Playing Safe

Do you really want your child to enjoy playing with a toy that was made on the other side of the world by people who are no more than children themselves, and paid 30 cents an hour - a paltry sum that can barely sustain them? Unfortunately, all too often, that's exactly what you're doing.

I'm not suggesting that anybody who does this is uncaring and selfish - when we buy these toys it's usually because we don't know any better. After all, the big toy manufacturers are hardly going to tell us, are they?

Manufacture

So why is this allowed to go on? How can the toy giants get away with it?

Quite easily. Thanks to the way these factories are monitored, owners are warned of inspections beforehand and have time to 'clean up their act'.

While the Toy Industry Association of America has developed regulations regarding the safety of children's toys, they've done little to improve the situation for the unfortunate children who are forced to make them.

Their website explains that since a large percentage of toys sold in the US are produced in China, as far back as in 1996 the TIA developed a program to teach Chinese toy manufacturers US toy safety standards to ensure that imported toys met US requirements.

Videos and manuals covering safety in the factory and working conditions were developed, as well as fundamental health and hygiene practices, basic fire protection and ways to ensure toy factory compliance with laws. However, there's no mention of ongoing monitoring and as long as factory owners are allowed to operate without being properly supervised, little is likely to change.

A report released by UNICEF in 2000 revealed that child workers in developing countries were hidden in closets or boxes when inspectors arrived to examine the premises. Four years had passed but children were still being exploited. There's no evidence to suggest the situation is any better today and until the toy company's put pressure on the manufacturers to improve conditions, the likelihood of anything improving is practically non-existent.

Plastic & PVC

Plastic toys, and especially those made of PVC, can contain harmful chemicals such as phthalates, believed to be responsible for liver and kidney damage, as well as changing testicle development in young boys.

Some toys contain up 55 percent phthalates by weight. This affects the workers as they've been found to have a 200 times greater risk of developing liver cancer.

Choose wooden toys instead. As long as they're made from sustainable sources and have been painted with safe paints, they're far kinder to both those who make them as well as being friendlier to the environment. And they last longer, too. Just type "wooden toys from sustainable sources" into your favorite search engine and you'll be presented with a list of online suppliers.

By buying plastic and PVC toys for your children you're indirectly participating in the deaths of children who have never known the luxury of playing with toys. Do you really want to be a part of that?

Sharon Jacobsen is a professional freelance writer living in South Cheshire, England. Her areas of special interest are environmental and social issues, two subjects that very often cross.

If you'd like to contact Sharon, please visit her website at http://www.sharon-jacobsen.co.uk

In The News:

Fitness centers and workout studios are starting to establish policies that prohibit shooting phone videos to protect people's privacy.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents

Apple recently notified a small number of iPhone customers in 92 countries that their phones may be under attack by mercenary spyware.

An artificial intelligence-powered home security system can fire paintballs and tear gas at trespassers. The camera identifies human faces and animals.

Technology expert Kim Komando gives her tips and tricks on enhancing your user experience a smartphone and other devices you use everyday.

A new camera called NUCA uses artificial intelligence to create deepfake photos of subjects by stripping away clothing in close to real time.

The Kimberley Kube trail-ready camper has a compact but spacious design and combines luxury, functionality and ruggedness for a weekend getaway.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Emails instructing you to reset your password for an account may be legitimate, or they may be scams. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains.

Northrop Grumman's Manta Ray uncrewed underwater vehicle aims to revolutionize undersea missions — it glides through the ocean without human assistance.

Learn how to work Google's calendar application to streamline and organize your daily tasks from technology expert Kim Komando.

If you do not want Facebook to have automatic access to your private photos, follow our tips to protect yourself. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson shows you how.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson goes into detail about Apple’s recent iOS update that allows iPhone users to instantly translate spoken language simply by using the Action Button.

Safeguarding your digital life with a reliable physical backup isn't just a precaution, it's a necessity. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson provides the essential backup checklist.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how a Redditor exposed false recycling claims at their apartment, highlighting a report that only 21% of U.S. recyclables are processed.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson offers a travel toolkit featuring five technology tools to help you with booking flights and hotels for your summer vacation.

The bubble behind the clock on your iPhone can appear in different colors. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains what each of those colors mean.

Scammers are using the power of artificial intelligence to mimic voices of people and are using the fake voices to commit crimes, like kidnappings.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains the science behind the Invisibility Shield, a 6-foot shield that makes people become invisible.

The International Olympic Committee on Friday announced plans to use AI in various Olympic aspects, including athlete identification, training and judging.

Tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains an easy trick to avoid squinting while working or surfing the web by zooming in on your personal computer.

Streaming giant Roku has recently been targeted by a pair of cyberattacks, and the company confirmed over a half million Roku accounts were compromised.

The Land Aircraft Carrier combines an all-terrain, six-wheeled vehicle with a two-seat aircraft, which features electric vertical takeoff and landing.

The European Union has sent TikTok a "request for information" on the video sharing platform's newest app, TikTok Lite, under the Digital Services Act, with the aim to clean up social media.

Playing Safe

Parenting