Toys and Games

My son has been an avid Mac user since he was around 18 months old (although I do try to limit the amount of time he spends on it). Since computers are a part of his life, I like to find educational games that spark his imagination and inspire learning. This week I received a DVD-ROM copy of Mia Reading: Bugaboo Bugs!, part of the Mia’s Big Adventure Collection series, a neat computer reading game that offers a great balance of fun and education. My son had a blast playing some of the games and adventures, and I have to say I was really impressed with how quickly he started to spell words, and comprehend sentences, all while having fun.

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Marin Mommies is pleased to present the second in a series of guest posts by pediatricians Dr. Steven Martel and Dr. Oded Herbsman. Drs. Herbsman and Martel are the founders of Child’s Light Pediatrics, Inc., an innovative, house-call based pediatric practice that serves Marin and San Francisco.

There has been a lot of media attention regarding the risk of lead exposure from children’s toys. Most of this attention has been focused on the risk of exposure from lead paint in toys made in China.

What is lead poisoning?

Lead is a toxic metal that affects the nervous system.  It is absorbed primarily through the inhalation of lead dust and ingestion of lead products.  Lead poisoning generally occurs slowly after repeated exposures.

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In the search for toys that won't end up in a recall announcement on the 6-o'clock news, we've discovered that, amazingly, there are toys out there that are actually still made in the USA! While that's no guarantee of superiority, it's a pretty safe bet that there's some better quality control and a complete lack of lead paint or other toxins that could be ingested by your children. In fact, some of these toys are downright classics that provide fun, open-ended play and can be enjoyed for years to come, rather than consigned to the landfill with all the other plastic junk.

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It seems now that just about every other day there’s a new recall of toys, most of which are mass produced in China. Invariably they end up being a popular plastic toy contaminated with lead or who-knows-what-else. Although it’s difficult in this age of imports and outsourcing, you can find quality toys from the US or Europe that not only are unlikely to be tainted with anything, but are higher quality, to boot.

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We'll be gearing up for a summer road trip in a short time, and that means it's time to start looking for something to keep the kids occupied in the back seat. Looking out the window is only good for so long, and we're not going to get a car with a DVD player in it, so we have to look for other means to pass the time. One of our favorite lines of puzzles and games  comes from Mudpuppy by Galison. They produce a wide range of products inspired by artists, illustrators, and well known children's books, and they also happen to have what we think are some great road trip activities!

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My 4-year old son has always been a huge lover of puzzles. He likes the challenge of finding all the fitting pieces and accomplishing the task of seeing his puzzle complete.Some of his favorites are the oversized, 24-piece 2x3-foot floor puzzles, maybe because they are as big as him. "Santa" brought him a United States map floor puzzle for Christmas, which I wasn’t sure if he would like, but it really ended up sparking his interested in the map and asking questions about it. Mudpuppy, which makes the puzzle in question, has a wide selection of really cool and educational puzzles. Some of their other floor puzzles include the Oppenheim Gold Award winner Our World, Our Solar System, Alligator Alphabet, and Old MacDonald, as well as puzzle based on beloved children's books like Eloise, Goodnight Moon, Where the Wild Things Are and The Rainbow Fish. They also have two-sided, 3D, and mini cube puzzles, and a First Puzzles series for littler children. Mudpuppy puzzles use vibrant colors and original whimsical artwork that makes them instantly appealing to children and parents alike. You can order products directly from them (or rather their parent company, Galison): www.galison.com/MUDPUPPY-C43.aspx.

I’m always on the lookout for cute and unique organic soft cotton baby toys for my daughter. She is in the teething stage and is always putting something in her mouth. I like to buy organic cotton baby items that use naturally colored fabrics and unprocessed fillings and are free of chemicals, especially if she is putting them in her mouth. Some of the cutest organic baby toys are made by a company called miYim. Their organic cotton collection includes fairytale themed plush animals, a puppet theater, sleepytime toys, and storybook animals, to name a few. A family member gave one to my daughter and she loves it. You can buy these at BabyCenter.

Another very cute and popular line of organic cotton baby toys that I came across is by Lana’s Natural Products from Austria. These toys are made from 100% organic cotton and pure wool. Lana watches over the process from the organic cotton fields to the hand-sewn product itself to ensure the highest quality. Lana’s products include a goose, donkey, pig, bunny, dragon, and mouse. They are all very cute, which make it hard to choose. These are available at OOMPA Toys.

Looking for indoor fun on a rainy day? My daughter received the Parent's Magazine Bee Bop Band; for her Birthday in December. This of course led to a classic sibling rivalry rush to appropriate the toy, but fortunately there are enough things included in the set to go around. On a rainy day, I play some fun music and bring out the Bee Bop Band. The kids love to dance, sing and shake the instruments. The Bee Bop Band includes 2 drum sticks, a bee maracas/clacker, and super cute ant bells, a caterpillar tambourine and a ladybug xylophone with mallet. All items are stored in a large drum with handle and strap. A high quality product and an award-winner, it is suitable for 18 months and up and is $19.99.