| Recalling Our Notion of Safe Toys |
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A piece in the New York Times last week left me bemused and a little sad. The article, Recalls Make Toy Shopping a Source of Anxiety by Andrew Adam Newman, seemed to describe hordes of bewildered, stumbling parents searching zombie-like through shelf after shelf at department and toy stores for anything to spend their money on - anything safe for their children, that is. Since June, more than 20 million toys have been recalled from American shelves and playrooms because of lead paint and other hazards, most of them manufactured in China. Some children have been hospitalized after swallowing magnets of recalled toys. Wrote Newman, A lot more parents are looking carefully at what they buy and where it comes from. But it is not easy to find many exceptions to the rule that most toys come from China. The article goes on for 1,113 words with quotes from toy dealers, stats from toy recalls, and interviews with concerned parents. But nowhere does the Times - or anyone else as far as I can tell - suggest what may be the most obvious and healthy point of relief for the anxious parent, heavy-laden with toy-buying care. Dont buy them! In fact, when it comes to overpriced, lead-painted, cheaply-made plastic toys, more and more savvy parents have stopped asking, Where can I get safe action figures? and are starting to say, There are better options! Instead of mass-produced plastic heroes, what if parents reclaimed their places as heroes in their kids hearts with some paper, paint, beads, or a multitude of other basic craft items and a little quality time? There are countless resources for creative play - large craft chains, such as Michaels and Jo Ann stores offer kids craft classes which are often free! Websites with free project ideas and even community centers and libraries offer classes. Kids take ownership of toys they help create. Theyre proud of them, take better care of them, and get more enjoyment out of them. Crafting builds creativity and self-esteem. It promotes an I can do it mentality that serves kids well later in life. Plus, parents dont have to worry about lead poisoning, loose magnets or choking hazards. According to the Times article, such worries are sending some parents to take drastic action. Among the signs that concerns are escalating: pediatricians and health centers report that more parents are bringing their children in for lead tests From June, when the first Thomas the Tank Engine lead-paint recall was issued, through August, the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, for example, conducted 3,046 lead tests, an increase of 81 percent from the 1,684 in the period last year. But why live in fear of lead poisoning or the next recall? What fun it would be to purchase unfinished wood trains and let the children paint them. Not only will making the toy be fun, but the children will be proud of the toys they have created themselves! Any mother who has given craft time a chance knows its always a hit. Once they start, they dont stop. Get out the glue and crayons, paint and scissors, and get back to the organic process of creativity-from start to finish. Keeping the kids entertained and happy for hours is also a welcomed byproduct of arts and crafts time. All that is needed for a well-stocked playroom are some basic craft supplies and a parent (or aunt) to show them how to use them. Toy recalls may be just the thing families need to help them discover a new world of creative, learning play. Im not suggesting that responsible parents should boycott toy companies or that store-bought toys are inherently bad. Id just like to point out that there is an alternative: play that isnt spoon-fed. Toys that are not dangerous. It may turn out, a generation from now, that toy recalls were the very thing our kids and our families needed - something to return imagination, creativity and togetherness to childhood playrooms across America. As for me, I think Ill skip the frantic search for something safe from toy corporations. Ill choose to see these recalls in a positive light. After all, what a blessing to find a way to spend great time with your children on projects and toys they create themselves! About Authorhttp://www.Bowdabra.comSource: ArticleTrader.com |
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