Above: My daughter is playing with her Spellmaster by Tag Toys
Is Christmas on the brain yet? Every year parents hear about toy recalls and the latest toys to have failed safety inspections and expectations. Tighter regulations passed but that ultimately ended up meaning we had fewer options and the huge corporations making the toys typically recalled got free passes to go about business as usual. Cause you know… safety legislation is too tedious for mega corporations to deal with. From lead paint recalls to small parts that pose a choking hazard, we have to be careful when buying children’s Christmas presents. Here are some tips for buying safe toys:
1. Go for toys that are free of toxic chemicals. Many plastic toys contain or are made from PVC, a potentially harmful form of plastic. PVC contains dioxin, which is a toxic chemical implicated in breast and other cancers. Many action figures and other small figurines are made from PVC – in fact, they are often simply called “PVC figures.”
2. Avoid plastic altogether. If all the acronyms and chemical names overwhelm you, or if you just don’t trust plastic, avoid it. Wood, bamboo, cloth, porcelain, and glass are safer toy materials. Checker and chess sets, unpainted wooden cars, trains, marble runs, doll houses, and baby toys are just some of the many wooden options available. You can always paint these items yourself with safe paint. Dominoes and other games with pieces made from porcelain are virtually unbreakable. Glass marbles and other sturdy glass items make good toys as well. You can get MANY of these items second hand too, making them a double green whammy purchase.
3. Look for toys that are made in America or Europe. If you want eco-friendly, organic, safe toys, they will come from the USA or Europe. Toys made in China may or may not be okay, but your best bet for eco-friendly, organic toys are not manufactured in China. That means German made Haba may be preferable to Melissa and Doug.
4. Look for locally made toys. Many communities hold fairs and festivals where craftspeople sell their creations. Handmade, wooden toys and safe, lead-free ceramics and jewelry are common at these fairs. Many of these vendors also have sites online. Etsy is an online marketplace for the same folks.
5. Stay away from small, detachable parts. The sewn-on eyes and plastic noses of stuffed animals could be swallowed by small children or babies, and pose a choking hazard. Any toy that has small parts that may come loose is not necessarily safe.
6. Quiet toys are better for your children’s health. Noisy, loud toys can damage hearing, and grown-ups can find them very annoying! Some sources say that there are children’s toys capable of producing sounds as loud as a jet plane, and toys with sirens, horns, and sound-emitting battery toys can all damage hearing in children and babies. If it bothers your ears, it’s not good for your kids. And is a toy that does all the work for the child the best toy for their brain development? No. Their mental health will benefit from simple toys without bells and whistles.
7. Sturdiness is paramount. If a toy is going to be ridden or sat upon, make sure it’s stable. Also note the shape – does the seat back rise in the back to provide support? Could clothing or skin get pinched easily between moving parts?
8. Research the safety tests. There are various governmental agencies that monitor toy safety. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can be searched online for toy recalls and other safety information. But in my mind stay away from mega corporations like Mattel and Fisher Price and you are already half way there.
Check out the Green Christmas Gift Guide for some recommendations if you opt to buy… just remember that second hand and handmade are greener all around if you can swing it. BUT you may not find my #1 top pick for Christmas in second hand stores because I doubt people give these up after they purchase… the Wildcraft Herbal Board Game. We heart this game!
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