Whehey Publishing and the Pencil Play Pals considers the safety of children our top priority. This guide is to inform adults how to make the arts and crafts activities they wish children to participate in are safe and successful.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project.
Adult assistance is required for any arts & crafts project that contains steps in the instructions that could be dangerous or difficult for children (for example, using electric sharpeners, scissors or cutting and poking holes in cardboard).
WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. If the arts & crafts project involves making small objects, follow the small parts/choking hazards standards: "WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years."
The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
Scissors—"ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling." Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.
Safety Guidance Pertaining to Popular Crafts:
Costumes and masks—"CAUTION: When children wear hand crafted costumes and masks, make sure the crafts do not obstruct the child's vision and hearing, or impede movement. Keep away from open flames." Do not use feathers, fabric, or raffia on wearable costumes and masks because these items do not pass costume flammability tests. Wearable masks are those held in place on the face with elastic, yarn, or other materials.
Food-related crafts—Art materials should not be used on food, such as egg shells, if these foods are intended to be eaten. Art materials should not be used to make or decorate containers intended to hold edible food if the food would be in contact with the art material.
Flying objects—"CAUTION: Do not fly over or near electric power lines, trees, buildings, radio-TV antennas, or any other obstruction. Avoid flying over spectators, moving traffic, within 5 miles (8.05 km) of an airport, or more than 400 ft. (121.92 m) high. Fly in an open area. NEVER fly an object in extremely high winds, in thunderstorms, or with wire, wet twine, metallic string, or cord containing any conductive or metallic materials whatsoever. Do not try to recover a flying object from electric power lines or other high or dangerous places."
Outdoor crafts—Choose safe outdoor areas, away from traffic and dangerous equipment. Close adult supervision is required.
Pretend play and crafts—should not encourage or depict violent behaviors.
Supplemental Materials Safety Guidance:
Balloons—"WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Children under 8 years can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision is required. Keep uninflated balloons away from children. Discard broken balloons at once.
Feathers, fabric, and raffia should not be used in crafts that are wearable costumes or masks, due to flammability risks.
Functional sharp points or edges—"CAUTION: Crafts that involve use of a functional sharp point should not be done by children under 4 years." (For example, use of staples, chenille stems/pipe cleaners, wire, pins, jewelry backings, sewing needles, or push-pins/thumb tacks.) Close adult supervision is required and adult assistance may be needed. Under no circumstances should open-blade craft knives or carving knives be used by a child of any age or used near children.
Magnets—"WARNING: Only use common magnets that have a weak attractive force, for example, magnetic tape or flexible refrigerator magnets. Never use permanent, high-attractive-force magnets, for example, rare earth magnets or magnets used in motors." If magnets being used are small parts, "WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years."
Mirrors, picture frames, and clay pots—Close adult supervision is required when children use craft materials that could shatter or break. Handheld mirrors, picture frames with glass, ceramic pots, and similar breakable items may be used only by children 8 years and older. For children 7 years and younger, use unbreakable materials such as wood or sturdy plastic picture frames, unbreakable mirrors, and plant pots that will not shatter into sharp edges.
Modeling tools—Use the least dangerous point or edge sufficient to do the job. For example, toothpicks, craft sticks, plastic knives and forks, and cookie cutters can cut or carve modeling materials.
Plastic bags—"WARNING: Plastic bags can be dangerous. To avoid danger of suffocation, keep bag away from babies and children." Protective coating & fixatives—Avoid using spray paints, solvents, and nail polish as fixatives for any craft.
Recycled household items—Whenever a Pencil Play Pals arts & crafts project involves recycled materials, any item that has sharp edges or potential for hazardous exposure must be avoided. Additional safety guidance for use of recycled materials in arts & crafts projects: Recycled cardboard tubes—should be paper towel tubes, gift-wrap tubes, or long cardboard tubes that can be cut to any length. Health professionals caution against using recycled toilet paper tubes for arts & crafts projects because of potential fecal contamination.
Recycled containers—must be clean and safe. Do not use containers that contained bleach or other harmful chemicals (for example, household cleaners or dishwasher and laundry detergents.) Do not use recycled metal cans that have sharp edges (for example, lids removed by household can openers.)
Recycled egg cartons—Foam cartons must be washed with hot soapy water prior to use. Cardboard egg cartons cannot be sufficiently cleaned and should not be used.
Recycled foam produce trays—should be washed in hot, soapy water. No meat or poultry trays should be used.
Recycled shower curtains—should not be used as drop cloths for arts & crafts projects. Instead use old beach towels, tablecloths, or bed linens to cover surfaces.
Sponges, foam, and other expandable materials—Should not be used with children 3 years old and younger.
String, raffia, lacing, yarn, ribbon, and similar materials—Close adult supervision is essential whenever children use these string-like materials. Children 3 years and younger should not be given any string-like material that is longer than 12 inches. When crafts are to be worn around the necks of children 8 years and younger, attach the ends of the string-like material with clear adhesive tape, which allows easy release of the bond. When crafts are to be worn by children older than 8 years, the ends may be tied or knotted.
Windows—Be sure windows are securely closed and locked before decorating. An adult must closely supervise the activity.
Wood products—By its nature, wood is rough and may contain splinters or sharp points.
This guide is based upon recommendations from the Child Safety Protection Act, best practices pertaining to arts & crafts activities, and the Voluntary Toy Standards followed in the toy industry. Additionally, the guidance is based on knowledge of child development and consumer expectations.
