Toys Made in USA: The Best of the Best

Photo: carmen zuniga on Flickr

As parents, we all know the power of marketing. About 2 seconds of a cool commercial is all it takes for my son to be convinced that he "needs" whatever shiny, flashy toy is on the TV. But the best toys aren't made to be the hot ticket items of the season; the best toys are made to last.

Richard Gottlieb wrote an insightful post on Global Toy News entitled What Makes a Great Toy? He narrows down the criteria to four areas: the toy has to inspire memories that last a lifetime, it should create a sensory experience (touch, sound, etc), it should be scalable and grow with the child, and it has to be built to last.

As a parent, I wholeheartedly agree. Too many toys have been opened up on birthdays and Christmases only to break soon after. (Or in the case of one unfortunate RC airplane -- mere hours later.) But (and this should come as no surprise), I also believe the best toys come from right here in the USA. Buying American-made toys may have started as a matter of safety, but it's also a matter of principle. Buying American means supporting our neighbors -- making sure there are jobs for the talented workers and craftspeople that live in our own backyards.

Here are four of our favorite American-made toys.

Wooden Mail Truck. Sturdy enough to pass from generation to generation, this friendly little mail truck is sure to be a hit with any toddler. The littlest ones can take the red lid off and just place the mail and shapes inside. As they grow, they can fit the mail into the slot and the shapes into the cutouts on the truck.

Brain Quest. There aren't too many games that your sixth grader can enjoy as well as your first grader. Brain Quest is a game that's truly for the whole family. The questions are scaled so the playing field is fair.
Dado Cubes. Dado Cubes have won too many awards to list -- and it's no wonder. These simple cubes in various colors and sizes have limitless building possibilities. Your kids will just have fun creating new and interesting structures while (without realizing it) they're learning all about proportion, balance, color and structure.

Green Toys Trucks. Made from recycled milk jugs. Seriously. Not only are they eco-friendly, these trucks are sturdy, colorful, functional and fun. They inspire hours of imaginative play.

Holiday Gift Guide: Top 5 Handmade Toys

Handmade toys have something mass-manufactured toys just can't have -- the human touch and the care that goes along with that. AmeriKid is proud to carry many wonderful made in the USA handcrafted items... and proud to support the artisans and craftsman behind the toys. Here's our list of the top five handmade toys for the holidays.


1) Stuffed Animals. What child wouldn't like to find a stuffed animal underneath the tree this year? Cuddly stuffed animals are a holiday classic. Arizona-based Stuffington Bear Company has been handcrafting stuffed animals since 1959. From giant teddy bears to Christmas favorites like Rudy the Reindeer to unusual stuffies like a horned lizard -- Stuffington makes them all. AmeriKid has a great selection of handmade stuffed animals. (The giant kangaroo is an AmeriKid staff favorite!)

Stuffington Stuffed Animals -- from $19.95 to $151.95.



2) Wooden Toolbox. Now this is a toy that is certain to become an heirloom. Handmade, eco-friendly, oak carrying box contains all the tools the young carpenter needs. Includes: a toy hammer, a screwdriver, a saw, a square, an old fashion hand drill, and 6 inch ruler. A great introduction to carpentry for a boy or girl. All the tools are quality-made of walnut, maple and oak with a non-toxic oil finish.

Solid Wood Tool Set -- on sale for $56.95.


3) Handmade Play Food. Our Four Fuzzy fruits are made of super soft minky fabric. You won't be able to resist playing with them! An absolute necessity for any play kitchen. These fuzzy fruits are a little smaller than life-sized and are perfect for little hands to hold. Breakfast food set and lunch food set are also available.

Fuzzy Play Food Fruit Set -- on sale for $20.85.



3) Puzzle & Paint Set. Our chunky, three dimensional puzzle and paint set is a great project for younger children. The puzzle is almost 2" thick, stands on it's own and the pieces are big and chunky, great for little hands. Made from high quality wood and sanded to perfection, your child will delight in creating their own puzzle masterpiece. Simply pick your design and paint with the colors of your choosing. The best part is, once completed, the puzzle can be played with again and again. Or, for the child that likes to display their projects, this one looks great just simply standing on a shelf! (Many designs available.)

Puzzle & Paint Set -- on sale for $15.15.



4) BeBe Sweeties. Meet BeBe Sweetie™! This dainty Sweetie doll is perfect for little hands at 9" tall and 4" wide at the top. This soft doll has an adorable sleeping baby face and is surrounded by ultra soft minky fabric. The head is jointed with a non-pop safety joint. The baby's outfit is not removable.

BeBe Sweetie -- on sale for $18.00.

Toys Made in USA: Perler Bead Designs

Photo: davef3138 on Flickr

Rainy days mean one thing around my house -- cries of "I'm booooored!" from my energetic, outdoor-loving son. One foolproof way to keep him busy and happy is to pull out a bucket of Perler Beads. These classic American-made bead kits are great for kids of all ages. The large bead kits are ideal for littler fingers, and bigger kids will enjoy the standard bead kits and bead buckets.

Craft projects with Perler Beads are only as limited as your imagination. The bead kits all come with patterns and ideas, but there are many more possibilities to try. Some Perler Bead Designs:

• Pencil Box
• 3-D Carousel
• Fanciful Pets
• Spinning Top
• 3-D Star
• 747 Airplane
• Space Shuttle

Do your kids love making designs with fuseable beads? Show us their favorite creations! Just upload a photo on our Facebook page.

Toys Made in USA - Clementine Art Products

Art projects with kids aren't supposed to be neat and orderly. And, to be frank, when kids are involved, art products aren't always used strictly for art "projects." I vividly remember my son getting a hold of a purple marker in his bedroom and coloring his arms solid purple. So when it comes to your kids, is "safe and non-toxic" safe enough?

That's exactly the question the inventor of Clementine Art products asked herself. As a teacher, she loved doing art projects with kids. But when she saw the splashes of paint in their hair and skin -- even in their mouths -- she wondered what actually went into those paints. It's good to know a product is non-toxic -- but what does that mean exactly?

According to Consumer Reports' Greener Choices, non-toxic implies that a product won't cause immediate or long-term adverse effects, but there are no specific standards for non-toxic. Clementine Art chooses to take non-toxic one step further. These all natural, American-made art products are made with truly safe products. So safe, in fact, the ingredients are listed on the label. Even the packaging is made of 80% post-consumer recycled and and reusable materials.

AmeriKid Toys & More carries a full line of Clementine Art products:

• Natural Markers
• Natural Soy Crayon Rocks
• Natural Modeling Dough
• Natural Paint Set
• Natural Glue
• Natural Soy Crayons
  

Source: GreenerChoices.org

Handmade Toy Alliance Blog Week: Toys Made in USA

Every employee of AmeriKid Toys & More is a parent. Our kids range in age from four to 13, so needless to say, toys aren't just our business -- they're a major part of our free time, our fun, and our lives. When the lead paint scare went wild in the media a few years ago, AmeriKid Toys & More was born. AmeriKid's founder -- mom to a toddler at the time -- wanted a reliable way to locate safe toys for our kids. As we've grown, the meaning of "American made" has sprouted into something so much greater for us. Beyond the safety issue, buying American means supporting talented and hard-working American manufacturers, designers and artists. It means we're helping to keep business in our own backyard.

Handmade products add a certain spirit and flair to our product line. From handmade felt food to a classic wooden toolbox, AmeriKid Toys & More wouldn't be the same without the awesome handmade products from our country's talented artists.




AmeriKid Toys & More is a member of the Handmade Toy Alliance. The HTA is a non-profit organization made up of crafters, manufacturers and importers of small batch children’s products. AmeriKid Toys & More is proud to feature products of several other HTA members including wooden blocks from Uncle Goose, creative wooden products from Tag Toys, and Mary's Softdough from Terrapin Toys.

In 2008, Congress passed the CPSIA to regulate the children’s product industry, but the over reaching law has unintended consequence requiring all children’s products to be tested at a third party testing lab. The testing costs are expensive and often require the destruction of several pieces for a result. The HTA is urging Congress to amend the CPSIA in a way that keeps safe products in the market place and maintains safety standards that protect our children. Do your part by going to www.handmadetoyalliance.com and contacting your member of congress.

Internet Safety Month: Keep Your Kids Safe Online

Photo: Jim Sneddon on Flickr

I adopted my son when he was 10 -- he was already very interested in the Internet and, in some ways, more knowledgeable about it than I was. One of his favorite things to do was to go online, search for images of animals or cars or anything else that he thought was cool and then make a collage of the printed pictures. A newbie mom, I thought he was safe if he only used the computer while I was in the room with him and if I was aware of what he was doing. That theory went out the window when my son searched for "foxes." Let's just say foxes of a decidedly non-furry type appeared.

The Internet is an amazing tool for kids, but safety has to be at the forefront of a parent's mind. Child safety software can prevent certain types of sites from loading for kids, but the software isn't fool proof. What's more, the world of kids bullying kids has moved from the playground to the net. Popular social media sites and chat rooms are just magnets for bullying and mean comments. My son has repeatedly asked for his own Facebook page; after seeing some of his friends' pages and the things they sometimes write about each other, I'm just not willing to allow it yet.

I think Internet safety starts with the absence of technology. Parents need to talk to their kids about the potential dangers on the Internet and how to stay safe. You can also let your kids explore sites that teach about Internet safety such as NetSmartz Kids and NSTeens.

What measures do you take to keep your kids safe on the Internet?

Amazing Kids: Nature or Nuture?

Photo: woodleywonderworks on Flickr

I was a cheerleader when I was in high school and I loved it for the most part. But I always wanted to play volleyball or maybe join the tennis team -- I was pretty good at those sports, too. I never strayed from cheerleading, though, because I felt a loyalty to the squad and felt like it was my place to be. Years later, when my niece went to the same high school I did, I was really proud of the way she handled extracurricular activities. She played volleyball every year, because that was her favorite sport. But in the off seasons, she chose different activities -- dance squad, basketball, track, the school musical -- she dipped her toes into a lot of pools just for the fun of it.

Now I'm a mom and I have a son that would join every team and club available if he could. I limit him to one sport per season, otherwise it's overwhelming for him, but the choice of what he wants to do is 100% his. I love soccer and think that my son shows real promise in the sport, but he opted for football last fall. I would have loved to have him try swimming last winter, but he chose basketball instead. And that's all okay with me. In fact, he doesn't even know that I had a preference at all. He's tried his hand at soccer, baseball, swimming, distance running, football, and distance biking and he's loved them all.

But I'm a mom. And it's in the basic job description for me to worry. I know that my son is happy and he's meeting a variety of kids and learning so much from this method of jumping from sport to sport. But, by not encouraging him to focus his talents in one area, am I selling his talents and potential short? He's happy right now, but when he's older will he wish he would have honed his talents in at least one sport so that he could be one of the strongest members of the team?

I'm in awe when I look at kids such as 13-year-old Jordan Romero, the youngest climber to summit Mt. Everest, or 16-year-old Jessica Watson, who spent seven months sailing solo around the globe. I worry when my son jumps his 1-foot ramp on his skateboard, so I can't imagine letting him scale mountains. And seven months alone on a sailboat? No way. But I also don't want to let my concerns hold my son back in any way.

I don't know the answers. Do kids like Jordan and Jessica just roll out of bed amazing? Or have they been trained and nurtured (or even unwillingly pushed) for the achievements? We all just have to do what's right for our kids. My son may never climb Everest or even be the star player on his high school soccer team... but he's happy and having fun. And that's amazing enough for me.