Featured Article
Other SafeToys.com Articles
- Looking for Green Toys In All the Wrong Places
- Fireworks and Barbecue Safety
- Summer Safety Suggestions
- Before Traveling Ask a Doctor
- Summer Water Safety
- Washington State Takes the Reins on Child Safety
- The State of the Toy Industry and Toy-Related Legislation
- Maryland Toy Safety Legislation Expected to be Signed by Governor
- Senate Passes the CPSC Reform Act of 2007
- The “Little Guy” Strikes Back
- Bike Riders, Protect Yourself and Your Family – Wear a Helmet
- Weighing in on the Phthalates Scare
- Looking for the Best Toys for Children with Special Needs
- Editor's Pick: Best of Toy Fair 2008
- In The Business
- Educational Products That are Fun!
- Handpicked & Handmade
- Preventing Hearing Injuries in Children
- Prevent Children's Eye Injuries
- Quality Choices for Your Child
- Toy Industry Association Q&A
- Winter Safety Tips for Children of All Ages
- Understanding "Green" Toys
- Why a Safe Toy may be Unsafe
- Top Holiday Gifts Get a Closer Look
- Senator Pryor discusses the CPSC
- Ingesting Magnets
- Bush Responds
- Fixing the Broken Toy Industry
- Decorate with Care this Holiday Season
- Reform Brief
- Tis the Season for Recalls
- Nord-ward: Recall Responsibility and the CPSC
- Holiday Video Game Review
- Lead to the Source
SafeToys.com Article Archive
Looking for Green Toys In All the Wrong Places
by Daniel Sean Kaye
The assignment sounded easy enough: Go around to area stores to find “green toys” and check them out, seeing if they were of good quality and fun to play with. Figuring that eco-friendly and “green” are popular trends now, (I think even dust is now being marketed as “organic, naturally occurring particle balls”), I guessed I’d be inundated with items proclaiming to be “good for the Earth” and “pollutant-free.” I even wondered how I’d be able to narrow it down in just one article, choosing only the best, most interesting I could find.
Fireworks and Barbecue Safety:
There's fun to be had on Independence Day but it's important to stay safe
by Daniel Sean Kaye
Summer is the season of carefree, outdoor fun. Well, maybe not care “free.” There are still things to be cautious of when we’re outside, especially when considering our children. And with Independence Day coming up – the grand-daddy of the summer season holidays – firework and grilling safety should be at the forefront of our minds.
Summer Safety Suggestions:
Ideas to help keep the whole family protected
by Daniel Sean Kaye
There comes a time in every young family’s life when a trip is necessary. Not the “Let’s run to the drug store really quickly” or “I need to visit the library” type of trip. No, eventually a vacation is required, and that means Mom, Dad, and Baby/Toddler are in for a new experience – together in a plane, train, or automobile for more time than they ever have been before.
Before Traveling Ask a Doctor:
SafeToys.com talked with Dr. Andrea McCoy about how to prepare for a family trip
by SafeToys.com
When going on vacation this summer, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor first. For our questions about safe traveling, SafeToys.com spoke to Dr. Andrea McCoy, the chief medical officer at Jeanes Hospital in Philadelphia and a pediatrician for 19 years.
Summer Water Safety:
Prevent accidents with these simple tips
by Daniel Sean Kaye
While summer is an exciting and fun time for children, adults should remember that dangers lurk in many places, especially near water.
According to The State of Home Safety in America report, amassed by the Home Safety Council (HSC), drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury related death. Silent and sudden, drowning often happens in home swimming pools. Drowning victims often make no noise once in distress, so constant supervision is critical. Here are some home pool area safety tips, from the HSC:
Washington State Takes the Reins on Child Safety:
Most aggressive toy safety legislation in the U.S. signed into law
by Maria Raha
On April 1, 2008, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire signed the Children’s Safe Products Act into law. The Children’s Safe Products Act revises Washington state’s safety standards for potentially hazardous chemicals in children’s products. The hazardous chemicals noted in the bill include lead, cadmium, and phthalates, all of which are allowable in children’s products within specified federal limits.
The State of the Toy Industry and Toy-Related Legislation:
With new laws in several states and more proposed, toy-related legislation is quickly changing
by Daniel Sean Kaye
The state of toy safety continues to grow and change, spurred on by concerned parents as well as legislators wary of a repeat of last year’s recalls. Many states are considering what steps should be taken to protect their citizens as well as to avoid putting independent toy-makers out of business due to expensive testing. The following is a summation of some of the battles and legislation currently moving forward in the nation.
Maryland Toy Safety Legislation Expected to be Signed by Governor:
Despite attempts to alter the bill, legislation passes Maryland's House and Senate
by Ronni Robinson
In an attempt to strengthen restrictions on children’s products that contain lead, Maryland has joined the ranks of the few states in the United States that are taking toy safety regulations into their own hands. In the House proposed version of the bill, jewelry, toys and other children’s products in Maryland containing lead would be banned. In February, this bill sailed through the House with a vote of 132-4 in favor of tighter restrictions.
Senate Passes the CPSC Reform Act of 2007
by Maria Raha
After a year rife with product recalls, the Senate passed the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Reform Act of 2007 in early March with a vote of 79-13. The CPSC Reform Act of 2007 will provide the much-debated safety agency with an expanded budget and beefed-up investigation presence at high-traffic ports of entry. Also included in the bill is the requirement to make recall information easily accessible by database, as well as lower acceptable levels of lead in children’s toys, and requirements for third-party laboratory testing.
The “Little Guy” Strikes Back:
Solutions and Concerns About the Future of the Toy Industry
by Daniel Sean Kaye
Since last year’s recalls and the ensuing scrutiny by the media and general public, many toy manufacturers, retailers, and distributors have had to take a new look at the definition of “toy safety.” This is an ongoing process, and one sure to result in legislation with varying levels of success. Who better to address how this situation has impacted the industry than people who make their livings from the industry – SafeToys.com consulted with representatives from small-scale toy companies to gain perspective on how new proposed legislation would affect the “little guy” and to hear suggestions about how to handle the new need for better safety standards.
Bike Riders, Protect Yourself and Your Family – Wear a Helmet:
Bike riding is fun, take the proper safety precautions to make sure a ride doesn't end badly
by Daniel Sean Kaye
According to Safe Kids USA (www.usa.safekids.org), bicycles are associated with more childhood injuries than any consumer product except the automobile. More than 70 percent of children ages 5 to 14 (over 27 million) ride bicycles, and because children ride 50 percent more often than the average bicyclist they account for about 21 percent of all bicycle-related deaths and nearly half of all bicycle-related injuries.
Weighing in on the Phthalates Scare:
Looking into converns over phthalates in toys
by Ronni Robinson with additional reporting by Laurence Liss
Lately, concerned parent groups have been focusing attention on certain chemicals used to make toys and other child-related products. The chemicals are called phthalates (pronounced thal-ates). Phthalates are a group of chemical compounds mainly used to add flexibility and resilience to many consumer products.
Looking for the Best Toys for Children with Special Needs:
A look a several companies focusing on toys for special needs children
by Daniel Sean Kaye
Children are children, it doesn’t matter if they have a disability. Likewise, parents of children with disabilities want to find toys their children will enjoy, just like any other parent. The difference may be that the child with a disability may need or respond better to toys made specifically with his or her challenges in mind…
Editor's Pick: Best of Toy Fair 2008:
Dinosaur Puppets
by Laurence Liss
Of the thousands of toys on the floor of Toy Fair 2008, there were only a few standouts from the point of view of the SafeToys.com editorial staff. Far and away my top pick was a 30-inch dinosaur hand puppet. While the thought of a modern child choosing a puppet over a video game may sound like a stretch, it is not. This isn’t an ordinary puppet. The dino-puppet is the work of a Hollywood special effects artist, and the level of detail is astounding.
In The Business:
Safety and More with People Who Sell Toys
by Daniel Sean Kaye
While the fallout from last year’s recalls continues, sometimes it’s nice to step away from the cries of the media and talk with people really involved with the business. It’s not that the news is wrong about the issues—lead and choking hazards are not minor issues—it’s just that there are a lot of good people involved with the toy industry working hard to offer high-quality toys.
Educational Products That are Fun!:
Try these books and games for your child
by Daniel Sean Kaye
Suggest to your child that they read something educational or play a game that’ll teach them something and you may as well have asked them to kiss their great aunt. Luckily though, there are several absolutely terrific series of entertaining, smart, and engaging educational books and games out there just waiting to be discovered…
Handpicked & Handmade:
Small Toy Companies Provide Alternatives to Imports
by Maria Raha
While the Senate and the House hash out new protocols for ensuring consumer safety, putting toy shopping on hold, especially for parents of young children, is hardly a practical option. Averting the purchase of products from countries plagued by the recent recalls is driving consumers to sites selling domestically made toys...
Preventing Hearing Injuries in Children:
Tips to help children take care of their ears
by Daniel Sean Kaye
Many of today’s toys make noise. Beyond the sirens and whistles, there are beeps, automated voices, and the normal rumblings of battery-powered motors. While many of the sounds are nothing more than annoying to adults—and not even noticed by children—there is a great deal of concern regarding the long-ranging health impact of loud toys…
Prevent Children's Eye Injuries
by Daniel Sean Kaye
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly 2.4 million eye injuries occur in the United States each year, with nearly 35 percent of the injuries among people 17 years of age or younger. Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization, says that items as seemingly benign as toys, sporting equipment and art supplies can be harmful to kids if they are not used properly. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says nearly 8,000 children were treated in the emergency room for toy-related injuries to the eyes in 2005, the most recent data available. These injuries consisted of lacerations, abrasions and foreign bodies.
Quality Choices for Your Child:
Toys, CDs and DVDs you'll want to add to your collection
by Daniel Sean Kaye
The world is filled with toys. Unfortunately, most of them don’t seem worth the price you pay for them. Kids lose interest right away (if they show any interest at all) and you end up with boxes overfilled with dozens, if not hundreds, of almost pristine, unplayed with pieces of plastic. So what should a parent look for to find items that will last…
Toy Industry Association Q&A:
SafeToys.com discusses toys safety with TIA spokesman Frank Clarke
by Maria Raha
For most revelers, the holiday season is filled with excessive eating, drinking, celebrating—and stress. And after a year of higher toy recall rates for toys and increased media attention surrounding them, the toy industry’s busiest season carried, with its usual bustle heightened, consumer and media concerns for toy safety, along with congressional pushes for legislation to improve import safety protocols…
Winter Safety Tips for Children of All Ages
by Daniel Sean Kaye
Winter is undoubtedly a fun time of year, with skating, sledding, skiing and much more. But even the safest winter toys have their share of safety concerns. New users of items such as snowboards, sleds, and skates obviously have the greatest chance for injury due to their unfamiliarity with the items…
Understanding "Green" Toys:
What do "green" toys mean to the environment and to child safety
by Daniel Sean Kaye
What are “green toys”? It’s a phrase we’ve all heard so much lately, especially with the mainstream toy crisis of last year. The definition is still a little fuzzy, but, generally, toys are considered “green” if: they are manufactured from reused, recycled materials; are powered or manufactured by an alternative fuel source; are the result of fair trade cooperatives (where the people who physically make the toys are paid a fair wage and live in adequate conditions); and are nontoxic…
Why a Safe Toy may be Unsafe:
Sometimes it is the user, not the toy, that is unsafe
by Daniel Sean Kaye
In the world of toys, when the word “safe” is used most people think about whether a toy is made well. Will it break into pieces as soon as a child plays with it? Does it contain a harmful ingredient? Is there a choking hazard that we don’t see right away? These are just some of the questions we think about, but there are many others…
Top Holiday Gifts Get a Closer Look:
A review of the best selling holiday toys
by Daniel Sean Kaye
It seems as though everyone with a Web site has a Best Toys of 2007, Hot Toys of Christmas, or Must-Haves for the Holidays list for you to look at. Just search for any similar phrase online and you’ll get site upon site telling you that this gift or that gift is what your child is craving. But it’s easy to see that some sites are just steering you toward product while others are throwing anything they can out there, hoping you’ll buy it from them…
Senator Pryor discusses the CPSC:
With fewer resources and more imports the CPSC needs help now
by Maria Raha
Imports are a booming business in the United States. According to the Interagency Working Group’s Action Plan for Import Safety, released in early November, the number of importers has reached 800,000. Consumer import spending has hit $2 trillion…
Ingesting Magnets:
More Dangerous Than You May Suspect
by Daniel Sean Kaye
In August 2007, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released its Top Five Hidden Home Hazards. The No. 1 hazard listed was magnets, the kinds that can lead to serious health problems if ingested by children…
Bush Responds:
An Overview of the Action Plan for Import Safety
by Maria Raha
On November 6, 2007, President Bush announced the completion of a report by the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety, headed by Michael Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services. Action Plan for Import Safety: A Roadmap outlines 14 recommendations to combat the year’s high numbers of consumer product recalls…
Fixing the Broken Toy Industry:
What is Being Done
by Daniel Sean Kaye
As the recall madness grows to a fever pitch, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) has released its 22nd annual survey of toy safety. The 2007 Trouble in Toyland report reveals that dozens of toys currently on store shelves may pose potential safety hazards…
Decorate with Care this Holiday Season
by Daniel Sean Kaye
As you decorate your house for the holiday season, remember the following statistics: According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates, there are more than 14,000 candle-related fires each year, resulting in about 170 deaths and $350 million in property loss…
Reform Brief:
An Overview of the Senate’s Proposal to Reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission
by Maria Raha
Against a backdrop of hazardous consumer recalls throughout 2007 — particularly for children’s products manufactured overseas — Senator Mark Pryor (Arkansas) sponsored an act to reform the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the federal agency handling the reporting and subsequent investigation of unsafe consumer products…
Tis the Season for Recalls:
Some Very Popular Items Are Being Pulled Off Kids’ Wish Lists
by Daniel Sean Kaye
When shopping for toys this holiday season, you may well find the normal buzzwords of “hot” and “must have” replaced by “lead,” “recalled,” and “date rape.” Yes, 2007 is definitely the year of headaches for Santa…
Nord-ward: Recall Responsibility and the CPSC
by Maria Raha
As of November 26, 2007, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Bethesda, Md., had announced 122 toy and children’s jewelry product recalls for the year—excluding cribs, outdoor recreational items (such as swing sets and all-terrain vehicles), and assorted children’s furniture and clothing…
Holiday Video Game Review:
Know your Halo's from your Bowser's before entering the toy store
by Kyle Richardson
Reaching $170 million in sales on the first day in the U.S. alone, making it the fastest-selling game of all time, Halo 3 needs little introduction. It is likely most parents have heard of the other two games in the trilogy, which started in 2001 with Halo: Combat Evolved.
Lead to the Source:
How Americans became aware of lead contaminated toys and the dangers they pose
by Daniel Sean Kaye
As if we didn’t have enough to worry about…
Early this year, news came from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that millions of toys manufactured in China were being recalled due to the presence of lead paint. Suddenly, Dora, Sesame Street, and Thomas the Tank Engine were poisoning our children.