If you have a local craft fair or farmer's market, see if you can get high-quality unpainted hardwood blocks (or other handmade wooden toys) for da kiddies.
For somewhat older kids who are prone to writing, maybe a nice "grown up" journal/diary thing.
If they have a computer in the house and the parents are down with it, get them age-appropriate games.
More later....
Although my suspicions are that none of these toys presents a significant risk to the health of the little ones, it's annoying in the extreme that regulations aren't being followed.
Even handmade wooden toys can have a significant number of toxins due to the treatment of the wood (in fact, I'd wager that many wood toys are more poisonous than the plastic).
Of course, my idea of a great gift from age 6 through age 32 (and counting) was and remains a new book, so I might not be the best judge on these things...
My neices and nephew are no longer old enough to be affected by toy recall, but since they're going on a church-sponsored ski trip after Christmas I'm getting them all socks.
sigh. I think we have that tinkerbell suitcase.
My niece is getting riding pants, which she will absolutely love. I haven't yet bought anything for her four-year-old brother. I'm kind of stuck- I got him Duplos last year, and don't remember what books I've already bought him.
Hi.
Sorry for being off topic, but y'all need to link Mr. Gillard's colonial history essays.
There isn't anything comparable to this work, online or off.
They are saved there:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/20...6/3/143541/
2578
PS
I used to read Mr Gilliard's blog religiously - I will stop by here from time to time to check up on you gang...
Thanks in advance.
Edited By Siteowner
it gets worse people
http://orgs.unca.edu/eqi/LPP/where.html
giant list of sources but some that I'm totally horrified about:
1)keys -- since I've let my kid play with keys before. never again.
>>Car Keys
Brass is a soft metal so lead is added to give keys more strength. Some keys have a silver-colored nickel coating over top the brass, but this wears away. Sucking on car keys is dangerous. Even handling car keys can leave lead on one's hands. Not all keys are brass - some are aluminum and are lighter weight.
Helpful hints: Never give a child real car keys or brass items to play with. Adults should wash hands after handling keys or other brass items, especially if pregnant.
>>
2) ceramic glazes (this I knew about before but had no idea how extensive)
3) powder w/zinc oxide
4) telephone cords
>>Lead is used as a stabilizer in PVC. When PVC is exposed to sunlight, it begins to break down and produce lead dust that can be inhaled or passed from fingers to mouth. Chewing on vinyl items can also expose us to lead.
• Telephone cords
• Vinyl-coated Electrical wires
• X-Mas light wires and artificial trees
• Some children's toys (soft vinyl PVC products)
>>
Jen said:
If you have a local craft fair or farmer's market, see if you can get high-quality unpainted hardwood blocks (or other handmade wooden toys) for da kiddies.
And I have to add: hear, hear. Sure, most of the crap my kids play with is lead-laden and made in China, but we have bought some rockin' toys from local woodcrafters, and the kids actually (!) play with them. Wood is cool for kids, even if it doesn't have a cartoon attached to it. And if the woodcrafter works a couple magnets into the mix, man oh man will that toy eat up hours of Kid Time.
The Consumer Reports people have a website called notinmycart.org that talks about unsafe toys.
Lots of misunderstanding about what's going on with regards to this issue. Read my post:
You want poison with that toy?
But it's bigger than just toys and it's not just lead. And it ain't just China.
Here's a question for ya, 'What department of the U.S. federal government regulates what is put into men and women's makeup?
Check it out.
.
I got three boys (2, 4, 6) christmass this year was a nightmare. finding toys made in countries that have strong safty laws is a daunting task...add to that the fact that the manufacturers will lie as much as they can.....we can't balme the chinese though, the manufactueres are gettign presure form the US toy dealers....company a tells the chinese factory that quality and safty is the most important..well then you get a safe, lead free toy. company b (say Mattel or hasbro) tell hte chinese that they want it manufactured as cheaply as possible, well then you are going to get lead in teh paint...makes the toy a lot more durable then saans lead toys...and safe aditives cost a lot...toy companies refuse to pay a lot.
Check out this fantastic vendor--she has a booth at the Grand Central Market. Cute stuff for newborns through adults! The idea is that you get a set of three similar but mismatched socks, or a set of three similar but not matched shoelaces, and switch em up. The deliberately unmatched gloves are cute too.
As a "comfort myself" gift, I got myself two sets of the Argyle fuzzy sox--one in the turquoise palette and the other in orange--just to wear in mis-matched pairs around the house. Got Mom a set too so that she can stay cozy while watching TV.
Oopsie forgot to close teh tag...
remember cloths may work well as gifts for little girls (not sure as i don't need to get gifts for little girls right now)...not so much for little boys (who even at age 2 toss aside the coths while lookign for the good stuff...you know wrapeing paper and boxes)
I did the "donation in the name of" thing this year. something I've wanted to do for a long time. I just hope my nephews and nieces understand that there are more important things in this world then new "bling".
I found toys made in America. The godchildren and great nephew are safe.
I had to pick up some gift bags today. I came home, placed them in the room where I had planned to fill them.
Ten minutes later the chemical smell from paint or whatever from those bags permeated that room!!
I can't imagine what the people who made them have endured...if they are still alive.
Oopsie forgot to close teh tag...
Jen --
I closed the tag for you.
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