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

In a report that was released yesterday, the group find that one in three toys tested was found to contain toxic chemicals such as lead, flame retardants and arsenic.

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.

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.

Here are some things they found:

• 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.
• 62% of the tested products – or 954 items – contain low levels of chemical concern.
• 21% of the products tested – or 324 items – contained no toxic chemicals to be worried about.

To see how the toys were rated please visit www.healthytoys.org

Some of the companies that do well are many that we have covered on this site.

Plan Toys, Melissa and Doug, Alex Toys, iPlay, Haba, Lego, Corolle and Baby K’tan are listed as some of the best.

 SOURCE

• 1 serving tray
• 1 set of salt and pepper shakers
• 2 slices of bread
• 1 slice of cheese
• 1 sourdough roll
• 1 hard-boiled egg (2 pieces)
• 1 hard boiled egg holder
• 1 sausage
• 1 slice of bacon
• 1 fried egg

Green Parent Alert:PlanToys are always made from natural, chemical free rubber wood and finished with non-toxic and child friendly colors.

$17.99 at oompa.com

They are a fun and creative way for children to match shapes, texture and color as well as practice hand-eye coordination. This charming set of four colorful animals stimulates children’s imagination and creativity while learning about animal textures and colors.

Feel Good Factor:

Plan Toys are made from natural, chemical free rubber wood and finished with non-toxic and child friendly colors.

Available in a 8 piece set at Oompa.com for $19.99

There are some really good pull toys out there for kids, 1 and older. Many of them promote great developmental skills like gross/fine motor as well as cognitive and sensory skills.

Here are 6 of the best pull toys I found:

1. Selecta Constrictino - This pull bus/toolbox is full of nuts and bolts to get any job done. A good imagination is needed to produce imaginative creations. Made of wood with completely non-toxic, child-friendly paints and finishes.

Learning Skills:

Creative Expression, Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Social/Emotional and Independent Play

Contains 31 pieces. Size 10 1/4 x 6 x 4 1/4 inches. $59.95 US

2. Sevi Animal Train - This fun bright train includes 3 animals, 12 blocks, 3 train cars, and 1 smoke stack – all interchangeable. Your child will have fun stacking, sorting and pulling the train all over your house. It is made of wood with 100% non-toxic varnish, child friendly finishes.

Learning Skills:

Cognitive, Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Sensory, and Independent Play

$77.99 US

3. Selecta Rotondo – I like this tractor. It combines a few activities in one, starting with the shape sorter on the back. While connected it rolls as the truck is being pulled. Once disconnected your child is able to sort the 3 different shapes into their spaces. Made of wood with completely non-toxic, child-friendly paints and finishes.

Learning Skills:

Cognitive, Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Sensory, and Independent Play

$59.75 US

4. Haba Circo - This pull car is one of Haba’s most popular toys. It has won many award including Spiel Gut: Good Toy Award and Form 99. As it is moved, the colourful wheels spin creating a visual pattern on each side. The knobs are removable and interchangeable.

Learning Skills:

Early Motor, Gross Motor, Sensory and Independent Play.

$41.99 US

5. Selecta Camiono – A four-wheeled shape sorter to pull around. A bell sounds when this truck is pulled and the driver – Mr. Mouse squeaks when pressed. Shapes are sortable through the top and sides, with the whole back designed to look like a piece of cheese. Made of wood with completely non-toxic, child-friendly paints and finishes.

Learning Skills:

Cognitive, Creative Expression, Fine Motor, Gross Motor and Independent Play.

$59.75 US

6. Plan Toys Dancing Alligator – This green alligator does the least, costs the least but will be an instant favorite! While being pulled, the wooden pieces make rhythmic click-clacking sounds as he dances along. It is easy to see how it won The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award and The German Design Prize. Personality counts for everything!

PlanToys are made from natural, chemical free rubber wood and finished with non-toxic and child friendly colors.

Learning Skills:

Gross Motor, Sensory and Independent Play.

$14.99 US

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Playing always entails learning, not by means of teaching, but on the basis of personal experience – the most effective form of learning in childhood.
Physical and mental agility, social behaviour, imagination, logical thinking, planned action, powers of concentration, stamina, joy at being active and a great deal more besides, can be developed by playing, and the benefits can be seen for the rest of the child’s life – at work and during leisure activities, as well as in a wide variety of other situations.

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QUOTE SOURCE