Do not buy your children guns as toys

Do not buy your children guns as toys, municipality and health officials in Dubai have warned parents.

“Guns for children below a particular age is a strict no. But still we found that many parents continue to gift their little ones with such toys,” said a senior official from Childrens City.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7 following the launch of the 10-day Dubai Municipality campaign on safety of toys in the Children's City under the slogan 'My Safety in My Toy' the official said, “The idea of the campaign is to educate parents and teachers to make sure that the toys are selected according to the child's age, and introduce them the hazardous materials that may enter in the manufacture of toys,” she added.
 
Dr Jamuna Raghuraman, Specialist Pediatrician at Medcentre in Dubai says violent toys should be avoided irrespective of the age group. “Avoid gifting children with toys such as guns and swords and other imitations of violence. It moulds your children’s character in a similar approach,” she said.

Especially dangerous she said are guns with pellets. “Parents need to be aware of toys with parts that can be pulled out and swallowed, In Saudi Arabia a father, who was a policeman, came to me with his two year old son who had swallowed a real bullet,” she added.

Traders however claim guns are very popular among children. Vincent (English name) of a Chinese trader in Dragon Mart told Emirates 247 that guns and remote controlled vehicles were one of the most popular toys among children. “Guns are particularly popular among boys between the age group of two and four. We have about fifteen different types of guns on sale,” he said.

According to a storekeeper at Toys R Us, despite warnings some parents tend to take away toys not suitable for their children.

“Whenever it comes to our notice we ask them the age of the child for whom the toy is being brought.  Moreover the packaging clearly has the age group printed on it,” said the salesgirl.

Redha Salman, Director of Public Health and Safety Department said that parents and teachers should be especially careful in the selection of toys due to its role in the growth of children's mental and physical abilities. "So, it is necessary to educate those concerned ….  This is what is sought by Dubai Municipality through the Toy Safety campaign, organized in cooperation with the Union Cooperative Society," he said.

Dubai Municipality ahs also banned the sale of toys that do not have printed instruction in English and Arabic.
Meanwhile according to Raghuraman the most common problem among children associated with toys was allergy. “Soft toys, especially with artificial animal hair can cause severe allergy. Toys, therefore needs to be washable,” said Raghuram

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