Before you head out to purchase gifts for the children in your life, there are a few things you should know about toy safety. Well-chosen toys help children develop coordination, imagination and other skills, but inappropriate toys or unsupervised playtime can do more harm than good … and some toys can be dangerous.

Each year, thousands of children suffer toy-related injuries. Below are some toy-selection tips to help minimize risks to children:

• Select toys that are appropriate for the child’s age and interest.
• When buying for infants or toddlers, avoid toys with small parts. Even the button eyes on a teddy bear can be dangerous to a young child.
• When choosing toys for infants, avoid those with long strings or chords that may cause strangulation.
• For all children under age 8, avoid toys with sharp edges and points.
• Avoid toys that shoot small objects into the air, since they can cause serious eye injuries and choking.
• Look for sturdy toy construction. Avoid toys that have small or thin parts that can be broken off.
• Check for toxins or poisons. Buy paint sets, crayons and markers that are labeled nontoxic.
• Read all toy labels, and follow instructions.
• Discard all plastic wrappings, which can cause suffocation.

Providing adequate supervision when a child is playing is as important as buying the right toys. Here are some safety tips:

• Closely supervise young children while they play.
• Keep toys meant for older children out of younger children’s reach.
• Plan ahead if you buy cycles, skates or razors. Provide helmets, wrist, elbow and knee guards, and discuss safe areas for riding.
• Do not allow young children to use shooting or target toys, chemistry lab sets or electrical toys. Closely supervise older children playing with these toys.
• Teach your child to use and store toys properly.
• Keep toys in good condition, and repair or replace them when they are damaged.
• Do not allow children to play near stairs, hills, traffic and swimming pools.
• Store batteries out of reach, since they are toxic and can pose a choking hazard.

Here’s to a happy, healthy holiday season. For more information on specific toy safety, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site at www.cpsc.gov .

— Ross DeHovitz, M.D.

— The Palo Alto Medical Foundation and column editor Arian Dasmalchi provide this monthly column.