As parents we must ensure that our children are safe when they play and one thing we should do is to make sure the toys they play with are not hazardous to them. Buying well made toys from reputable manufacturers is essential but we can't just stop there. Children can be extremely rough with their and over time toys even the most durable toys will become damaged so we need to inspect them regularly and throw out any that cannot be repaired safely.

Wooden toys, for example, are excellent for their durability but can be chewed by small children so that splinters can be a hazard. The good news is that wooden toys, unlike plastic toys, can easily be repaired by sanding down until smooth again and repainting with lead free paint.

Toys that are played with outside can become rusty and damaged and should be checked often. If they cannot be repaired throw them out before they cause an accident.

Many of us store away toys in toy boxes but we need to make sure these do not cause safety issues. Lids on toy boxes need to be fitted with safety catches so that they don't slam shut on tiny fingers or lock if a child climbs into them. Ventilation holes are also a good idea just in case a child decides to hide in one! Inspect the edges and corners to make sure they are smooth and do not have sharp places to cause damage.

Many children's toys and music players that make sounds have volume controls and it's important not to have this set too loud. Loud noise can do permanent damage to the hearing of a child especially if he uses a music player with in-ear head phones. Make sure your child knows as soon as he is old enough to understand not to use a toy or player at full volume.

Toddlers love pull toys but they can have special hazards that we must be aware of. Cords can be easily wound around a child's neck so never let him play with a pull toy without adult supervision. Some pull toys have a mechanism to automatically retract the cord and this is a good idea as long as it is working properly. If the mechanism is broken and the cord does not retract properly cutting off the cord is safer. Your child can still play with his toy by pushing it around!

For parents who have children in different age groups it is important to be aware of the hazards that toys made for older children can have for their younger siblings. Some toys have small parts that a baby or toddler may put in their mouth or even in their ears! Check the manufacturers guidelines for the appropriateness of a toy for your child's age and warn older children not to allow their younger brothers and sisters to play with their toys.

If your child has stuffed toys that contain batteries to make sounds or lights make sure they don't take them into a bath or pool as, not only will it damage the toy, but it may be hazardous for the child. Water damages the battery which can leak. All toys that contain batteries should not be exposed to water.

It is important to be aware of the safety issues that can arise with different types of toys and always be on the look out for things that can compromise our children's safety.

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Music is all around us and expresses a wide variety of moods and feelings. It can be gentle and soothing or wild and exciting but recent research has shown that, not only is it enjoyable but it can have a profound effect on young children's brains. As a baby grows pathways in the brain are laid down which become stronger as they are used. Connections formed by listening to music are developed and become much stronger the more that the child is exposed to different forms of music.

Can these connections affect the way your child thinks and processes information? Research has shown that after listening to classical music spacial reasoning can be improved temporarily because the connections made from listening to this type of music are similar to those used for spacial reasoning. Learning to play an instrument also has an effect on spatial reasoning which is longer lasting.

All types of music help to stimulate the formation of connections in the brain but classical music seems to have the most effect. This may be due to the complexity of classical music that stimulates the brain and lays down pathways that can then be used for other complex tasks.

Music also has a profound effect on our moods and can be used to lull babies to sleep or stimulate them in play. So we should expose our children to music of all types from an early age. We can play music to babies from birth and there are many musical toys available for children of all ages. When they are a little older we can begin to introduce them to musical instruments. A good place to start is with a good quality drum that is easy on parent's ears and produces a melodic sound, rather than the annoying banging of cheap drums. Remo Djembe drums are excellent quality or try a Remo drum set. Children can start to learn about rhythm and tones and have fun at the same time. Musical hand bells are also great from an early age and children can easily use them to make different melodies.

When they are a little older a 'learn to play' keyboard will be very popular. Look for one with color coded keys so that children can easily play melodies or make up their own music. There are some good quality ones available that can be bought for around $30.

Introducing music at an early age can, not only help in their development, but give them a life long love of music.