We've had a lot of toy recalls this year. Choking hazards, lead paint, date rape drugs(!). I was at Thinker Toys today shopping for a gift for my one-year old nephew. I was constantly looking for the "Made in ___" label on each toy I picked up. Not that that is any guarantee about safety. I spent most of my time holding toys and trying to imagine whether my kids would have played with a particular toy at 12 months old. (I should have just got him a wooden spoon.) I stuck with simple and classic: no batteries, made of wood, a string for pulling.
I find that I'm spending an inordinate amount of time thinking about gifts for my kids. One has a birthday coming up, and then of course there's the holidays. I have so far removed about half the toys from the playroom in my effort to calm the fury of the evening clean-up time (they don't miss them). The kids have been having great fun playing with cardboard boxes and pillows a lot lately -- it's a game they call 'England' -- don't ask me why. So they don't need new toys. And I'm trying to put together lists for family members in an effort to stem the tide of battery-powered plastic.
Renee had an excellent idea the other day. It turns out that both of our big girls love to do homework. They both just love school. She suggested putting together a homework station for a Christmas present. Maybe a little desk or one of those lap desks, some newsprint notebooks that they use to learn to write their letters, a safe pencil sharpener. It's like giving an 'experience' rather than a 'thing'.
What about you? Are you being more cautious about the toys you buy? For safety reasons? Environmental reasons? Both? Or will you be buying the latest and greatest because, face it, that's what your kids (and all of their friends) want?
We have decided to stick to items made in the US and certain areas of Europe (whose standards of testing meet or exceed US).
Posted by: lauralye | 10 November 2007 at 12:14 PM
It's definitely frightening! I'm thinking of ordering a few things from this place http://www.threesisterstoys.com/ as they guarantee that all of their products are safe.
Posted by: elizabeth | 10 November 2007 at 09:58 PM
I too have made a commitment to only buy toys for my children that are made in US or Europe. I also try to research the company before making a purchase. It is a lot of work but it gives me peace of mind. Two of my children are age two and under, so everthing they play with seems to end up in their mouths. The upside to all the research (and extra exspense)is that I really have to think about the purchase, no impulse buying.
Posted by: Tara | 11 November 2007 at 07:16 AM
I am being more careful. I used to shop based only on the lowest prices. Now I am rethinking that, as we are all learning there's a high cost lurking behind that low price. So now it's trying to find the balance. Reasonable price, but made with quality - hopefully made locally and sourced locally.
Posted by: Renee | 11 November 2007 at 08:48 AM
When my niece was born in 1998, I was working at Child's Play in NW PDX. I went through all of the teddybears looking for just one that wasn't made in China...no luck, so I've made teddybears for about 8 of my nieces and nephews. My daughters christmas list is on Amazon for my family to shop from...My family is spread across the midwest and the midsouth. Her wish list is mostly the things that I recommended for 3 year olds in my days at Child's Play. I am sure that much of it is from overseas but sometimes you just can't find a working cash register locally sourced. Do I feel guilty? A little. Is there anything from Matel or Playschool on the list? NO!
Posted by: Elizabeth | 14 November 2007 at 07:17 PM
Hi,
Good informative post.I too have made a commitment to only buy toys for my children that are made in US or Europe because of lead....
Posted by: x-ray fluorescence | 11 February 2009 at 11:35 PM