TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Before buying a toy, parents need to check if their child's toys are made with potentially harmful chemicals or not, because a study by the United Nations found that there are 126 chemicals in hard, soft and foam plastic toys that cause long-term health problems in children.

A study on The Sun's website reports that softer plastic toys pose more of a threat than harder ones. Because based on the study, children who have more toys, will play with their toys longer and tend to put them in their mouths.

The problem many parents face is that manufacturers are not obligated to include a complete list of chemicals used in the manufacture of toys on their packaging. That makes it nearly impossible for a parent to buy a toy based on pre-purchase chemical list information.

Alternative Materials Substituting Plastic

Different materials can be good alternatives to plastic for making baby and children's toys, so they don't contain harmful plastic components. Also, unlike plastic, these materials are biodegradable and do not cause environmental pollution after disposal.

Here are the materials that are safe for making toys:

-Woods

As quoted from Parent Circle, wooden toys are a better alternative to plastic toys. Make sure you buy eco-friendly wooden toys that have been painted in a lead-free paint.

Imported painted wooden toys tend to have a higher risk of lead exposure due to lax regulations in certain countries, so choose toys made from countries where the use of chemicals in children's toys is prohibited.

-Recycled Papers

For preschoolers, a good activity is making recycled paper beads, using old magazines or wrapping paper. There are many video tutorials online teaching this craft, beads can be used to make various ornaments or wall hangings.

-Eco Friendly Modeling Clay

Preschoolers love to make shapes out of modeling clay. Check to see if the clay you buy is free of PVC and lead-containing dyes, and if it can be reused. You can make your own playdough using flour, salt, oil, water, and non-toxic food coloring.

-Food Grade Silicone

The food-grade silicone products that you can buy in I'm Plastic Free website is derived from natural silica and is used to make baby food containers, tethers, and baby-safe toys. This material is soft and flexible, but can also withstand the pressure of prolonged chewing or biting.

Food-grade silicone children's toys are free of chemical by-products. They are also durable and temperature resistant. These toys are strong, flexible, hygienic, light and easy to clean. Food grade silicone is not biodegradable, as it is made from synthetic artificial materials.

BALQIS PRIMASARI | PGB

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