With families across the country gearing up for the festive holiday season, the Toy Industry Association (TIA) is reminding parents, grandparents and other caregivers about keeping toy safety top-of-mind as they begin the annual process of buying gifts for the children in their lives.

During recent TV interviews in multiple markets around the country, Joan Lawrence, TIA’s “Toy Safety Mom,” assured viewers that thanks to tough U.S. toy safety standards, every toy that holiday shoppers see on store shelves has already been tested and certified for safety.

Lawrence also emphasized the importance of selecting playthings that are appropriate for kids’ ages and interests, keeping small parts away from children under three, relocking the battery compartment after changing toy batteries, and more. Her guidance will continue to be broadcast on local stations from coast-to-coast throughout the holiday season – view a sample clip here.

As part of its safety-oriented social media efforts, TIA has also been encouraging parents and caregivers to visit www.PlaySafe.org for tons of toy and play safety tips, including Tips for Toy Shopping and Selection and an Age-by-Age Toy Buying Guide. Of particular importance are TIA’s guidelines for picking toys for children younger than three: parents are advised to pay close attention to age labeling and warnings about small parts, and to always keep small parts of toys and other household items out of the hands of kids under three, as well as those who tend to mouth toys.

PlaySafe.org also features toy safety “myth busters” — including facts about annual NGO reports that continually spread misinformation about alleged “unsafe toys.” The Association has developed and distributed a family-friendly infographic to raise awareness among consumers about these reports’ repeated inaccuracies.

“Safety is the toy community’s top priority every day of the year,” said Lawrence. “A key component of that is educating families about how to choose appropriate toys for their children, what they can do to make playtime safe, and what resources they can turn to for reliable advice and factual information on toy and play safety.”

More information is available at PlaySafe.org.