The Toy Crisis: How's It Playing Out in Your Home?

So if you're like me, you've banned Chinese toys from your home  - new ones that is, because if we were to toss the ones we already have, well, there'd be one empty toy closet.  While I recognize they are likely not all toxic, I lack the time and the know-how to test them all, plus, I am hoping to send my own little economic message that this toxic toy thing is not sitting well with me. 

There's a provocative Opinion article in the NYT today that questions how we toy-obsessed Americans will handle the 2007 holidays - in other words, what will Santa bring to your house, the grandparents?  You?  The article suggests that maybe we toy-dependent parents should just try and do without - let our kids use their imaginations, play in the proverbial cardboard box, and push ourselves to do more than just buy German/American/anywhere-but-China. 

Have you made any major toy purchasing /using shifts in your house since the recent spate of recalls?   Have you told the grandparents to just fuggedaboutit if it's from China (eek, will they think you're overparanoid..again)?  And what about the 'do without' approach - is that really better?  And then there's your child care center/caregiver, have you taken any action on that front?  Have they made any changes?

Comments

[rebecca]

I have been pondering whether to broach this with my daycare. It is a large non-profit center - the most wonderful people - but I know they don't have the money to throw out all the made in China plastic toys and start over. When they do buy new toys, they go for the budget items. One idea I thought of was to suggest that in addition to their (pretty reasonable) tuition, they collect a small 'toy fee' each year that is dedicated to purchasing higher quality toys. I've no idea how the other parents would react to this, or even how to start the conversation.

All the news coverage on the toy recall has been the perfect catalyst for my husband and I to send out an email to our family letting them know that we are upset by this and no longer want this stuff in our house. In the email we sort of poked fun at ourselves and noted that we would have no idea about this stuff if we didn't have a toddler, but since we do know ... please indulge us. I also sent a link to novanaturals.com to give an idea of what we prefer. It was awkward but I'd rather receive gifts that I feel comfortable with and can genuinely enjoy watching our daughter play with, relay to the giver how much she loves it, etc.

[Lisa]

I came across an interesting article on lead in today's NYT, "The Pernicious Allure of Lead." It talks about why it's so useful to use but bad, very bad, for the ol' bod. Check it out: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/science/21angi.html?ex=1345348800&en=5e70918d9d5c97bb&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

[Lisa]

Useful web site that is compiling lists of toymakers that don't manufacture in China, if that's where you're headed: http://www.boycottmadeinchina.org/en/boycott_hub/alternative_shopping/

[Lisa]

Came across a book written by a woman who lived a year without buyiung anything from China. Fascinating, and not easy: "A Year Without: Made in China," by Sara Bongiorni. Also, there was a segment on NPR about her experiences in July- check it out here: http://216.35.221.77/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12056295

[Lisa]

Came across a book written by a woman who lived a year without buyiung anything from China. Fascinating, and not easy: "A Year Without: Made in China," by Sara Bongiorni. Also, there was a segment on NPR about her experiences in July- check it out here: http://216.35.221.77/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12056295

[nanci]

DIY lead test kits are available at your local hardware store for about $7.

[Lisa]

Today's NYT Editorial, 'Consumers Left in the Cold,' says the Bush Administration's non-regulatory approach to all this ain't working (aurprise!), http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/06/opinion/06thu2.html?th&emc=th