Comedian Jeff Foxworthy made a joke in a stand-up show with various toys that he used to play in his youth. Lawn darts and wood burning kits, to name a few.

Although the man in his 60s may have exaggerated the comic effect, the idea that parents and grandparents need to pay attention to safety when choosing toys this Christmas makes sense.

Carley Barrett is a Child Life Specialist in the Emergency Department of Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital. She spends time working with children of all ages to help them through various traumatic situations. She found that one of the best ways to connect with children is to play with them using safety toys that are suitable for their age.

"Game is a child's language," Barrett said. "I tried to normalize what they experienced in the emergency room to help them cope."

Barrett said that depending on the age of the child, she often holds a can of Play-Doh to talk to the child while their hands are busy creating other things. However, if the child is still young, Barrett says you need to be careful about introducing anything they might ingest.

"Just because something like Play-Doh may be non-toxic, doesn't mean you want your kids to eat it," Barrett said. "If they are young and want to paint, but they are also at an age where they can speak, you can use yogurt and food coloring, or Kool-Aid powder and water to make edible paint."

In addition to the choking hazard, Barrett said, it is important to consider what a young child might do with small toys such as Lego or beads.

"Children tend to find the location of these toys in their noses or ears," Barrett said. "Even children who have already put it in their mouths and suffocated, they may be curious, and eventually it will stay elsewhere."

Some of the toys Barrett uses to distract children or build rapport with them include "I'm a Spy" books, interactive light-emitting toys, and even simple songs and games on tablets.

"A good rule of thumb for choosing safe toys is to pay attention to the age range listed on the label," Barrett said.

Basic safety measures for toys such as bicycles, scooters, ATVs and hoverboards include wearing helmets.

"Especially when you are young, models are important, so parents also need to wear helmets and explain why they are important," Barrett said. "This kind of toys can cause accidents, but if we can protect their heads, it will be very helpful."

Some of Barrett’s other toy recommendations include:

• 0-2 years old-children are in the sensorimotor stage, so toys should be something they can touch and feel. Toys should be safe to put in their mouths, such as a safe-sized rattle. Anything with bright colors. Noise toys are also good at this stage.

• 1-2 years old-is the fine motor stage. Shape classifier. Pop up toys that teach causality.

• 2-4 years old-imaginary games are important here. Open toys, such as animal models, small dolls and cars, anything that allows children to create their own stories. When playing these toys with them, let your children take the lead. This is a good opportunity for children to express their ideas through games.

• 5-7 years old-Once they enter school age, their peers will have a greater influence on the toys they choose. At this age, it is a good idea to ask children what they are interested in. Usually this age group likes handicrafts, cooking supplies, age-appropriate video games; anything that can give children a sense of accomplishment and mastery.

• Adolescence-Children of this age often know what they want. Outdoor and sports equipment, books, music, clothes. Without their opinions, it is difficult to navigate in this gift-giving world. However, many times they want something that makes them feel older, so self-care gifts like bath bombs, headphones, masks, and other things can help them feel more mature and give them some sense of responsibility.

As for electronic products, including mobile phones, tablets and video games, Barrett said that this is the world children live in, and adults in their lives should teach them how to use these things safely.

"I think some parents are afraid to let their children into that world, but you just need to monitor it and have an open conversation about these things," she said. "Every child is different, every family is different, but teaching according to certain guidelines is very helpful."

Barrett said that for all gifts, it is also important to maintain a sense of psychological security. "We want them to create identities for themselves in a safe way. Think about things that build their self-esteem and empower them."

This Live Well column represents a collaboration between the medical staff of our non-profit Intermountain Healthcare hospital and the healthcare professionals of The Spectrum & Daily News.