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Big adorable eyes, baby soft skin, tiny fingers and toes, gurgle, coo, and you're hooked.  Who can resist an infant's charms -- charms that reduce full-grown women and men to baby talk in a single giggle.  Adorable as they are, those charming qualities can make finding age-appropriate toys challenging.  As a lawyer, mother of twins, and owner of my own toy store, I have found there are some very fun toys for newborns, even some new and stylish ones, but finding them requires a little extra patience and attention to safety details. Newborns are extremely nearsighted.  Objects over about a foot away appear blurry, and infants prefer to look at round, light objects with dark borders.  Traditional toys well-suited for newborns' developing eyesight include bouncy seats with suspended toys, light colored rattles held close enough for them to see well, and the ever popular Mom or Dad's nose.  For an innovative approach, turn to light colored knit rattles, baby wrist rattles, and simply ill... read more »

The recall of millions of toys in 2007 led to the passage of new legislation called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). The act is intended to improve safety of children's products by enhancing warning label requirements, reducing allowable lead levels, and implementing new third party testing requirements. Effects of the enhanced warning label requirements are perhaps the most visible to consumers. Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA), packaging for certain toys and games that pose choking hazards to children are required to display warning labels.  (http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/frnotices/fr09/lrtgafin.pdf)  Under the CPSIA, effective February 10, 2009, advertisements which provide a direct means of purchase or order of those products, including catalogs and internet sites, must similarly display warning labels.  (http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/frnotices/fr09/lrtgafin.pdf)  The warnings must be prominently displayed in conspicuous type so that they... read more »

Toys that teach grab and hold children's attention in a way that engages them so fully that learning is effortless.  From baby's first rattle to sophisticated board games, there are toys available to teach almost every subject imaginable.  From core subjects like reading, writing, math, and science to more nuanced topics like social skills, self-awareness, and environmental responsibility, toys teaching all can be found. SOCIAL SKILLS Toys that teach social skills are ideal to introduce during the preschool years.  A child who learns social skills is more likely to respect others, applying listening skills and not acting out in class.  Toys that encourage cooperative play are excellent teaching tools.  Play sets for pretend kitchens, restaurants, and cities are great for encouraging play in a way that lets children discover the impact of their actions, both positive and negative.  Children learn about courtesy, cooperation to achieve a goal, and the importance of communication. SELF... read more »

Lead paint, choking hazards, and more, from toys sold by big box retailers and department stores to those sold by dollar stores and thrift shops, after the recall of millions of toys in 2007, the task of keeping track may seem so overwhelming as to be tempting to give up.  But a few basic bits of information can set you on the right path.    First, a review of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) list of toy recalls at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html will help identify types of hazards that frequently result in recalls, types of toys that have been more often recalled, retailers and manufacturers that have had more recalls, and countries of manufacture that show up more often on the recall list.  Click on and open the listing for the recalled item for full information.  In addition to a description of the hazard posed and an explanation of why the toy was recalled, a picture of the item is provided along with information about where it was manufa... read more »

Recently, a friend asked me what it meant for a toy to be environmentally friendly.  "What does it take for a toy to be green?  Does that mean you throw it down on the ground when you're done with it and it reabsorbs back into the earth?"There are many ways in which toys can be environmentally friendly.  Unfortunately, there are some toymakers who clearly engage in green washing -- for example, promoting a doll as green simply because she comes with a reusable shopping bag bearing a green recycle symbol.  Most toymakers promoting their products as green, however, can back up their claims with solid facts.  There are varying shades of green, but the Yin and Yang of market demand and cost of production help weigh the balance to guide toymakers to designs that are not only green but also great toys.  Afterall, even the greenest toy is still a waste if no one wants to play with it or no one can afford it.From toys which are entirely biodegradable to toys which are made of recycled and o... read more »

Crisp chilly breezes rustle rich golden leaves.  Coats grow bigger.  Daylight hours shrink.  Video games and TV time threaten to become kids' favorite pastime, but smart parents are plotting active indoor fun.  As the temperature chills and families retreat indoors, it is easy to let kids become sedentary.  A few fun toys, however, can help keep kids off the couch and active. For sports fans, transfer outdoor fun indoors with scaled-down versions of the big game.  Whether kids love the Super Bowl, World Series, or Stanley Cup, there are mini-sized versions of sports that keep little (and big) hands and minds busy.  Mainstream sports are not the only ones whose outdoor hits have indoor cousins.  Surfers, snowboarders, and skaters can hone their skills indoors on balance boards.  If the balancing seems too easy, the challenge can always be increased by going for some one-footed action.  For the younger crowd, games like Elefun and the classic Pin the Tail on the Donkey encourage kids ... read more »

Zanver, King of Tamleer Mountain, with flashing eyes, magnetic sword, and fully automated battle roar -- watch his mane grow as he rises from his reanimation chamber.  See his eyes change color as he lifts his sword, preparing for battle.  Use his hidden magic bow to defeat the Kreldar enemy.  Toys have travelled a long path from the simple games, dolls, and mechanical amusements of their origin.  Some now even speak, walk, and interact on their own.  While the entertainment and social value of simple versus complicated toys can be debated, there is one fact that should not be overlooked for safety's sake.  In more complicated toys, there are more parts which may be broken.  This is not to say that either simple or complicated is better, but simply that all toys should be checked frequently for broken or missing parts, and toys with many parts should be examined extra carefully because of their complexity. The use of magnets inside toys provides an excellent example of innovation wh... read more »

On the glistening shores of Southern California where I live, there is no shortage of trim, athletic kids.  Every kid over three seems to own a boogie board.  Beach-town streets are dotted with skateboarding teenagers.  High schools have track, volleyball, and surf teams, and preschools offer tumbling, cheer, and yoga classes.  Fitness is a priority, and residents are blessed with enough sun and sweet ocean breezes to keep outdoor activities comfortable year-round.  Yet even here, there are times when pouring rain and cold winds keep kids indoors and the temptation to couch-potato-out may take hold if parents are not prepared with healthy alternatives to hours of cartoons and video games.For boogie boarders, skaters, and surfers, balance boards offer indoor fun in only a few square feet of space.  Whether kids are novices or hardcore board addicts, a wide variety of selections offer a fit for their skills.  Brightly-colored round hard plastic boards specially designed for the little... read more »

The smell of sweet pumpkin pie floats in the air, the fireplace crackles, and we wait for the doobell to ring.  As family and friends arrive, a beautifully set table and elaborate meal become a backdrop to hugs, conversation, and children's playful laughter.  Holidays bring family and friends of all ages together.  They are among my favorite times for toys and games that can help create special memories to last for years.  Every year during the holidays, I still recall dear memories of baking and playing games with my grandmother.  For grandmothers and granddaughters, aunts, uncles, and cousins, the special edition Gingerbread House Decorating Kit at Mahar Drygoods packs all the fun and sweetness of traditional gingerbread art without the traditional mess to clean up afterward.  (http://www.mahardrygoods.com/item.php?item_id=816)  "Operating on the same principles as vintage flannelgraphs this version of Twinkle Kids Gingerbread House is exclusive to Mahar Drygoods and arrives with ... read more »

In the beginning, there was food and friendship, and the colonists were thankful -- a pretty simplistic explanation of the origins of Thanksgiving.  But what would they think if they saw Thanksgiving today?  At our house, the sight of the desserts alone might cause them to faint in disbelief.  With overflowing pantries and comfortable homes, gratitude does not always come naturally.  Teaching children gratitude can be especially important.For this lesson, toys handmade by socially conscious companies and collectives offer an excellent teaching tool.  Their products are often durable toys with high artistic value that show great pride in workmanship.  Participating artisans and materials suppliers are often located in impoverished areas in places like India, Tibet, and Peru.  Although the stories behind the products vary somewhat from one to another, they illustrate the disparity between living conditions in different parts of the world.  They also show people's gratitude for the opp... read more »

Toys are arguably the most fun gifts to give.  Who doesn't want to give the gift that is met with a child's joyful exclamations as it is unwrapped?  Keeping the following tips in mind will help you find those great toy gifts: Tip 1: Know how hot lists work.  Getting toys on each year's lists of top toys reported by television news, magazines, and web sites is an ongoing competitive public relations process.  Don't be afraid to venture off the well-publicized path to find fabulous toys on your own. Tip 2: Make it personal.  Does your niece love singing, dancing, and the color pink?  Maybe a pink tutu and pink microphone nestled inside a swath of pink tulle would be just the thing for her. Tip 3: Details make a difference.  Does your niece love butterflies too?  Add a silk butterfly as a package topper for a finishing touch to make her smile.Tip 4: Quality counts.  Learning where and how toys are made offers insight into how safe and durable they may or may not be.   Tip 5: Read the p... read more »

As I was writing this article, news broke that Target, Wal-Mart, and other major retailers had been sent a letter from the California Attorney General notifying them children's products found to have illegally high lead levels continued to be sold in their stores and should be pulled from shelves immediately.  (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091117/ap_on_bi_ge/us_toxic_toys_3)  In light of recalls of millions of toys in 2007 and ongoing efforts to phase in retailer and manufacturer compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), the following tips provide some guidance in navigating what can seem to be an endless sea of toys. Tip 1: Be informed by toymakers' mistakes in the past.  We all make mistakes.  Some learn from them quickly, and some seem to never learn.  Notice who has a good performance record and who does not. Tip 2: Consider price in relation to complexity.  An apparent bargain is not a bargain if cheap materials or manufacturing practices may ... read more »

Everyone knows there is no way Santa could make all those toys by himself.  Producing enough toys for every good boy and girl in the world in just one year is a tall order.  In the United States today, we know that Santa Claus is assisted at his North Pole workshop by magical elves.  And who better for him to call upon for help than an elfin artisan?  When Santa first became popular in the United States, people knew nothing of his North Pole workshop.  The publication of the Clement Clarke Moore's poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (better known today as "The Night Before Christmas") in the Troy, New York, Sentinel on December 23, 1823, led to the rise in his popularity.  Moore described him as a "right jolly old elf" and mentioned his flying reindeer, but the North Pole workshop and magical elves were not referenced.  (http://www.history.com/content/christmas/history-of-santa/twas-the-night-before-christmas) It was in 1862 that political cartoonist Thomas Nast first illustrated Santa... read more »

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there," the narrator reads as the excitement mounts in one of the best known Christmas stories, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore.  Perhaps this sense of joyful anticipation is part of what makes stocking stuffers such a special piece of the Christmas tradition.  As a child, I enjoyed the tiny treasures just as much as the bigger gifts.  Inevitably they were small things I could carry with me -- lip balms, earrings, or maybe a key chain.  They were not expensive, but I loved them because they reminded me throughout the year of that special morning spent with family.  Today I love finding just the right things for my own little family for that Christmas morning tradition.  I love to see their faces light up as they see the goodies come rolling out of their stockings.  Shopping for stocking stuffers is lots of fun, but it also presents some pitfalls that are important t... read more »