The number of safety recalls issued in the past 6 months has been alarming. And it’s not in just one area of the market. Recalls have been announced for pet food, people food, toys, toothpaste and tires. And many of these items were suppose to be of the "highest quality." Here at Creative Kidstuff, we have always prided ourselves on carrying safe, high-quality and educational toys. But with the recent Thomas Wooden Railway recall - well, it sorta left us speechless.

None of us could remember the last time – or if ever – recalls took center stage in the national spotlight. And, to us, all this media attention is very good thing! It results in an important conversation begin started.

There is no doubt that there are issues with our global market. The thought of a child playing with an unsafe, even toxic, toy is unsettling. So what's the silver lining??? That these problems that keep reoccurring will finally be addressed and higher standards and regulations will be created. One way to make an impact is for us, the consumer, to demand quality over quantity; that we will buy well-made, quality products instead of cheap, disposable one - sending a message to the manufacturers.

One thing that we try to remember at Creative Kidstuff is that "It’s not the country. It’s the company that is responsible." Just because a product is made in China doesn’t automatically mean it's dangerous. And don’t assume that if a toy is manufactured in Italy or Germany - or even here in the U.S. - that it is automatically safe to play with.


“So what can Creative Kidstuff do?” we asked.
- We will continue to only buy high quality, educational toys.
- We will continue to keep an open dialogue with toy companies, our staff and our customers about any product concerns.
- We will continue to educate customers about the toys we carry.
- We will continue to stay up to date on any safety issues for any toy we have ever carried in any of our stores and pass that information onto our customers.

So can you do on the home front? (That’s a question we’ve been asked quite a bit.)

1. Inspect your toys regularly and throw away the broken ones - even if it’s your child’s favorite. Trust me. They’ll get over it. The tantrum will end and your child will be safer for it!

2. Buy only age appropriate toys. Don’t be tempted by that “cool, sophisticated” toy labeled for ages 6 and up if you are buying it for a five year old!

3. If you are buying a gift for someone else’s child, ask the parent what kind of toy would be appropriate. Or even better - ask them to create a gift registry for the birthday, shower, etc. It takes away the guess work and makes shopping a whole lot easier and fun.

4. Parents AND children should learn the right way to play with a toy - and to pay attention to what they are playing with. If the child is young, teach them the appropriate way to play. If they continue to have trouble (and instead the toy is being kicked or thrown around) maybe it’s not the right plaything for him or her. It is the parents’ responsibility to monitor their child’s play.

5. Keep up to date with toy safety recalls and tips. Here are a few resources with up-to-date information:
Consumer Product Safety Commission - Recalls
Consumer Product Safety Commission - Safety Tips
Toy Industry Association
Toy Recall Info
Toy Safety/ Public Interest Rights Group

6. Get involved. Contact your senators and representatives and let them know your concerns about toy safety.


Please let us and other blog readers know your tips, ideas and concerns about toy safety. Respond to this entry below.

Mindy