NOTE TO SELF: SEEMS WE HAVE A LOT TO WORRY ABOUT THIS CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY SHOPPING
As soon as she had found the perfect present for her niece and dropped it in her shopping cart, Lovey Lane had a nagging worry.
"It just hit me -- this is made in China," the Dundalk resident said, checking the Disney princess costume box and scrutinizing the beads adorning a tiara as a possible hazard. "I thought I'd better put it back."
But the Pirates of the Caribbean ship for her nephew stayed put in the cart, as Lane reasoned that the plastic toy was not likely tainted by lead.
"Of course, we don't know what paint they're using," said Lane, shopping yesterday morning at Toys "R" Us in the Golden Ring area of Baltimore County.
After months of recalls that have seen millions of toys pulled from store shelves -- including classics such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Dora the Explorer and Big Bird -- anxiety was palpable in the toy aisles on the day after Thanksgiving. Warnings of lead paint and choking hazards, and even chemical coatings that could be transformed into a "date rape" drug if ingested, have gotten shoppers' attention.
Full Story Here:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-te.bz.toys24nov24,0,3673506.story
Toy safety tips
• Children under age 3: Avoid toys with small parts, which pose a choking hazard.
• Children under 6: Avoid building sets with small magnets. If they are swallowed, serious injuries or death can occur.
• Children under 8: Avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
• Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates can cause fatal falls. Helmets and safety gear should be worn and sized to fit.
• Projectile toys such as air rockets, darts and slingshots, intended for older children, can result in serious eye injuries.
• Chargers and adapters should be supervised by adults to prevent burn hazards.
• Read toy labels for age and safety recommendations.
[Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission]
Shopping for children's toys has become complicated. Perhaps it's time for consumers to seriously consider buying products and goods made locally.
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Blog: NOTE TO MYSELF (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Eleanor Tylbor,
on 11/26/2007
Blog: Book Moot (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: autism, Thomas the Tank Engine, Add a tag
By: Camille,
on 7/27/2007
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Blog: NOTE TO MYSELF (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: news, children, life, toys, skateboards, Thomas the Tank Engine, Dora the Explorer, Christmas shopping, Big Bird, toy safety tips, air rockets, lead content, in-line skates, toy safety tips, air rockets, lead content, Dora the Explorer, Christmas shopping, Big Bird, in-line skates, skateboards, Thomas the Tank Engine, Add a tag
0 Comments on NO PLAYING DOWN CONCERN OVER TOY PURCHASES THIS CHRISTMAS as of 1/1/1900
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Blog: Book Moot (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Having enjoyed books with autistic children at school over the years, I thought this article, "Autism group probes why children love Thomas the Tank Engine," was extremely interesting:
Among autistic children, who often have a narrow range of behaviours, Thomas-related play was often their favourite activity, with children repeatedly watching the videos and reenacting whole scenes, including dialogue, with the toys.
"Thomas & Friends is 100 per cent responsible for getting him talking. Thomas was his life," said one parent of a nine-year-old, according to the NAS survey.
2 Comments on Thomas the Tank Engine, last added: 7/28/2007
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I found your blog through a search for 'autism' and am interested in your connection to it. Have not been able to locate your bio, but I guess you are a librarian? In school, or public?
Thomas the Tank really is 'big' with kids with autism...I enjoyed reading the article about WHY. Thanks for posting the link.
Judy
Judy-
I am a long time school librarian currently working as a substitute librarian. School is going to restart soon and my dance card is already filling up.
I loved working with these students who were often dedicated to working through a particular section of the library. Whether the subject was cars or bats or natural phenomena such as tornadoes, I found their enthusiasm inspiring and challenging as I strove to have books and materials to feed their interests.