Oh, come on, parents!!! Be creative.
Sticks aren't made in China. Merry Christmas, Bobby!
"Wow, Mom and Dad... That's a BIG one!"
Posted on 08/15/2007 7:53:38 PM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
(OTTAWA) - Fears of shoddy and dangerous toys pouring into Canada from China are prompting parents across the country to seek safer alternatives following a large-scale recall announced by Mattel this week. But many are finding it's a nearly impossible task because the majority of the world's toys come from China.
"It's really difficult to find anything," said Keely Dennis, mother of a one-year-old boy in Vancouver. "It's really hard to find toys that aren't made in China that are age-appropriate, and are just cool, that your kid will play with."
For the second time in two weeks, the toy giant began recalling millions of Chinese-made toys over concerns that small parts could pose choking hazards and that excessive amounts of lead may be present. This is the latest in a string of problems that are raising doubts over the safety and quality of Chinese products, including toothpaste and pet food.
But parents trying to avoid potentially risky imports are having a hard time keeping Chinese-made products out of their children's toy boxes. An estimated 80 per cent of the world's toys are made in China, and even many European or North American companies that appear to offer safer alternatives produce many of their toys in China.
Now even all-natural and organic toy retailers that tout their products as safe are finding out how hard it is to escape the ubiquitous made-in-China label.
"A lot of my toys do say that they're designed in a certain country but made in China," said Dana Johnson, who runs Florida-based Three Sisters Toys, which describes itself as an all-natural toy retailer. "Quite frankly, I'm still in the process of trying to get in touch with some of the manufacturers."
It was only after the recent spate of toy recalls that Baby Naturopathics, a Hamilton, Ont.-based online retailer specializing in natural and organic baby products, realized it's also selling products made in China.
"The manufacturers do not advertise this. They present themselves as being entirely made in Europe," said Cindy Cho, part-owner of the business. "Then, only when you look at the box do you realize that maybe that's not the case or if you do research online."
The company is now struggling to figure out what to do and is considering no longer buying products from any manufacturer that produces goods in China.
"Unfortunately, we found out that quite a few European toys are made in China as well," Cho said. "A few years ago that wasn't the case. Increasingly, more companies are making their products in China. We're going to have to re-evaluate."
Mattel's most recent toy recall is serving to fuel a larger backlash against products made in China, which could have a lasting impact on the economy if the situation doesn't improve, according to Paul Beamish, director of the Asian Management Institute at the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business in London, Ont.
"If this problem persists, if we see a whole lot of ongoing product recalls from China, then it has much greater implications for consumers because they will stop, at the extreme, or reduce their purchasing, or start looking for alternative sources," he said. "The big thing that has to change is more rigorous and vigorous enforcement of the quality standards that already exist."
For parents like Dennis, the recent safety scares involving Chinese-made products are both disheartening and frightening.
"The first thing it makes me think is these companies are only thinking about money. They want to make money, they're outsourcing their manufacturing and basically contributing to exploitation," Dennis said.
It's also frustrating that China is producing nearly all of the toys on store shelves in today's marketplace, even if they aren't meeting North American quality and safety standards. It's a reality she hopes will change soon.
"I think that if we can force these companies to change the way they manufacture and market their toys, other companies will follow suit as well," she said. "Unless you make the toys yourself, what are your kids going to play with?"
Gee....I wonder what kids did BEFORE China made toys????
Sorry, toys would not copy and paste for some reason
My Grandfather gave me a pocketknife when I was 6 and I got a Kadet Trainer Rifle. We lived in the country, next to a farm. Wouldn’t trade it for anything. My Mom and Dad still have some of the wooden toys that we had back in the dark ages.
The more our gov’t embraces socialistic controls on industry the harder it is for American companies to survive with American labor. In order for toy makers to survive they MUST outsource the manufacture and labor to China and other countries with essentially forced labor.
What’s even more interesting is that at least with my kids. Once they get the toy open, (usually a big pain in the ass) they play with it for ten minutes and it goes into the toy box never to be played with again.
Plus, he paid me a penny apiece to pick up the nails that had been dropped in the yard during construction. A bit of searching each Saturday led to a nice walk to Kundel's grocery for a Bing Bar and an Orange Crush.
Grandma was also a seamstress, so I had boxes and boxes of Barbie clothes made from her excess fabric. Dozens of suits, ballgowns, swimsuits...Barbie was living the high life!
Toys from China? Are you kidding?
There were never any 'toys.' Or TV.
But if you were growing up on a farm the entertainment never ended...
I do recall more than anything that all the best teachers were nuns, in the public school system, and they wore the whole regalia in school.
Funny thing about those nuns, although we had the same ones in catechism on the weekends as we did in public school, the school was the hard part.
We were held to a standard, and no one ever failed.
“Unless you make the toys yourself, what are your kids going to play with?”
Well...
http://www.boycottmadeinchina.org/en/boycott_hub/alternative_shopping/
http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/toysngames.html
There. Problem solved.
Just like Og and Eek used to do with nothing but a stone axe and bits of bark.
My girls still have the wooden toys my father made them. They wouldn’t give them up for the world. Maybe this will lead to something good.
I don't recall having as many toys back in the late 60's/early 70's when I was a kid. Kids today have too much stuff.
” They wouldn’t give them up for the world. Maybe this will lead to something good.’
I’m sorry, but one of your sentences has ‘lead’ in it. Wouldn’t want readers to get lead poisoning, would you?
In the late ‘40s, my toys were....
an electric train
Dagwood Bumstead cardboard figures
tricycle
Li’l Abner windup piano player
teddy bear
Jeepers Creepers
Fiddlesticks
Tinker Toys
Lincoln Logs
....actually, quite a bit of stuff.
Gee....I wonder what kids did BEFORE China made toys????
______________________________________________________
Went outside and played hide and seek, tag, made our own kites, played baseball, etc.
Made in USA
ussstuff.com
madeinusa.com
stillmadeinusa.com
Try school lunch boxes. I don’t know where to get ones not made in China.
Even the joys of my childhood fifty years ago, Lionel electric trains, are now produced in China - it hurts....
Oh, come on, parents!!! Be creative.
Sticks aren't made in China. Merry Christmas, Bobby!
"Wow, Mom and Dad... That's a BIG one!"
No jack-in-the-box?
My favorite thing to do, when little, was to get into Grandma’s junk drawer next to the sink with the big water pump, and try to organize it for her. (While Grandpa worked on the black walnuts in the kitchen.)
I still treasure those memories.
Thanks for the urls
I used to make a wicked flying machine out of 5 Popsicle sticks. No magnets and no lead paint. But that was a different world.
When I want to find out about something J and J made I came across this site. Has a lot of info.
http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/rs/profile.cfm?id=246
One year, I got into the cabinet under the sink looking for my Xmas present, finding what I thought Santa had left — pots and pans.
I played with them all day.
Brown paper sack with a note from Mom telling me how much she loved me x 4 kids. Not worth much on ebay, but pry that memory from my cold, dead hands.
These are all made supposedly in the USA, but some do have global plants for other items.
From:
http://travel.discovery.com/Ratzenberger-America_Goods_Goods.shtml
Goods A-Z3M (Scotch Tape)
Airstream
All American Hot Dog Carts
All-Clad Metalcrafters Inc.
Allen-Edmonds
Alliance Rubber Company
American Champion Aircraft
American IronHorse Motorcycle Company
American Paper Optics
American Printing House for the Blind Inc.
American Whistle Corporation
Anheuser-Busch Inc.
Annin & Co. Flags
A.R.T. Research Enterprises
Astro-Physics, Inc.
Astroland Amusement Park
Automatic Dishwasher
Bach Stradivarius Trumpets
Ball Corporation
Banana Split
Barre Granite
Becker Surfboard Co.
The Belden Brick Company
Benjamin Moore & Co.
Betts Springs
Binney & Smith Inc. (Silly Putty)
Bodine Corporation
Boudin Bakery
Brooks Brothers
Burroughs Adding Machine
Burt’s Bees
California Zephyr Train
Campbell’s Soup
Cannondale Bikes
Cape Cod Chips
Carousel Magic
Caterpillar
Celestial Seasonings
Charles Machine Works
ChemArt Company
Chris-Craft
Coca-Cola
Columbus Washboard Company
Commscope Cable Co.
Corvette
Craftsman Tools
Crane & Co.
Crayola
The Creegan Company Animatronics
CUTCO
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Dairy Queen
Deering Banjos
Delta Faucets
Delta Scientific Co.
Derecktor Ferryboats
Diamond Match Company
Dr Pepper
Duncan Parking Meters
Duraflame
Eli Bridge Company
Emeco, The Aluminum Chair Company
E-ONE Firetrucks
Ettore Products
Everlast
Fender Musical Instruments
Firefly Hot Air Balloons
Fisher Space Pen Co.
Fleer Trading Cards
Fleetwood RVs
Ford Gumball Co.
Ford (Model T)
Franklin Art Glass
French Luggage
Frito-Lay
The Frye Company
Fuller Brush Company
G&T Conveyor
Garrett Metal Detectors
Gatorade
GE Transportation
General Mills (Wheaties)
Gibson Bagpipes Inc.
Gibson Guitars
Globe Firefighter Suits
Goodyear Tires
Hall Manufacturing
Hallmark Cards
Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Hartmann Luggage
Hawaiian Tropic
HC Duke & Son Inc.
Head-Penn
Herman Miller Inc.
Highlights Magazines
Holiday Tree & Trim Company
Homer Laughlin China Company
Honeywell Life Safety
Howard Johnson
In-Sink-Erator
Ivory Soap
Jack Daniel’s
Jacuzzi
Jaws of Life
Jell-O
John Deere Combines
Johnson Woolen Mills
Jostens Inc.
Kellogg’s
KitchenAid Mixers
Knotts Berry Farm
Kohler
Lockheed Constellation Planes
Longaberger Baskets
Louisville Slugger
Lowell Boats
Lyon & Healy Harps Inc.
Mack Trucks Inc.
Maker’s Mark Distillery Inc.
Maple Landmark Woodcraft
Marble King
Martin Guitars
Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider
Marx Toys
Medtronic
Merillat
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Milgard Windows
ML Leddy’s Boot & Saddlery
Monopoly
Morton Salt
Mosser Glass Co.
Mrs. Grossman’s Paper Company)
National Cash Register Co.
New England Confectionary Company
New Era Baseball Caps
Nocona Sporting Goods
Oscar Meyer Weiner
Pan American Clipper
Panavision
Panoz Convertibles
Pelican Products Inc.
Pendleton Woolen Mills
Pepsi-Cola
Phoenix Decorating Company
Powell Skateboards
Purity Dairies
Pyrex
QubicaAMF
Raytheon Microwave Ovens
Red Wing Shoes
Remo Drums
RGM Watch Company
Robinson Helicopter
Rodgers Instruments
Round House
R.S. Owens Company
Rubbermaid
Sage Fly Fishing Rod
The Samuel Adams Brewery
Sand Trix
Sargent and Greenleaf
Sawbones
Sebastiani Winery
Segway
Serta
Shawnee Mills
Shelton’s Better Packages
Sikorsky
Silvercrest Western Home Corporation
Skee-Ball, Inc.
Slinky Toys
Smiths Medical Inc.
Spam
Starbucks
Starrett (Precision Calipers)
Steelcase
Steinway
Stetson
Stern Pinball
Steuben Crystal
Stickley Furniture
Stormy Kromer Caps
Sturm, Ruger Firearms
Sub-Zero
Sunkist / Limoneira
Swanson TV Dinners
Tabasco
Tillamook Cheese
Titleist
Tom’s of Maine Inc
Tootsie Roll
Toro Company
Trek Bicycle Corporation
Tums and Co.
Twinkie
Tyco Safety Products/Ansul
Tylenol
United States Playing Card Company
U.S. Mint
US Pole
U.S. Steel
USA Today
Vermont Teddy Bear Co.
V.H. Blackinton & Co. Inc.
Vitalie
Walt Disney Pictures
WD-40
Weber Grills
Welch’s Grape Juice
WET Design
Weyerhaeuser Company
Whitman’s Chocolates
Wiffle Ball
Wigwam Mills
Wilson Football Factory
WL Gore & Associates
Wolf Coach Emergency Vehicles
Wonder Bread
Yankee Candle Factory
Zamboni
Zildjian (Cymbals)
Zippo
Yep, I remember playing....”Simon Says”......
LOL! My grandma’s sink had a fabric skirt around it, held up by elastic. Just a pipe underneath that skirt, which led to the well. My siblings and cousins used to hide under there, and pretend we were Native American Indians, in a TeePee. LOL.
YEP.....too much stuff....I once took about 3 boxes of stuffed animals out of my daughter-in-law’s kids room (3 step-grandkids)......they never EVEN MISSED THEM! Course they had 3 sets of grandparents....my son is her 3rd husband. Sigh. We have, through the years given them what they probably think is “weird” stuff....but, they probably won’t forget them!
I smell a rat(conspiracy). The anti-China made consortium couldn’t get our big box stores to stop purchasing from China so they turn to the next weapon. Find fault with everything made in China. Lead in bibs? Who will prove otherwise? This just ices my theory.
My 6 year old loves playing with Lincoln Logs. I’d say the amount of toys you had were just right for a kid. I probably had just as many toys.
My own kids seem to have much more including videogames, sports equipment, computers, and literally thousands of Lego pieces.
My grandmother played with a sock in the 1920’s. Her mother would not buy her a doll. But she learned how to make dolls out of her old socks, and eventually she became an excellent seamstress.
Well, I remembered making knitting on old thread wooden spools that had 4 nails in them.
So I had a couple of them, had hubby put some nails in them and my grandkids, ages 9 and 10 sit for hours making clothes for their dolls and their dog.
We used to make circle rugs. Anyone else remember.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_needlework_knitting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3263_1397466,00.html
Type spool knitting into google and up comes a lot of ideas.
This is for girls, but after raising three boys, enjoyed it with them.
This week we are making popuuri bags for their rooms.
A lot of things to do instead of tv, computers, cheap toys from China.
I always try to spend quality time with them.
Always have my kite in the trunk of my car,got to be ready.
buy a saw, some nails and bits of lumber...make your own damn toys like I did!
My kids accumulated tons of stuffed animals, too, but they played with them all. I’ve been cleaning house this summer, and I had to talk them out of each stuffed animal one by one. LOL.
“My grandmother played with a sock in the 1920’s.’
LOL or *sniff*? I don’t know whether to laff or cry at that.
Yes....my grandkids asked us once if our TV was broken! We said, NO....we just want to DO things with you!
“They had built an addition to their home; Grandpa cut a bunch of the excess lumber into all kinds of shapes and sizes...there was a HUGE box...hundreds of pieces. Had a blast building things with those.”
Today even our lumber comes from china.
We had a box from a large screen TV that we had purchased. We cut a door and window into the box and kept in the family room for almost a year while the grandson played with it. Alot of fun!
.
LOL. I’m picturing my grandmom as a child playing with a sock compared to my kids with their rooms overflowing with toys. Maybe this whole China controversy will bring us all to some middleground... I know I’m going to use China as an excuse with my kids: “Look, guys, it’s Made in China. We have to get rid of this one. It could be dangerous!” I’ll have this house neat as a pin soon enough. LOL.
I picked up a copy a few months ago and absolutely love it. It has everything from how to build a great tree house (they recommend you get your dad involved for safety's sake) to making a world-class paper airplane and so much more.
I was going to get a copy for my sister and brother-in-law (they're on the list for adopting a boy sometime next year), but they saw my copy one night and stopped by the store on the way home and picked up a copy of their own.
Will check it out, thanks.
Awesome sources, thank you. I was in a bit of a panic over what to get for my nephew who is turning 4 in two weeks, your post has helped immeasurably. I am sure I will be referring back again when Christmas comes(2 kids of my own, 3 nieces/nephews!).
~bookmark~
I stopped buying my grandkids towys a long time ago. They get clothes or money.
if your gma sewed barbie clothes for you she is a saint
the arm holes must have been hard to do so she probably did a lot by hand... she must have really cared for you
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