While the bike accessories and necklace contained the most lead, the CHE also found levels of lead in violation of the new federal law in a Dora the Explorer game set, two children’s shoes, a child’s poncho, and a child’s belt.

Obviously there hasn’t been enough of a crackdown on some major toy companies.

The California Attorney General has notified the retailers and the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of the lead-tainted products but even so, Michael Green, Executive Director of CEH, notes, “When parents shop for toys this year, they need to know that there are still some lead problems on store shelves.”

A full report of the results from all the CEH tests and more testing by other groups will be published by Healthy Toys on December 2. Of course if you don’t want to wait, you can still shop smartly for safer toys. Read the following for tips…

• Find toxic free toys for the holidays
• Shopping for safe toys made easy
• Less expensive green toys

[image via stock.xchng]

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Lead found in common holiday toys

Each Concept Box is filled with eco-friendly toys, books and games, pre-packaged to teach specific concepts to young children. Plus the boxes give a parent, grandparent, teacher or caregiver ready-made tools for teaching a child an array of concepts from health and the body to personal safety, good eating habits, geography, travel and even sustainable architecture. For example, the Moody Foodie Concept Box (shown above) comes with US-made, colorful pots & dishware made of recycled milk jugs, sensory dough, food puzzle, cooking/art apron, games, sliceable fruit & veggies and more.

Concept Boxes come in a wide array of interest choices and are ready made for babies, toddlers, and preschool aged kids. Jade’s ToyBox has carefully selected each toy, book and game and also donates a portion of the proceeds to a variety of charities that benefit kids. Visit Jade’s Toy Box to learn more.

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Shopping for Safe Green Toys Made Easy

Season’s Original Treehouse – BEST toy ever. So darn cute and way fun, this amazing treehouse comes with access from all six sides through windows and doors, trap door, skylights and tower ledges. Kids can pretend to excess with cool extras like the look out tower, swings, rope ladders, transport pulley system, loft, opening and closing shades, knot ropes, clothesline, even a tire swing. Handmade wooden house with non toxic finishes.

Making Flower children – a wonderful and detailed, step-by-step book about making a range of lively, creative flower figures. All activities are organized by season.

The Little Daisy Doll Kit is so sweet and summery! Everything you and your child needs to make your own little Daisy. OR pick up some of these too cute for words new, Wee Seedling Babies (below!)

Last, but not least if your little one has a birthday in August these beautiful little packets of Fairy Garden Seeds will make the perfect party favor. Packaged in a pretty reusable gossamer bag with pressed flowers seal, comes a generous mix of annuals made to please fairies, butterflies, and kids alike. Mix includes bachelor buttons, cosmos, small sunflowers, zinnias, and forget-me-nots, plus comes with a sweet little fairy garden verse.

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Non-toxic summer fantasy toys

Eco Home

Plan Toys makes all their toys with natural fertilizer-free rubberwood recycled from rubber trees that are no longer able to produce latex. Plan Toys are assembled with a proprietary non-formaldehyde glue and contain no formaldehyde emission (E-Zero). Their toys are painted with non-toxic, water based dyes free from lead and mercury. Even their shipping is eco-friendly; all Plan Toys are packaged in recycled and recyclable materials and packaging is printed with soy and water based inks. PLUS Plan Toys uses sustainable energy methods (solar cell and biomass) for their plant machinery that kiln-dries their wood and paint.

Eco Charging Station

Oh and did I mention their toys rock?! In my opinion, your best bet for summer-long fun is to hit the Plan Toys City Collection. You’ll find dollhouses, cars, small people, a hyper cool eco-charger station, pets, gardening supplies, and more.All their toys have eco-aspects that teach littles about going green, like wind turbines and solar panels on the dollhouses, recycling bins, and more.

Rescue Set

Eco Street Accessories

You can find Plan Toys all over the place, but Kangaroo Boo always has a great selection, including the entire Eco Town by Plan Toys shown above and Oompa carries a huge selection of Plan Toys, including extras like all the furniture you need for a Plan Toys dollhouse.

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Plan Toys City for Summer Fun