A friend and reader recently sent me an e-mail with the following line (more or less)
“…I went to Toys R Us today and walking through the aisles just kept thinking…chemicals, chemicals, made in
This has begun to embody my own thoughts about toys. Though I’ve been writing about safe toys for Christmas this year….even some of my recommendations seem scary as I’ve discovered.
...A comment on my Tinker Toys post :
“I contacted Hasbro and Tinkertoys are made in
...And, as I suspected…It’s not just made in China
...And, I knew the US CPSC has only one full time, toy inspector , but felt sure the EU was more on top of things but…nope…European toys may be no safer – Toys sold in Europe have been recalled too not ones manufactured in
What's a parent to do?
So I ask you my readers…what’s YOUR plan for buying safe toys this holiday season?
Check out my series on Best Toys For The Holidays for some ideas
Breaking News - The Consumer's Union (You Know, The Consumer Reports people) have stepped up efforts and have a page dedicated to Safe Toy Shopping. Check out there blog, Not in my cart, too!
For more great Works for me Wednesday ideas visit Rocks in My Dryer
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15 comments:
One guy? ONE GUY??? I went through and read your other article that mentions this, then I read the Sun Times article you linked to. I am in shock. I thought nothing would surprise me. Oh my gosh - one guy. I think I'm gonna try and find out who we can bludgeon with letters and phone calls on this one. Any ideas?
It's probably too late for this year, but craft shows might be a good bet. You'd get things made by hand in the USA, where lead paint isn't available to put on it, even if people wanted to (if they were sadistic or something).
Some things I've already gotten for my kids include books and a dress-up silk ribbon hairband...no paint, no chokable parts (I guess silk ribbons are a strangulation hazard, but I'm willing to risk that as my kids are old enough).
Plain unpainted wood blocks would seem safe. I also recently received a wonderful catalog called For Small Hands, which has a lot of great practical toys like baking aprons, leaf rakes, corn brooms, metal whisks, etc. Very similar to some of the things in Magic Cabin.
Yeah...I'm hoping for clothes and books this year for our little man. It helps that this is his first Christmas/birthday, so he won't know the difference anyway.
I think it's up to the companies to have better quality control as well. I believe some companies (Melissa & Doug, if I recall correctly) have their own inspectors to make sure that the goods are safe.
For us? I've purchased some wooden toys (Haba, Sevi, Quadrilla) and am encouraging things like magazine subscriptions, zoo memberships, books
Homemade? I always look pretty critically at the toys myself and evaluate whether my kids might do something dangerous with it. I remember one year my boys got Superman toys that climbed the door. Fine until placed in their hands. They swung them around in a circle, clobbering their sister and splitting her lip. Those toys were immediately confiscated.
Quality control, I believe, begins in the home. Then companies will get the idea if we won't buy stuff that doesn't look safe. Or write and tell them (I didn't say sue them) what went wrong if something does.
As part of my quest to simplify and cut back on my own consumerism, I'm making as many of my Christmas gifts as possible this year. For adults as well as kids. I've already knitted a few blankets and sweaters/dresses for the little ones on my list. I'm also planning to knit a few toys -- teddy bears and other stuffed animals.
Most of the kids on my list are very young, so that may be the extent of my Christmas shopping.
I simply don't buy toys. I buy videos, music, books, stuff like that. Don't need lead OR clutter!
Books are a great gift as are magazine subscriptions. Highlights, Discovery, National Geographic...they all offer kids magazines geared to specific ages. My daughter wants a white board easel which I found at IKEA for $20. I also purchased some costumes (on clearance after Halloween) that I'm saving to wrap and give.
Since my kids enjoy crafts so much, I'm thinking of organizing several art projects, gathering all the ingredients together for each project and then wrapping the items together per individual project. Some ideas: fleece pillows, fleece blankets, dolls, wooden vehicle models, plaster of paris molds, musical instruments etc. Each "package" will also have a coupon for one hour uninterrupted craft time with mom/dad to complete the project.
Please, DO NOT BUY MELISSA & DOUG brand things! My son has two things from them, one of which I bought him for his b-day. The paint (made in CHina) was chipping off within a day!
Check out www.etsy.com and search under toys. These are mostly mom and pop shops/stay at home moms who sell handmade in USA things. There are lots of other ones out there too - just google handmade toys, or wooden toys and you'll find a ton of stuff! :)
I 2nd Etsy sellers. (course I'm biased, since I am one) Other than making my own wooden toys for my son and as gifts I plan to buy USA homemade toys from other crafters. Some felt playfood, a doll perhaps. Things like that.
As far as other people (my in-laws, etc) giving toys we always ask for books, which are a safe bet.
I didn't buy toys. I went to Target and almost cried because I love some of the Fisher Price toddler toys, but all were made in China or Mexico. My little cousin adopted from China came with lead problems too. :( So I would never give her anything that might add to it. Her soon to be adopted sister may also have these issues. It makes me crazy to see a brand I have loved since my own childhood tarnished.
I did see a segment on the news about a home kit for testing for lead. Some drops that you put on stuff to see if it has lead. I wonder if it would work on toys in the toybox?
It's scary. But what's a mom to do? I think I'll be asking for toys, videos and books.
I spent and evening on-line locating quite a few natural wooden type toys that I had intended on bying my son anyways, made by American toy makers or ideas from this and other other sources.
One source for interlocking blocks and some great wooden sialboats and skooners is novanaturals.com.
I also plan to pick up the Lillabo Train, I believe you mentioned, from Ikea.
And a Mancala set from a small Canadian wood worker--made of solid wood; yes it will have varnish, but I feel alright with this.
Your posts really have made me think, along with my homeschooling expeditions and field trips...it will be a new type of Christmas gift giving this year and one I think will last a long time.
I have planned to purchase toys from CouponAlbum site and enjoy savings.
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