WATCH OUT: Father finds 'deadly' item inside Kmart playset
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As parents and grandparents, we work hard to make sure that the young children in our families are healthy, happy and safe all the time. We do everything we can to create a loving home environment for them and take care of their every need.
At the same time, we also want them to have fun! It's important for kids to be able to play and explore the world around them, as that's how they learn best. And what better way for them to do that than with toys?
There are endless options out there when it comes to choosing the right toy for your child, but not all of them are created equal. While certain toys are beneficial to young children's development and can teach them new skills, others simply serve as a pleasant diversion for them during playtimes.
However, much to the horror of many parents, some toys on the market can also be downright dangerous – as one Victorian father discovered when he went to hand his daughter some playdough from a Kmart playset.
Abdullah Tan was about to give his two-year-old daughter some of the modelling dough he had bought her from Kmart when he suddenly spotted something odd inside the container… a sharp metal blade wedged into the red dough!
'At first, I thought it was a piece of scrap, and then when I looked at it and realised it was a blade, I was like: "Wow, this could have turned out a whole different way",' Mr Tan told reporters after making the discovery.
'Playing around with a blade as a two-year-old, that's pretty concerning.'
The father had purchased the $10 Anko-branded Dough Pro Toolbox, which includes tubs of dough along with stencils and dough cutters, from his local Kmart store.
When he informed Kmart of his potentially harmful discovery, the company immediately pulled the item from their website and temporarily halted sales.
Even though Mr Tan was provided with a refund for the item, he believes the incident has caused him to rethink his toy-purchasing habits. 'I think from now on, we'll be more cautious when we're buying toys for my daughter,' he said.
Kmart has since indicated to various news outlets, in response to Mr Tan's experience, that the company is taking reports of this nature very seriously.
'At Kmart, the safety of our customers and team is our number one priority,' a spokesperson released a statement.
'Given the location of the blade inside a sealed container, it appears to have been an issue in manufacturing, and we are urgently following up with our supplier. We have sold this product for many years and can confirm there have been no other similar reports from customers and no report of injuries.'
Unfortunately, this isn't the only children's toy that has been recalled in recent months. In September, a popular Kmart teething toy was taken off shelves over fears a part could come loose and become a choking hazard.
The Anko teething llama has a cap that is sealed on one of the feet, but Product Safety Australia warns it 'may not be secure and could detach from the teether'.
On the recall notice published regarding the product, it says: 'If the cap detaches from the teether, it can pose a choking hazard for young children, which can lead to severe injury or death.'
Members, this is a timely reminder to always be vigilant when it comes to the safety of the toys you buy for your grandchildren – and to check recall lists frequently, just in case!
If you have any concerns about a toy you have purchased, we recommend you get in touch with Kmart's customer service department as soon as possible.
What are your thoughts on this? Have you purchased a similar item from Kmart that ended up posing harm to you (or a grandchild)? Let us know in the comments below!
At the same time, we also want them to have fun! It's important for kids to be able to play and explore the world around them, as that's how they learn best. And what better way for them to do that than with toys?
There are endless options out there when it comes to choosing the right toy for your child, but not all of them are created equal. While certain toys are beneficial to young children's development and can teach them new skills, others simply serve as a pleasant diversion for them during playtimes.
However, much to the horror of many parents, some toys on the market can also be downright dangerous – as one Victorian father discovered when he went to hand his daughter some playdough from a Kmart playset.
Mr Tan found a sharp metal blade inside a toy bought from Kmart. Credit: 9News.
Abdullah Tan was about to give his two-year-old daughter some of the modelling dough he had bought her from Kmart when he suddenly spotted something odd inside the container… a sharp metal blade wedged into the red dough!
'At first, I thought it was a piece of scrap, and then when I looked at it and realised it was a blade, I was like: "Wow, this could have turned out a whole different way",' Mr Tan told reporters after making the discovery.
'Playing around with a blade as a two-year-old, that's pretty concerning.'
The father had purchased the $10 Anko-branded Dough Pro Toolbox, which includes tubs of dough along with stencils and dough cutters, from his local Kmart store.
When he informed Kmart of his potentially harmful discovery, the company immediately pulled the item from their website and temporarily halted sales.
Even though Mr Tan was provided with a refund for the item, he believes the incident has caused him to rethink his toy-purchasing habits. 'I think from now on, we'll be more cautious when we're buying toys for my daughter,' he said.
It wasn't the first time a Kmart toy has been recalled for being potentially dangerous to children. Credit: Product Safety Australia.
Kmart has since indicated to various news outlets, in response to Mr Tan's experience, that the company is taking reports of this nature very seriously.
'At Kmart, the safety of our customers and team is our number one priority,' a spokesperson released a statement.
'Given the location of the blade inside a sealed container, it appears to have been an issue in manufacturing, and we are urgently following up with our supplier. We have sold this product for many years and can confirm there have been no other similar reports from customers and no report of injuries.'
Unfortunately, this isn't the only children's toy that has been recalled in recent months. In September, a popular Kmart teething toy was taken off shelves over fears a part could come loose and become a choking hazard.
The Anko teething llama has a cap that is sealed on one of the feet, but Product Safety Australia warns it 'may not be secure and could detach from the teether'.
On the recall notice published regarding the product, it says: 'If the cap detaches from the teether, it can pose a choking hazard for young children, which can lead to severe injury or death.'
If you have any concerns about a toy you have purchased, we recommend you get in touch with Kmart's customer service department as soon as possible.
What are your thoughts on this? Have you purchased a similar item from Kmart that ended up posing harm to you (or a grandchild)? Let us know in the comments below!
