Recently in Play Category

The ladies of The View had a fascinating discussion last week about giving feminine toys to boys and masculine toys to girls. That line of talk disintegrated somewhat into a shoutfest about children with transgender tendencies, but it brought up some interesting topics. Whoopie and Sherri Shepard really get into over whether a boy should be allowed to dress up in princess garb.

Definitely worth checking out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78ND3vqPz90

The World Against Toys Causing Harm, a nonprofit group, had a lot to choose from in compiling its annual list of top ten worst toys this year. Top honors for worst toy of 2007 goes to: Fisher Price's Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boat, which is covered with lead paint. The toy was recalled in October.

Another cool-looking plaything is considered so dangerous that it has earned its own alert category and isn't even on the list. Made by Spin Master, it's a craft kit called Aqua Dots pet pals that contains toxic beads. At least two reports have been filed with safety authorities of children swallowing the beads and "slipping into a comotose state.''

Here's the list; for a full description of the worst toys, see the W.A.T.C.H. web site.

GO DIEGO GO ANIMAL RESCUE BOAT
STICKY STONES
JACK SPARROW’S SPINNING DAGGER
DORA THE EXPLORER LAMP
LIL “GIDDY UP” HORSE - SASSY PET SAKS
SPIDER MAN 3 NEW GOBLIN SWORD
HIP HOPPA
B’LOONIES PARTY PACK
MY LITTLE BABY BORN
RUBBER BAND SHOOTER

Since the recall madness broke out this spring, tens of millions of toys have been deemed unsafe, and lots of parents -- me included -- have been buying Christmas presents on Web sites selling handmade and US-made toys. But here's an alternative I hadn't considered: the Amish.

Groups of Mennonites and Pennsylvania Dutch are highly skilled at making things by hand, since they generally shun electricity. These toys don't come cheap, but they are exquisite. Check out handmade doll cradles, wooden puzzles, pull toys and hobby horses at these Web sites:

http://www.futureheirlooms.net/
http://www.artsinheaven.com/items/amish-toys-amish-wooden-toys/list.htm
http://www.squidoo.com/amishtoys/
http://www.crafttoys.com/

A free play date for Children of All Abilities at Gates Canyon Park/Brandon's Village in Calabasas

November 3rd from 11:00a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Kiwanis of Calabasas-Agoura is sponsoring the play date at the new Universally Accessible Playground at . Come and celebrate Thanksgiving with lots of fun activities! Brandon’s Buddies is a FREE KIDS CLUB that meets every month. This playground, which is the first fully-accessible playground in the region, was made possible thanks to the Friedman Family Charitable Foundation, the City of Calabasas, the Las Virgenes Special Education P.T.A. and Shane’s Inspiration. The day will include Integrated Play, Face Painting, Arts & Crafts, Entertainment, and Treats (but please feel free to bring a sack lunch). Children with and without disabilities and their families who want to spend a great day playing in the sunshine and making friends. Brandon’s Buddies gives children with disabilities the opportunity to play with their typically-able peers, while giving their parents a chance to share experiences and advice with other parents/caregivers. It gives children with typical abilities the chance to get to know their peers and gain greater awareness and compassion.

Brandon’s Village
25801 Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Calabasas

While many of the fires burning Southern California are beginning to die down, smoke and ash still hang in the air, irritating young lungs. So, with red flag warnings in mind, it seems like a great time to do a quick roundup of top indoor mall play areas.

I don’t know about you, but the malls have saved me from the insanity of being locked inside with toddlers on the hottest days of the summer, the few rainy days and certainly the current hideous outdoor conditions that will hopefully be coming to and end by the weekend.

As I’m sure every Mom knows, all the Westfield shopping centers have these awesome mini parks somewhere in the mall, usually strategically located near the food courts. Some are better than others; they each have their particular charms. Here are my faves, please add to our list!

*Topanga (Canoga Park) The newly remodeled Topanga Mall boasts what I consider the Cadillac of mall playgrounds. Not only is it near the food, it’s right next to the brand new Carousel, representing the ultimate in one-stop toddler entertainment.

*Westside Pavilion (Los Angeles) This mall is not owned by Westfield, but it has one of the best playgrounds around. The play area, filled with giant, climbable fruits and cookies, has a reputation among Westside Moms for being a Petri dish of germs. But it’ll keep the kids occupied for hours. It’s also right next to the food.

*Fox Hills (Culver City) This play area is fairly standard, but it’s new and what I like best about it is it’s a lot less crowded than the other ones. It’s also just down the escalator from Old Navy. One downside – it’s nowhere near the food.

I didn't hang out at playgrounds too much before becoming a parent. But now that I am one and know my neighborhood parks like the back of my hand, I have discovered a phenomenon that really annoys me.

It's the hovering parent. This term has lately been used a lot to describe mothers and fathers who insist on going on college and work interviews with their children, or at least insist on being involved in applying to institutions or job opportunities. But I'm talking about the six-foot-plus Dads and well-into-their-thirties Moms who insist on climbing up the play structure behind their toddler, or worse, riding down the corkscrew slide with their bundle of joy sitting on their lap.

What is with these people? Did they not get enough playground time as children? Are they trying to test the equipment load factor? I admit, I've been known to relax in a big-kid swing once in awhile during playground stops with my children. But you'll never catch me trying to stuff myself into that narrow fiberglass slide.
My theory is that we parents -- myself included -- are becoming more overprotective. In the old days, parents were relaxed to the point of child endangerment. I was talking to another mother recently about finding an elementary school, and she was saying that her own mother had signed her up at the closest local public school -- as mine did -- without giving it a second thought. "She was pretty much oblivious,'' she said. A former colleague told me a story once about how he used to go out into the woods in northern California with his friends and spend hours doing things like trying to set army men on fire.

Sure, kids can hurt themselves doing this stuff, but there must be some balance in how much we protect our children. They have to be allowed to make mistakes. How else will they learn? Believe me, I'm as paranoid as the next parent about anything happening to my precious angels. And it makes me angry that the world has changed to the degree that our kids can't walk themselves to school anymore. But I draw the line at following my kid onto the jungle gym!

Thinking Inside the Box

In my neighborhood growing up, we stuck a big empty cardboard box on top of the red wagon and played pioneers. I remember spending hours inside, decorating it and making a little home. It fell over a few times, but I don't recall any painful injuries - just hours of imagination and fun.

The good ol' cardboard box has finally earned the respect it deserves. The box was inducted last week into the National Toy Hall of Fame alongside Barbie, Silly Putty and Tinker Toys as a one of the 30-odd most iconic toys ever created.

Part of its beauty, I think, is that there are no feelings of guilt when the kids finally tire of the box, and it can be put out with the trash (in the blue recycle bin, of course.)

My own kids' room is strewn with forgotten detritus from birthdays and toy store trips past, facing a better future on The Island of Misfit Toys. But for some reason, there's always a pang of guilt in tossing out that soiled Hello Kitty compact I was so impressed by when it came in the Happy Meal.

The cardboard box can't really be recalled -- it's biodegradable (I think), without sharp edges, and usually comes free, on the outside of the $39.99 toy-toy you secretly thought was the last one you'd ever have to buy.

Here's a list of more low-tech, high-fun toys from Parentdish.