Recall, Safety Alert, or Parenting 101?

When is a product recall really a “recall?’  Definitions of the word recall include:  to call back, order home or withdraw.  The definition seems clear enough.  If a product is in the marketplace and it has a defect that endangers the public safety, the manufacturer should “call back” the item to prevent possible injury.  Recently however, the Consumer Product Safety Commission seemed to redefine the word recall. 

Take the recent “recall” announced on February 11^th for Summer Infant ‘s baby video monitors.   The company received reports of the strangulation deaths of two infants caused by the electrical cords of the monitor wrapping around the infant’s neck and cutting off their air supply.  Since 2004 CPSC has received notification of seven infant deaths involving the cords on baby monitors in general. 

Normally “recalls” are used when a product defect is found, or when the product does not comply with an existing safety regulation.  Neither of these is true in the case of the baby monitor involved.  In fact, the monitors were placed on the infant crib or on the wall over the crib where the cords were within reach of the child.  Parental or caregiver responsibility has to be considered in this case. 

The manufacturer of the monitors is not asking for the monitors back from consumer; they are simply asking the consumer to call to receive a set of warning labels that more clearly advise not to place the monitor too close to baby’s crib or play area.  According to CPSC Commissioner Nancy Nord, the response to this “recall” has been minimal, and in some cases the response has been anger or frustration that they were frightened into thinking their monitor was defective.

On her blog, Commissioner Nord indicates that the reason she was given for the use of the term “recall” for this scenario was that “this is the only way to get media attention—unless we call it a recall, no one will pay attention to us.”  Really?  Does our government really think the US consumer buys that?  Given the very poor response to this “recall” so far, it appears that a Safety Alert and clear information on the safe placement of ANYTHING with hanging cords near babies would have been sufficient. Not only that, but if you purchased a monitor, heard “recall” and then found out the solution was a set of paper labels…well, what would your response be? 

Once you begin to pollute the field of product recalls with every type of warning or educational program, you have begun to slide down a very slippery slope.  At what point does the consumer just stop listening?

Leave your comments below.  Has the constant barrage of product recalls since 2007 made you question product safety overall?  How much time do you spend reading warning labels on products?

The Value of Serving Others

The world is not all about me! Learning this truth at a young age is invaluable.  Most two year olds are very self-centered.  The world literally is all about them. A two-year-old is in the very first stages of developing a sense of personal identity.  We have all seen the grocery store temper tantrum that exhibits the essence of a two-year-old’s world.  “I want what I want, when I want it and in exactly the way I want it!”  No amount of reason or discipline can be introduced to a two year old in the midst of a melt down to make them agree that the world is not all about them. 

By three years old most children have adopted a greater sense of who they are and new things (change) can be accepted more easily.  Three-year olds may still want to be the boss of what they do, but they are usually on their way to understanding that every day has something new to show them. That change just happens, and they’d better figure out how to adjust.  By five that child has come to know, and maybe even appreciate, that life comes with rules and responsibilities.  A healthy five-year-old begins to reach out for friends and realizes that having a friend means that sometimes it’s not about you, but about that friend.  The concept of serving others sprouts its tiny leaves.

The problem is, when it comes to understanding that the world is not all about them, many adults simply stalled at the two-year-old stage. That stage when the words “I want” rein supreme.  If we don’t get what we want, we simply yell louder, or whine until we garner someone’s sympathy.  We need that sympathy to fuel our discontent.

So it was with Louise, who for most of her life was stuck in that two-year-old stage.  “I lived in Orange County, California, where the average home cost was about  $500,000.  From the window of my small two-bedroom apartment I would look out to those houses every day and think, “I am barely making ends meet.”  Somehow I felt entitled to a better life - one where I had what I wanted and when I wanted it.  The problem was, I had created a bubble where only I mattered.  So what I didn’t have was always more than what I had.”  Louise's story points out that when you live in a world where you are the main character – that’s a problem.  In that kind of a bubble world you will always want more, but satisfaction will still remain just around the next corner.

In 2005, Louise signed up to go with ten other people to help the people in Sri Lanka who had been ravaged by the December 26, 2004 tsunami.  According to Louise, she’ll never really know what prompted her to do this, but to this day she believes that God was nudging her outside her little sphere of discontent into the real world.  This was her first real step outside her bubble world.  She was petrified to say the least. “After all,” Louise remembers, “I didn’t actually know where the heck Sri Lanka was when I signed up to go!”  But as Louise points out, she had been lonely and stuck inside that bubble world for a long time, and she was beginning to entertain the thought of a bigger life; one where maybe she wasn’t the main character.  Louise felt the need to see more to decide if this was just a dumb idea or a real life-changer. She was 51 years old.

What Louise found in Sri Lanka was destruction, death, sadness, poverty, oppression, violence, civil war and one heartbreaking story after the other. It was physically difficult, and emotionally challenging.  But amidst that same atmosphere she also saw great beauty, unbelievable emotional strength and fortitude, amazing faith and acts of genuine kindness and unconditional love. “People I didn’t know, whose language I didn’t even speak, reached out to me as if I were the one that came to be helped, not the one who had come to help.  The richness of their lives even in the midst of such traumatic loss was a real-life changer for me. “ She was almost instantly “unstuck” from her two-year-old stage and her bubble world had been popped.  Serving others became the foundational purpose for her life.

Learning this lesson at fifty-one brought with it the sad reality of how much she had missed for those first 49 years of her life.  Louise realized the importance of learning to serve others at a very young age.  There is such fulfillment and joy that comes when understanding that the world is not all about us.  With that understanding, we can break free from the walls of our bubble world and more fully experience a truly abundant life.

You don’t have to travel to Sri Lanka to introduce the concept of serving others to a young child.  Here are a few simple ways to begin planting that valuable lesson in the hearts of your children or grandchildren, aged 5 years & up.

·               Birthday Buddies - For each gift a child receives for his/her birthday, purchase a small gift at the dollar store. Call a local children’s hospital and visit with your child to deliver a small gift and some encouragement to some sick children.

      

·               Cozy Coat & Cover-up – This is particularly good to do in the late summer or early fall. Walk around the neighborhood with your child and handout flyers asking for gently used coats, sweaters or blankets.  Those that children or adults have outgrown are prime candidates.  Come back a week later to gather the cover-ups.  Contact a local church, temple, ward or social service organization to make a contribution.

·               Yarns by Youths - Young children who love to read and enjoy a good story can share their passion for storytelling by volunteering at their local library to sit and read to toddlers. 

·               Helping the Hungry – Not only will this help provide a nutritious meal for a hungry child, it will also show your child how those counting and sorting skills they are learning actually apply to real life!  Go to a local food pantry or Kids Against Hunger event where you and your child can work together to pack bags of rice, cans of food or other necessities into care packaged for the needy.  

·               Grins for Granny - Many senior facilities are delighted to have young people grace their hallways.  If your pre-teen or teen has good handwriting or reading skills, volunteering to read or write letters for the elderly is a welcome gift. Often times just the presence of a youngster brings smiles and some respite from their circumstances.

·               From Old to New – This is one of the most natural ways to teach youngsters about the joys of giving. Encourage your child to go through their toys and choose some they want to donate to children that may have no toys at all. Be sure to wash the toys well and only choose toys that are complete and in safe condition.  Contact a local family shelter for donation.

Manufacturers Balance Quality, Safety & Sustainability

As a parent, or grandparent, you choose toys and learning materials for your child based on many different factors. Most of us choose products by what we see on the outside. Is it attractive, kid-friendly, fun and sturdy in appearance? Today, more and more parents are recognizing that what goes on inside the toy is just as important.

Perhaps the first criterion for deciding what to purchase is watching your children. What do they enjoy doing?  Are they artistic, or studious, or avid readers, or excited by the newest electronic gadget?  Do they spend hours in the backyard with their friends playing Battle Zone Warriors, or Samantha Smith Private Eye?  Is music always a part of their daily activities?  Perhaps they enjoy building or designing things with odds and ends?  Observation is the first place to start the decision making process.

The next step might be observing how well the products they do play with actually hold up to kid-play.  Children are inquisitive beings and they don’t look at a toy like an adult might.  To them the baby doll stroller might double as a ride-on; the plastic tote that holds the builder set becomes a helmet.  Preschoolers and school-age children often think, “What happens if I do this?”   Your child may be quiet and reserved and play gently with their toys.  On the other hand, you may have a mini-MacGyver on your hands who longs to know what’s inside everything and won’t stop until he or she has completely dissected each toy.  These are important observations that help determine which product you will purchase.

No matter what the temperament of your child, you want a product that is versatile, durable and safe.  The products you choose must pass all appropriate safety regulations – that goes without saying. Toys that encourage a child’s imagination, engage their curiosity, and expand their experiences should top the list of criteria, as well.

Today, many parents are adding Social and Environmental Responsibility to that criteria list.  Parents want to know that their purchase is having a positive impact on the people and places the product is made.  Is it made in a factory that treats its workers with respect and pays them a decent wage? Are they honest about the age of their workers? Does the factory dispose of its wastes or chemicals in an environmentally sustainable way?  Is the package using excessive paper, or unnecessary plastic inserts whose long-term half-life is dramatically increasing our landfills?  How is the product re-used past its original design? 

More and more companies are recognizing the global importance of producing products in factories that practice good social and environmental responsibility. A company who is committed to strong sustainable polices contributes to the well being of the customer, the world they live in, and the world their children will live in tomorrow. 

When you make your next toy purchase, look for evidence that the manufacturer provides a durable, safe and good quality product on the outside, and that they care about how that product impacts our global environment, as well.

Toys Take Top Honors at 2011 Toy Fair

An outbreak of bird flu in Kinokawa, Japan.  

      Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak steps down from power.

              Predictions about who will take home the Oscar.

Last week was full of nail-biting news.  But the hotspot in the USA last week could arguably have been The 108th Annual International Toy Fair held in New York City. Manufacturers, designers, retailers, buyers, testing Labs and curious consumers crowded the toy fair showroom floor to get a look at (and a feel for) the best new toys of 2011.

Toys have a long and fascinating history. Pick up a toy and you can bet there is a story behind it.  Who made it?  What inspired them?  How did they get it to market?  What made it a hit?

Take the old-time favorite Lincoln Logs®, for example.  Designed by John Lloyd Wright, son of Frank, and an excellent architect in his own right.  This toy’s design was inspired by the foundation of Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel, which John was working on before his dad fired him!  Lincoln Logs® quickly became a success in schools and homes, and remains a favorite of kids today.

How about those classic Tinkertoy® sets invented by Charles Pajeau, a simple stone maker who was fascinated by the creative way that young children played with sticks and empty spools of thread. After tinkering in his garage and designing the prototype set of these builders, Charles traveled to the 1914 American Toy Fair to show his toy and find someone willing to fund his idea.  Twelve months later, over a million sets had been sold.  Today the Tinkertoy® line is sold by Playskool (a Hasbro subsidiary) and can be found in almost every child’s toy box.

Toys continue to spring out of creative minds and clever entrepreneurs. This year’s Toy of the Year Awards program, held at the Lincoln Center, included 11 categories of toys and 70 finalists.  Let’s take a look at the toys that made the list for The Best Toys of 2011.

The top honor for TOY OF THE YEAR went to Mattel’s adorable singing sensations, the  Sing-a-ma-jigs.  With a push on the tummy these cute & cuddly creatures talk, sing and even harmonize!  You won't be able to stop at just one.

The year’s best ACTIVITY TOY went to Crayola’s Color Wonder Sound Studio. A fun coloring set that lets you choose from 60 sound effects to place on any of the Color Wonder coloring pages, The result is an endless assortment of sound combinations that play back as you color the picture!  

   

Hasbro took three of the top awards. 

GAME OF THE YEAR:  This recognition went to a twist on an all-time favorite. Scrabble Flash is an electronic version of the classic game of Scrabble. It’s an interactive, fast and very addictive word-building game for ages 8 years & up. 

OUTDOOR TOY OF THE YEAR:  Nerf Super Soaker Shot Blast is an air-powered water weapon that shoots a powerful stream of H₂0 up to 25 feet! The extra large water tank allows the fun to continue longer between fill-ups.  Great for ages 6 years & up, but better buy at least two because you KNOW Dad will be using it just as much as the kids.

BOY TOY OF THE YEAR:  I thought maybe Barbie's Ken would win this award, but in reality the votes went to the Nerf Strike Stampede ECS Blaster.  This one is sure to be on my grandson’s Christmas wish list.  The Nerf Baster line has been wildly popular for boys for several years now, but the fully automatic, high dart capacity of this year's model will keep kids strategizing their next move for hours. Nerf Blaster Stampede is most appropriate for the older kids from 8 years & up. 

Another multiple winner, Leapfrog took two of the top awards this year.  


EDUCATIONAL TOYS OF THE YEAR
Designed for the up and coming computer literate generation, the Leapster Explorer™ was awarded honors for their updated version of this fun, educational learning tool.  Young 3-9 year old geeks will appreciate the new Flash and 3D graphics, boasts of some pretty impressive learning games, downloadable apps, a snap-on camera and online performance reports for parents.  


INFANT/PRESCHOOL TOY OF THE YEAR
Toddlers aged 2-4 years won't be able to put this colorful "leaptop" down.  As two adorable characters guide them through fun learning adventures where letters, numbers, music and animals are all part of the journey. They'll even be have email waiting for them when they sign on! It's no wonder this new creation from Leapfrog got the attention of the judges.

GIRL TOY OF THE YEAR:  The adorable world of Squinkies™ took top honors this year with the     Squinkies™ Cupcake Surprise! Bake Shop from Blip Toys.  This bakery inspired accessory set comes with 9 tiny figures and a few fun accessories for hours of imaginative play!  Insert the coins (included), turn the dial and out pops the little plastic vending machine bubble with the figure inside.  This set is will capture the heart of every 4- 6 year old little baker-to-be. 

PROPERTY OF THE YEAR:  Woody, Buzz, Jesse and the entire Toys Story 3 clan claimed their place at the top of the toy box, as Disney Consumer Products’ Toy Story 3 was awarded Property of the Year. These enchanting Toys Story characters seem to be showing up everywhere. They adorn toys, videos, games, books, costumes, clothing, art kits, musical concerts, cartoons and so much more.  Kudos to the creators of this trilogy who designed characters we cared about and cheered for over and over again.

SPECIALITY TOY OF THE YEAR:  Innovation First International brought us the HEXBUG Nano, a robotic little bug that responds to light and sound and acts just like a real bug.  This year the HEXBUG Nano Habitat Set was recognized as an educational toy disguised in a bug’s body.  The habitat set lets kids design their bugs’ habitat.  Online support adds educational value and information on bug facts.

Toys have come a long way since Lincoln Logs® and Tinkertoy® sets. Each toy, from the simplest to the most complex, deserves its chance to become "a classic."  The timeless toys, those who wear the title "a classic" are those that not only win awards, but continue to grab the attention of curious children year after year. 

A Risk-Takers Guide to Life on the Playground

photo courtesy of  kanzlerphoto.com

We are all risk takers to some degree.  Think about the risks you take everyday as a parent, employee, athlete, student, teacher, pastor, friend, doctor, window washer and so on.  The split second decisions you make can save your life, or the decisions you labor over that could change the course of your future.  What is the risk of eating that piece of key-lime pie?  Is it worth the pay off?  Do you take the same kind of risks today as you did 30 years ago?

Recognizing risk is the first step in a long, often invisible, decision making process.  Once the risk is recognized you’ll have to determine what the consequences of taking that risk could be.  You may feel the need to discuss taking that risk with a friend or co-worker, weighing the pros and cons of “going for it.”  In the end, you will make a decision that either demands action or perhaps, inaction.  You may go all out, or you may hedge your bets and find a way to minimize the consequences.

Not only is risk assessment a part of every manufacturer's quality assurance program, it is also a process that is essential to our everyday lives.  Assessing risk is a developed skill. It doesn’t really come naturally to many of us. The sad story is that our children are given far fewer opportunities to learn about risk, risk assessment and risk management.  They used to learn this on the playground monkey bars, or during outdoor play in the woods behind the house, where the forest’s fallen shoulders formed forts, castles and submarines.  Today the litigious nature of so many parents and consumer groups in the United States has meant the removal of any risk taking playground equipment, cutting down trees that may tempt kids to climb, and reducing P.E. class to a mild game of four square.  

The  National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) reviewed injury data from 1990 to 2000 and estimated that about 206,000 public playground and home playground injuries were treated in hospitals across the United States. 

• Children under 5 years accounted for 29.1 injuries per 10,000
• Children between 5-14 years accounted for 34.8 per 10,000
• Children 15 years and older showed up at only 0.6 per 10,000

Falls account for the majority of injuries, but strangulation is also a serious issue. Loose cords or drawstrings on clothing can become entangled in the equipment and the young child can not free themselves.  [See the 2/5/2011 article on Bike Helmet Safety]

• Sixteen states have now enacted some form of playground safety legislation. Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming have adopted the CPSC or ASTM public playground safety regulations.

• The CPSC guidelines for drawstrings on children’s clothing such as jackets and sweatshirts should be carefully enforced by parents and caregivers, as well as classroom teachers.

Research has shown that the improved safety standards for playgrounds do have a positive impact on reducing the most significant playground safety risks to youngsters. But that trend has also come at a price.  Over-protective parents somehow think that protecting their child from any sense of fear or risk is a good thing. The risk for that, however, can be just as dangerous. Have you seen a child that is afraid to jump off a platform, or swing too high, or slide down the slippery slide too fast?  These children are in danger of entering the real world without the coping skills they'll need in their adult life.  


The challenge for parents and childcare providers is finding a reasonable balance between risk and consequence. Supervision coupled with moderate problem-solving opportunities can go a long way to developing self-confident kids. Preschool playgrounds that incorporate naturally growing trees, tree stumps  and grassy knolls into the outdoor scheme invite creative play. Even these moderately challenging environments can help contribute to implanting adventure and a life-long love of physical activity into a child’s world view.  

In today's increasingly urban communities, the older, more threatening structures have been replaced with wooden or recycled plastic playground structures that more closely align with the new safety regulations.  Nature-friendly organizations like Arbor Day and their Nature Explore program are working with many schools to educate them about the benefits of more natural outdoor play areas. The CDC obesity statistics in the United States show that our children are in dire need of physical activity and exercise.  Making playgrounds enticing, challenging, fun and safe is an essential component of integrating physical activity into a children’s daily learning, problem-solving and overall sense of well-being.


Why not step away from the computer right now, and take your child to the park or the forest behind your home.  Challenge him to take a small risk. Let her know that being afraid is okay. Encourage him by letting him know that you believe he can make that jump, or leap across that puddle, or climb that rope ladder alone.  Showing your kids you trust them and that you'll be there for them as they take that risk, will build their self-confidence.  Be ready to kiss-and-make-it better when they fail - then send them back out to risk again.  When they leave home years later to face life on their own - these lessons will be invaluable.

Lakeshore Proves that Learning Can Be Fun!

        I just opened the 2011 Lakeshore Learning Materials Elementary catalog and I have just one word to say….WOW!!!    Okay I can’t stop at one word; let’s add on EXCITING, INNOVATIVE, AWESOME, ENGAGING, and CAPTIVATING!

     

     It's no secret that I'm a great fan of this educational supply company, but I just have to say that their new Technology section is sixteen pages of awesome learning!  Lakeshore’s creative product developers have designed over 100 new interactive software-learning programs to use with interactive whiteboards and computers.  That’s right, even if you don’t have an interactive board, you can use these CD-ROMS on your classroom computers or in your school’s computer lab.  There are programs suitable for all grades 1 through 6. I never thought I’d want to go back to the fourth grade, but with these great tools, learning has never been so much fun!  I am by no means a “techie,” but if you are not familiar with the Interactive Whiteboard here’s my very  basic 4-1-1 to get you in-the-know.

    

      The interactive, touch-enabled white board (i.e. SMART Board) has actually been around for almost twenty years, but in the past 5-7 years they have gained wide-spread popularity in classrooms. Today these boards are used by literally millions of students across the globe. An interactive whiteboard is basically a combination of a specially designed dry erase whiteboard and an LCD projector. It can be mounted on the wall just like a white board, or freestanding on a floor stand. The board is controlled by computer software, which turns the whiteboard into a jumbo computer screen easily viewed by an entire classroom. Combined with Lakeshore’s new learning software programs, kids can literally walk up to the board, touch the board and match rhyming words to pictures, move words into sentences, identify cause and effect, or ride a snowboard down a mountain!  Is that cool or what!

The Impact on Education

          Lots of research, both formal and informal, has been done on the effectiveness of these interactive boards. You have to determine exactly what you mean by “successful,” but most teachers using these boards agree that the boards themselves are really just a tool.  An incredibly powerful tool, without a doubt, but it’s the teacher using the board that makes the real difference.

     Heather Wolpert-Gawron, 7^th and 8^th grade Language Arts teacher and 2004 California Regional Teacher of the Year, stresses that both effective training in how to use the boards and effective teaching is critical.  In her article on “Technology Combined with Good Teaching Leads to Success,” Heather cites the studies done by educational researcher Robert Marzano  which show some pretty impressive results of student achievement scores when a trained teacher confidently incorporates technology, like the interactive boards, into their daily teaching arsenal of tools.

As with any new technological tool, there are plenty of opinions to go around.

 The PROS:

• Increases student motivation and involvement in the learning process
• Promotes student collaboration and problem-solving
• Notes and information written on the board during a lesson can be stored for future use records and documents student achievement
• Allows teachers to develop creative, multimedia lessons for easy access in the future
• Appeals to a wider range of students’ intelligences (visual, motor, social and digital)
• Allows teachers to create lessons and outlines for substitute teachers

 The CONS:

• The dry-erase markers (or the cleanser used on a whiteboard) can irritate the eyes, nose or throat of youngsters who are particularly sensitive to the chemical out-gassing
• The cost of the boards and projectors themselves, as well as the supplies needed for their effective classroom use, can be cost prohibitive for many schools.  Outside funding or non-profit groups are often needed to raise money to purchase these boards

 If you are one the fortunate teachers already using the interactive board, I think you’ll find these Lakeshore programs fun and engaging.  If your classroom has not yet been blessed with a board – these programs will surely re-energize your computer stations. Grab a 2011 Lakeshore Elementary Catalog and let me know what you think. Don't be surprised if you get parents hanging around a little more often to play these fun learning games right along with their child.

Product Safety from Both Sides of the Product

In 2007, Mattel Toy Company and their Chinese sub-suppliers made a $2.3 million mistake. They didn't follow their own in-house quality assurance steps.  They failed to check  the lead levels in the paint used on some toys they produced in China and sold in the USA.  The result was a recall of millions of toys with lead levels above the allowable limits.  Some say they got arrogant, others say they got lazy, still others were sympathetic to the monumental task of product testing and supply chain documentation. Whatever you believe, it happened.  But the ensuing tsunami effect of that mistake is really quite amazing.  If this can happen to a giant like Mattel, what about the smaller companies importing toys and children products for sale in the states?  And so the witch hunt began. Instantly, all China toy manufacturers were labeled as sub-par.  All toy suppliers and manufacturers became villains of the worst kind.  Trust had been broken and accusations were flying around like a leaves in a wind storm.  


Enticed by the low costs, toy manufacturers dove head first into China without really understanding the intricacies or consequences of the cultural differences. Assumptions of understanding each other were made, and in the end - those assumptions became weapons of destruction for many USA toy companies and their Chinese manufacturers. To avoid the stigma of the "Made in China" label, many manufacturers are looking for new suppliers in Malaysia, Indonesia or VietNam. However, many of these factories are just learning the ropes in toy production and USA consumer/retailer expectations. As in China, the pressure to produce the very best quality goods for the very lowest US dollar puts any factory at risk of succumbing to corner cutting.  If history tells us anything,  it's that the learning curve in any new factory is long and while they are learning,  product safety issues could begin to surface here in the USA.  

In response to this perceived invasion of unsafe toys, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in August 2008.  This historic new law carried inside it so many new regulations, testing and certification requirements that over two years later we are still weeding through the details.  


New lower lead limits for paint and substrates were mandated on all toys, children's products and furniture.  Restrictions on the amount of specific chemical softeners (phthalates) that could be used in PVC and other plastics were called out. The once voluntary toy safety testing (ASTM F963) became a federal requirement for all toys intended for children under 12 years old.  Tracking marks are now required on products and their packaging. For each product they produce, manufacturers will be required to maintain documentation on the design, materials, risk assessment, testing, suppliers and sub-suppliers.  In-house Reasonable Product Testing Programs must be documented and maintained. 


The CPSIA was vague and inclusive.  In fact it was so inclusive that sadly many small businesses that could not afford the extensive new processes and additional testing costs have succumbed to its effects.  Hand-crafters, stationary & art material suppliers, small toy retailers, and publishers have all been added to the obituary list.  Testing labs and manufacturers of all sizes were scrambling to figure out how to meet the February 2011 testing & certification deadline set by CPSC last year.  

On February 1, 2011, CPSC voted to extend the Stay of Enforcement on testing and certification for CPSIA lead in paint and substrates.  The new December 2011 deadline gives manufacturers one quick breath of relief, but the pressure is still on the have these tests completed and documented within the next 10 months.


For consumers it likely feels as if the implementation of this new law is taking too long.  From the outside it appears that manufacturers have been given one extension after another, and very little is being done to improve the safety of the toys on the store shelves.  But from inside the walls of a manufacturer, there have been daily discussions & changes over the past two years geared toward implementing the CPSIA requirements.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent in labor, process designs, testing, documenting, developing product history files and auditing supply chains.  Keep in mind that the great majority to toy manufacturers already have quality control processes in place. The CPSIA meant that they needed to redesign many of their internal systems to meet the new requirements.


At the risk of sounding dismissive, I am not really convinced that all this has resulted in safer toys overall. I definitely think it has raised the expectation of the consumer, and the responsibility of the manufacturers to be vigilant about testing their products and auditing their supply chains. Providing the safest products possible for our children is without a doubt the end goal.  But some consumer advocacy groups use media frenzy to build up unrealistic consumer expectations of safety.  Where a child plays with a toy or a stick or a cardboard box - the potential for injury is present. Parental responsibility and supervision has been eliminated from the equation in so many cases.  


I am a parent, and a grandparent.  I want my kids to grow up healthy without hidden mechanical or chemical hazards putting them at risk.  Chemical hazards, like lead, need to be regulated and carefully managed at all levels of manufacturing.  But adding layer after layer of testing, documentation, and certification regulations does not necessarily serve to make a safer product. Providing clear expectations and guidance to manufacturers is critical. 


Some in the product safety industry fear that our regulatory system is so broken, repair seems impossible.   Parents want safe toys.  Manufacturers want clear guidelines that help them assure the safety of the products they produce without driving up the cost to the consumer.  Importers/Retailers want a testing program with which they can comply without going bankrupt.  President Obama's direction on regulatory reform asked our US government agencies to look at our systems to see where we can avoid excessive, inconsistent and unnecessary regulations.  Perhaps that is a first glimpse at recognizing the mess we've made, and the first small step toward finding a solution.

For an excellent look at the challenges of manufacturing in China, read Angela Valdez's article on The Impact of Economic Slowdown on US Supply Chains.

States Act to Address Global Slavery and Human Trafficking

Product Safety is not just about what happens to a product in the hands of our children.  It also includes the safety of the lives of those who produced it.  So often our toys and learning materials are produced in other countries, and sadly the laws in many of those countries do not protect child or the poor from child labor or human slavery and trafficking.  My heart was opened to this disgracing truth many years ago during a humanitarian visit to Sri Lanka, and subsequent discussions with a dear friend who fights sexual trafficking of young girls in Thailand, India and Vietnam.  Every year, billions of dollars in profits are generated by victimizing millions of people around the world. Human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal commercial activities in the world.

The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 is one state’s attempt to address the global problem of slavery and human trafficking.  The State of California is often battered with complaints about how its restrictive laws and regulations make it so difficult for businesses to thrive.  This new requirement is likely to have a good share of opponents as well.   I, for one, applaud the attempt to take a stand against this all too well-disguised evil. It is one way to shine a light on a practice that many simply have not wanted to recognize.  Evaluating my own personal “supply chain” may have to be adjusted, and that means that I may make different decisions about where I go to purchase that cup of coffee, pair of shoes or new nightgown.   It allows me to be one step closer to knowing that I am not contributing to the harm of a young child or indentured slave. I am pleased to know that many other state and federal legislation is addressing this issue with vigor.


Here are some brief details about this new law that becomes enforceable on January 1, 2012.

§  Applies to retailers and manufacturers with annual worldwide gross receipts of $100,000,000 or more.

§  Requires that retailers and manufacturers doing business in the State of California provide consumers with information about their efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking (SHT) from their supply chains

§  The disclosure to be posted on manufacturer/retailer's Internet Website, or otherwise made available to the consumer within 30 days of request.

In this “disclosure” manufacturers/retailers must explain how they are vetting their suppliers for compliance with their policies on Slave and Human Trafficking; how they maintain vendor accountability throughout the year,; and what SHT risk-reduction training they provide to employees involved with selection of suppliers.


For more information on Child Slavery and Human Trafficking, check out some of my favorite humanitarian groups that are on the ground every day working to eliminate this practice.   Might I suggest that if their work touches your heart, why not see how you might contribute toward their efforts.  

International Justice Mission 

Children of Grace 

Polaris Project 

Finding Freedom                   

Not For Sale

isanctuary   

Trade as One

CDC's 2011 Vaccination Schedule for Youth

I realize that vaccines for children are a controversial topic for many parents, pediatricians and researchers. I happen to believe in them, and I hope that the mom whose child is sitting next to my granddaughter in Kindergarten believes in them, too!  Having personally seen first hand the devastating effects of what TB and Hepatitis can do to a young child deprived of the vaccine; I take my place on one side on the topic.  Others don’t agree with me, and that’s cool.

Whatever you believe  - the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has just come out with their 2011 recommended immunization schedule for children from birth to 18 years of age.  I thought those of you out there that do vaccinate your kids would be interested in this information.

Remember that you have the choice (and the responsibility) to make an informed decision for your child. The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act requires that parents or patients be given copies of Vaccine Information Statements before administering any vaccine listed in the schedules.

You can find  additional information from the Department of Health & Human Services  and from the CDC right here.

Safe Use of Infant Slings

Baby slings have been used for generations all over the world.  I know I used one with my kids. If used properly, a baby sling can be a lifesaver for a busy mom (or dad) who needs both hands free to get chores done while keeping baby close. They can create a wonderful bonding time between baby and caregiver. However, remember that babies must be carefully positioned in the sling to avoid suffocation or bodily harm to the child.  Suffocation can occur in as little as one-two minutes!

Do not use a sling with babies under 4 months old, pre-mature or low-weight babies or infants with respiratory problems (cold, asthma, etc.)  CPSC issued a a safety alert last year emphasizing the proper use of slings.  This alert was based on reports of 14 infant deaths (since 1990) that can be directly attributed to the use of an infant sling. Most of these deaths occurred with infants in fragile conditions as mentioned earlier. 

If you are selecting a sling for an older baby (over 4 months old and between 7 to 25 lbs), consider your child’s size and the size of the sling. If the child is small and the sling is large – the child could settle too far down into the sling and suffocate. Don’t allow baby’s chin to drop too far toward to his/her chest.  This too could make breathing difficult for baby. If the sling is too tight, this could also make it hard for the child to breathe.

Be sure baby is strong and healthy when using a sling, keep baby’s face uncovered at all times while in the sling, and check baby’s position frequently.

Infant slings currently have no mandatory safety regulations, but I recommend that you look for slings that meet the current voluntary standard - ASTM F 2236-10 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Soft Infant Carriers.  There will likely be new federal requirements for these slings in the near future.