The Toys Are Changing. Our Safeguarding Must Change Too
When we think about safeguarding children, we often picture schools, playgrounds, sports clubs or social media but what if one of the next safeguarding conversations starts in the toy box?
This week, the Government launched a Call for Evidence to review whether the UK's toy safety framework is keeping pace with modern technology. The review will consider emerging risks including AI-enabled toys, chemical safety and the growth of online marketplaces, with the aim of ensuring that children's toys remain safe in an increasingly digital world.
For me, this isn't simply about product safety, it's about safeguarding practice.
Play is changing
Children's toys are no longer just physical objects.
Many can now:
Hold conversations using artificial intelligence.
Learn from previous interactions.
Connect to the internet.
Collect voice recordings.
Personalise responses.
Encourage ongoing interaction.
These developments bring exciting opportunities for learning, creativity and accessibility but they also introduce new safeguarding questions that many organisations and many parents are only beginning to consider.
Safety now extends beyond physical harm
Historically, toy safety has focused on issues such as choking hazards, sharp edges or dangerous materials and those risks remain important but AI introduces an entirely new dimension.
Safeguarding professionals may now need to think about:
Privacy and children's personal data.
Internet connectivity and cybersecurity.
Inappropriate or inaccurate AI-generated responses.
Emotional attachment to AI companions.
The potential for manipulation or grooming through connected technologies.
How children distinguish between human relationships and AI interactions.
Technology is evolving faster than many safeguarding frameworks. That is why this review matters.
Safeguarding must evolve alongside technology
One of the most important principles in safeguarding is recognising emerging risk.
Twenty years ago, few organisations had online safety policies, today they are essential and AI is likely to follow a similar path.
We shouldn't wait until significant harm occurs before asking difficult questions, we should be asking them now.
This isn't about creating fear
AI has enormous potential as it could support children's learning, improve accessibility for disabled children, encourage creativity and enhance communication.
The question is not whether AI belongs in children's lives, the question is whether safeguarding keeps pace with innovation. Innovation and protection should always develop together.
What should safeguarding leaders be thinking about?
This announcement should prompt reflection across every sector working with children.
Are staff confident discussing AI with children and families?
Do online safety policies include AI-enabled technology?
Are organisations horizon-scanning for emerging digital risks?
Are children being taught to think critically about AI interactions?
Are parents receiving practical guidance as technology changes?
These are no longer questions for the future, they are questions for today.
The future of safeguarding is already here
Safeguarding has always adapted to new risks.
The internet.
Social media.
Gaming platforms.
Livestreaming.
Generative AI.
Each has changed the way children experience the world and AI-enabled toys are simply the next step in that journey.
The strongest safeguarding organisations won't wait until legislation catches up, they will remain curious, continue learning and they will ensure that children's safety evolves alongside the technology surrounding them.
Safeguarding has never been about resisting change, it's about making sure children remain safe as the world changes around them.