With over two million toys recalled before this holiday season a state politician speaks out about toy safety.

Congresswoman Nancy Boyda told a small group Friday that parents shouldn't be the only ones making sure that their kids toys are safe that congress should share in that responsibility as well.

Boyda is a co-sponsor on two bills that would require lead to be banned from children's toys. While she admits congress plays a pivotal role in children safety parents hold the primary responsibility as being informed consumers.

“I think the real cry for now is the lack of enforcement and even the lack of acknowledgement that we need to have enforcement, we expect our toys to be safe, we take for granted that they will be safe,” Boyda said.

Below is a list of toy safety tips written by Nancy Boyda:

Age Appropriate
- Most toys come with labels that indicate what age child they’re designed for.
- Be aware that a toy that’s great for a 12-year-old might be hazardous to a younger sibling. Talk to older children about keeping their toys away from younger bothers or sisters that could be hurt by them.

Maintenance & Storage
- Check toys on a regular basis. The more well-used a toy is, the more likely it is to have broken pieces or jagged edges that could be harmful to kids.
- Make sure that toys don’t sit in storage for too long and that the storage area is dry and well-ventilated. Toys that live in n attic or basement part time can end up collecting mold or mildew and toys left out side can rust—neither option is good for kids.

Smart Shopping
- Read labels. Look for household art materials, including crayons and paint sets, marked with the designation “ASTM D-4236.” This means the product has been reviewed by a toxicologist and, if necessary, labeled with cautionary information.
- By American. The U.S. outlawed lead paint in 1978, but other countries, like China, don’t have safety standards that are up to par. Not only is this good for our kids, it’s good for out economy to