Daily Tip: November 28, 2007

If the recent news about lead in toys has left you wondering what gifts are safe for kids, do your holiday shopping at stores that feature fair-trade musical instruments and traditional (but still fun!) toys such as hand-puppets, wooden cars and blocks, puzzles, dolls, and clothing. The owners of smaller, locally owned stores are more likely to be able to tell you where their toys came from too.

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Comments

[Jerry G]

This is a great idea, and to expand on it, here in North Georgia, we have events like the Georgia Renaissance Festival, Indian PowWows and flea markets that highlight local craftspeople.

You can buy toys and other gifts made by true craftsman locally, are reasonable prices. I think if you do a little surfing on the web, you can find these types of events in almost any part of the country.

[Kat]

and I wonder if the discoveries concerning the dangerous toys are just the tip of the iceberg as to other products from there ...

http://herekittykatkat.blogspot.com/

[plant lover]

My kids LOVED this kind of toys. They allowed them to play in the way they chose, to develop initiative and creativity.

[sharon Pinsey]

I soooo agree with finding gifts at crafts fairs. I also haunt the used/heritage toys stores, make my own stuff, go to my local amazing flea market for the exotic or even things I can easily refurbish with some safe paint, etc.

[camacho749]

Not even all wooden toys are safe, as some have been recalled for having chemicals on them. The Sierra Club is trying to get the Consumer Product Safety Commission to guarantee the safety of the toys we buy for our kids. Check out www.sierraclub.org/lead for more information and a funny cartoon.

[carol]

Does anyone know if the lead testing kit that is sold for china (dishes, not the country) works on toys? I wouldn't be surprised if toys from other countries also had problems. I'd love to test my toys to decide what to keep.

Buy American and local. But be sure to use your own best judgement when it comes to own child's safety. Small local businesses aren't always monitered, and even those with the best intentions may err on the age range how easily broken a toy is etc. Besides, you know your own child best.

[Jennifer]

Books may not be so exciting to unwrap, but they can provide many hours of fun adventures.

[Rachel Bliss]

why isn't anyone concerned and talking about the unprotected,poor, slave children working in the crappy sweat shops in China making this crap for our privileged kids?????? I am a mother of 3 and when this became "news" in the US the first thing my kids asked was "Mom! What about all the people who are working with that lead paint?! Won't they all get sick??? Are they going to die Mom?!!!!