One In 3 Toys Is Toxic, Group Says

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One In 3 Toys Is Toxic, Group Says

Environmental group says many items for sale have high levels of lead, arsenic and other chemicals.

By Catherine Clifford, CNNMoney.com. is.gd/a8Nm

One in three toys tested was found to contain toxic chemicals such as lead, flame retardants and arsenic, according to a report issued Wednesday by an environmental group.
Researchers for the Michigan-based Ecology Center tested more than 1,500 popular toys for lead, cadmium, arsenic, PVC and other harmful chemicals. They said they found that one-third of the toys contain "medium" or "high" levels of chemicals of concern.
In February, new regulations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission will make some of the toys now available for purchase illegal to sell, according to a press release from the group.
"Our hope is that by empowering consumers with this information, manufacturers and lawmakers will feel the pressure to start phasing out the most harmful substances immediately, and to change the nation's laws to protect children from highly toxic chemicals," said Ecology Center's Jeff Gearhart, who led the research, in a written release.
The study found lead in 20% of the toys tested. In 3.5% of the toys, or 54 items, levels of lead exceeded the federal recall level for paint, 600 parts-per-million.
Also according to the study, children's jewelry is 5 times more likely to contain lead above the toxic 600 ppm-level than other toys.
In particular, the report mentioned that several Hannah Montana brand jewelry items tested high for lead.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children's toys have less than 40 parts-per-million of lead. The levels of lead detected in "many" of the toys was "significantly" above those guidelines, according to the release.
The study does not associate country of origin with the presence of toxic chemicals. According to the release, 21% of toys from China and 16% of toys from all other countries had detectable levels of lead.
Of the 17 toys made in the United States that were tested, 35% had detectable levels of lead. A U.S.-made Halloween pumpkin pin had 190,943 ppm of lead.
The report found that 62% of the tested products - or 954 items - contain low levels of chemical concern. And 21% of the products tested - or 324 items - contained no toxic chemicals to be worried about.
Ecology Center, a nonprofit group, said the study was conducted with several partners. The results were posted at HealthyToys. org.

You can search by toys on this web site www.healthytoys. org/index. php

Toys! Living natural during the holidays

When you have small kids it may be tempting for others to give gifts that appear to be cute and mainstream such as noisy plastic toys, Cartoon DVD's, popular dolls and action figures etc.
Many people enjoy giving toys as gifts and just assume your child would love them. If you feel you are overwhelmed with too many toys and your house and it is starting to look like a daycare center there is an alternative! If you educate your friends and family on your values I am sure they will love to participate! Many people just assume you would love to get the latest noisy gadget for your child.

I was lucky, when I was young my Grandmother would make me a handmade quilt or blanket as a birthday or Christmas present- these are the gifts I still cherish the most today! I really believe that my Grandmother helped to instill in me how important it is to put love and intention into the gifts you give others.

I tell friends and relatives that we are teaching our kids to not focus so much on material items (a very valuable lesson in these economic times!). Our tradition is coming up with creative ways to make gifts for others on special occasions and holidays rather than just buying what is "in". We focus on creative and imaginary play with natural toys and spending time outdoors. I understand that the Grandparents are busy and do not have time to make gifts so I offer the suggestion of something my daughter can use such a swim, art or dance classes- a zoo, garden or park pass etc.

If you find you are already inundated with toys, start a tradition of giving some away! It really is not as hard on the kids as you may think - it teaches your kids the valuable lesson of giving and empathy for others (you will find that they soon forget about those toys- once the excitement wears off they are off they are soon interested in something new!).

When friends come to visit instead of videos or TV, how about putting on some music and dancing! Try an outdoor scavenger hunt or create a campsite in your own yard (my husband set up a tent in the living room and my daughter just loved it! I told him he should have done it outside because it took up half our living area and she did not want us to take it down for days!)- the friends will welcome the change of pace!

If your friends and relatives must buy toys there are some natural online resources
- willowtoys , palumba, novanaturals
or they can visit their local farmers market- there are many handmade crafts there that the kids would love! You don't always have to make the gifts yourself. I enjoy trading with others in the community for handmade gifts- I recently traded some herbs I wildcrafted for a wonderful handmade necklace for a friend.

You can get very creative at your local second hand store! Make a kitchen set out of wood bowls and find unique tea sets. Find wood beads and yarn for necklaces and crafts.

If you think that computer toys are the only type of 'educational toy' Check out my prior posts on natural learning.

Have fun!

Reading About Writing My Favorite Inspirational Books

Writing has been a great way for me to work through past and present problems and honor my everyday life as a mother. I used to enjoy art and painting but since the birth of my daughter I have been using writing and photography as my creative outlet. I also love to read. Lately I have been reading some books on writing so I can better understand this 'drive' I have to put words to paper (or MS word).

I have been able to check out all of these books from my local library.

Here are some of my recent favorites
For inspiration and tips

Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman's Guide to Igniting the Writer Within (Paperback)

by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

On Writing (Mass Market Paperback)

by Stephen King

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Paperback)

by Natalie Goldberg -
And her other titles: Wild Mind ~ Living the writer's life and Thunder and Lightning ~ Cracking open the writers craft (reading it now and lovin' it!)

Writing Life Stories: How To Make Memories Into Memoirs, Ideas Into Essays And Life Into Literature (Paperback)

by Bill Roorbach

And if you get the urge to write for magazines (non fiction or personal essays)

Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (Paperback)

by Christina Katz

The Renegade Writer's Query Letters That Rock: The Freelance Writer's Guide to Selling More Work Faster (The Renegade Writer's Freelance Writing series) (Paperback)

by Diana Burrell

Writing Novels, anthologies and zines

How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead: Your Words in Print and Your Name in Lights (Paperback)

by Ariel Gore

I really enjoyed this read as well- I have a few friends who plan on self publishing- Ariel has a chapter in her book dedicated to this and other creative ways to get your work out there "Be an anthology slut and a brazen self-promoter" comes to mind:) This book is a real easy and enjoyable read~ especially for a 'how to' book.

October is Attachment Parenting Month!

I support attachment parenting! I practice this parenting style with both of my babies. My daughter is now 22 months old and she is one of the most independent and loving toddlers I know! The Attachment Parenting Book~ A commonsense guide to understanding and nurturing your baby by William Sears MD is a great place to get started if you are looking for more information.
The book clearly explains the seven "baby B's"
Bonding
Breastfeeding
Babywearing
Balance
Bedding close to baby
Belief in the signal value of baby's cry
and Beware of baby trainers

~a great resource!

From The Website: About AP Month

"What: Attachment Parenting International (API), along with the Sears family and other prominent AP supporters, have declared October to be Attachment Parenting (AP) Month.

The AP Month vision is to create one strong voice for AP through activities, events and information and to celebrate what we believe in — the value of “Giving Our Children Presence” for our families and for our communities.

Who: All parents, AP partners and like minds around the world are invited and encouraged to join with us in “Giving Our Children Presence” during the first annual Attachment Parenting Month.

Why: “Giving Our Children Presence” is the theme for AP Month 2008 and an antidote to the upcoming holidays so often filled with the giving of material presents. During AP Month, parents are challenged to incorporate more family time into each day and AP Month partners will offer resources to support and sustain these efforts all year round.

Key AP Month Goals include unifying the AP voice to:
1. Offer parents and adults support and confidence in “Giving Our Children Presence” to last a lifetime
2. Promote awareness of AP
3. Educate about API, other AP Month sponsors and their services
4. Provide a source of funds to support the API mission

Resources: The AP Month Central website is the gateway to information about AP Month. It includes a calendar of activities in which to participate and the AP Month Toolkit as resource for you to use to plan and promoting your own events and activities for October."

Visit Attachment Parenting International Today!

Children's Nature Learning Programs

Nature Deficit Disorder
is on the rise here in America.

If your family is 'plugged in' to TV, video games, I pods, and cell phones and you don't know where to begin to change your addiction to media there are many programs that can inspire your family to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Childhood obesity is on the rise- kids NEED to get outside not only for exercise but also to nurture the imagination and spirit.

If you need some inspiration;

Little Acorn Learning is offering a free sample week!

From their website: "Little Acorn Learning is a Natural Childcare Program that offers Monthly Nature-Based Guides for Caregivers of Young Children.

Our program is ideal for childcare providers, homeschoolers, co-ops, parents, daycare centers, schools and teachers.

This is an Affordable and Complete Childcare Program which gently guides the caregiver through a healthy rhythm each day.

This is a holistic, whole life program warming and nurturing both the children and the provider. This program is as much for the caregiver as it is for the children. The guides assist caregivers in all areas of their lives with Weekly Caregiver Meditations, Daily Housework Suggestions, Recipes, Grocery Lists, Crafting Lists and Ongoing Encouragement and Support.

Our goal is to reconnect children with nature while supporting the caregiver's soul - helping providers find true meaning and purpose in their work with young children. We inspire a love for nature and the home arts."

I have checked out this program, it looks wonderful and the price is right!

Another resource I am really excited about is Coyotes Guide To Connecting With Nature

This is a book that is about to be released by Wilderness Awareness School founder Jon Young, Ellen Haas & Evan McGown. The foreword is by Richard Louv, author of the bestselling Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder.

Supplies are limited, join the launch to sign up now! You have until October 8th

Green Hour
Discover the wonders of nature is a great resource that offers daily tips for your family.

From the website: "As a society, we are raising the first generation of Americans to grow up disconnected from nature.

That's the bad news.

The good news is that the steps that got us here are easily traced, and the way to work toward reversing them is clear.

Most importantly, by giving our children a "Green Hour" a day -- a bit of time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world -- we can set them on the path toward physical, mental, and emotional well-being."

I hope you enjoy these wonderful resources!