Traditional toys, which for years have taken second place to more trendy and fashionable toys, appear to be regaining some of their popularity with children.

At least one toy merchant in Bermuda has noticed strong sales of toys that have been around for several generations.

Meta Davidson, manager of the toy store said traditional toys like dollhouses and tea sets are this year selling as well as the much sort after and

She said: ?We are selling everything, but in particular we have noticed an increased interest in basic toys that have been around for many years.

?Board games, puzzles, footballs, lego and building block sets are flying off our shelves.?

Ms Davidson encouraged parents to use common sense when purchasing toys for children.

?A lot of toys are heavily promoted on television, especially during this time of the year. However, we always tell parents to let common sense guide them. The best selling or most popular toy may not be appropriate for their child,? she said.

Her comments were supported by the enforcement officer at the Consumer Affairs Bureau Rhonda Daniels, who said careful toy selection is essential to protecting a child from toy related injuries.

?Parents and caregivers should be their own safety experts, ensuring that toys are used, maintained and stored correctly. There is no substitute for adult supervision of play,? she added. She said in our competitive society, it might be tempting for a parent to buy a toy for a young child that is intended for an older child.

?This is not advisable. The age label has been thoughtfully assigned based on many factors including safety. If a child is given a toy that is too advanced, he or she may become frustrated or be exposed to safety risk.

?Toy-related injuries generally occur when an infant or toddler chokes on a toy intended for an older child, when a child trips over a toy that was not put away after use, or when an unsupervised child hits another with a toy.

She said most toy related injuries can be avoided and advised parents and care givers to teach children to put their toys safely away on shelves or in a toy chest after playing to prevent trips and falls.

She advised: ?If a storage chest is used, be sure it has a removable lid or a sprint-loaded support that allows the lid to remain securely open. Also check for smooth finished edges, air holes to prevent suffocation and hinge-line clearances to prevent pinched fingers.?

Ms Daniels also advised parents to be particularly careful of purchasing toys through the Internet. She urged consumers to become familiar with a service provider?s website.

?Many residents sign up for a US mailing address without understanding some of the conditions associated with having this convenience. The misunderstanding often occurs during peak shopping periods such as Christmas.?

She said shoppers should know the dimensional weights of the package before having it sent to Bermuda.

?When you shop online or order from overseas, many companies do not ship directly to Bermuda. When you use the forwarding address system, the shipping rates are based on the weight of the package. If the dimensional weight exceeds the actual weight, then you will be charged for the higher weight,? she said.