain to your young child that his/her favorite toy is not healthy for them?

October 1st, 2007 | by Michael |
child toy
my brain hurts asked:




STACEY

  1. 5 Responses to “How do you explain to your young child that his/her favorite toy is not healthy for them?”

  2. By the Family Lighthouse on Oct 2, 2007 | Reply

    Depends on the age. If your little one is under 2 or at an age where they can’t ask for it I would just remove the toy when they are sleeping and get a new toy so the next day they can focus on something else. If they are old enough to ask for it explain that their toy has to go back to the toy factory because they made it wrong, but then take them to toys r us or a store specifically to buy a new toy. I think they will be so excited by the trip and new toy they won’t worry about the old toy.

  3. By eagle on Oct 4, 2007 | Reply

    When your child is not looking TAKE THE TOY~ out of sight out of mind!! Is it really worth the risk to ask the child if you can have it? There is no other explanation other than it must go! Your child will not be scared for life ya know…..there are other toys to keep em’ busy!!!!! Don’t make a big deal of it ….or your child will do the same…..you are their model!

  4. By Third P on Oct 4, 2007 | Reply

    Little by little talk to them and explain to them that their favorite toy could kill them. Relate to them a famous cartoon character story who died because of the toy they played. Be imaginative, parent must know hot control their toddlers. Do not surrender for their being a terrible two. It is in this stage, they could hardly be explained. However, you must manipulate your child instead of you being manipulated. After all, parent our more knowledgeable than them.

  5. By batraylover on Oct 8, 2007 | Reply

    I’ve worked with preschoolers for years, and I know that taking a child’s favorite toy away can be very traumatic for some children. The situation becomes worsened if the toy has the child’s favorite television character on it: Dora The Explorer, Go Diego Go, Elmo, etc. Children often think of their favorite television characters as people and trying to explain the whole issue to a child can be devastating to some children who will think that their favorite character is dying or sick just because the toy can make them sick.

    How you handle the issue will depend on the maturity level of your child. For some children they have to “see it to believe it”. For those children, purchasing a lead testing kit, and letting the child help test the toy(s) for lead, and seeing the color change to an unsafe level (explain safe colors and unsafe colors based on the kit that you purchase) is the only way that some children will be able to comprehend what a lead recall and unsafe toys are all about.

    For other children, simply telling the child, this toy has paint that is yucky or bad on it, we are going to get a coupon to get a new toy when the coupon comes you can pick out whatever toy you want, is enough to satisfy the child.

    For other children a simple song will work:
    Lead is yucky
    Lead is yucky
    Yes it is
    Yes it is
    It can make me sick
    It can make me sick
    Bye bye lead
    Bye bye lead
    (Sung as you gather the toys that are unhealthy together)

    Many government organizations offer free curriculum for preschoolers and their families about this very subject. One of the best ones is:
    Pick and choose out of the curriculum what is relevant to your child and your family’s situation.

    If you are really having difficulty/or if your child is having trouble adjusting, talk to your pediatrician and explain the situation, he/she may be better at explaining it to your child than you are.

  6. By AbercrombieBaBe08 on Oct 11, 2007 | Reply

    lol. sorry to not anwser the question but i think its freskkin awesome how you also simpsonized yourself lol :)

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