4. What Are the Best Practices?

The most responsible way to accommodate children in your business is to adhere to the emerging “best practices” standards.

Child Safety

·       Actively address the possibility of choking hazards by inspecting your toy collection for small parts, broken pieces, and left-behind trash, eliminate these dangerous items.

·       Be certain that none of the items provided for children have been recalled by the product safety commission.

·       Keep documentation of your efforts to show diligence in the unfortunate event of a liability or negligence claim.

·       Maintain direct line-of-sight between a parent and their child whenever possible.

Toy Cleanliness

·       Eliminate all soft toys, toys that get put in children’s mouths and any items that can not be thoughroughly cleaned and disinfected.

·       Provide a method for parents to clean toys and play area surfaces prior to each child’s use.

·       Immediately remove and replace any item that has been contaminated with bodily fluids.

Toy Effectiveness

·       Provide toys that intitially attract children and keep them engaged for extended periods of time.

·       Provide a sufficient quantity and variety of toys.  Include duplicates of the most popular toys.

·       Avoid items that are counterproductive to your goals, such as books or anything that requires a parent’s assistance.