A wary Christmas for toy shoppers

Parents and grandparents hitting stores searching for toys are playing it safe this season.Shoppers are understandably a little nervous about buying toys as a result of recent recalls. More than 20 million toys made in China have been recalled in recent months for lead paint, small magnets that could be swallowed or other serious problems.Toy experts agree there are things we can do to be safe when searching toy aisles.Some tips for shoppers:Do your homeworkBefore making a purchase, parents may want to check out www.cpsc.gov, the Web site of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a federal watchdog agency. News about recent toy recalls are found here.Another good site to visit before or after shopping is www.toyinfo.org, said Etienne Veber, president and CEO of Vernon Hills-based Learning Resources and Educational Insights.Veber and many in the industry recommend not to panic. He stresses that the toy industry is a huge one and that only a very small portion of toys have had problems. "Less than 1 percent of the 3 billion toys have been recalled," agreed Meghan Powderly, director of communication and marketing for Learning Express, a specialty toy retailer with locations across the country.A matter of trustIf you're confused and need a little direction, smaller, independent toy stores can often provide more information. "It's about having a dialog with the retailer," Powderly said."I think the key is the notion of trust. The consumer should themselves, 'Where can I get good advice,' " Veber added.Forming a relationship with a specialty toy store with a knowledgeable sales staff can help put your mind at ease.Veber supplies his educationally-themed toys mainly to the specialty toy market and a select few to Target. In an effort to ensure his trust in his vendors, he traveled to the Far East in August. "We talked about the safety processes. We've had long-standing relations with our vendors. The system has been perfected over the years," Veber said. He now feels even more confident with the nearly 3,000 products his companies sell."If a company has had some recalls, that may be a hint that maybe you should stay away until the company has proven itself," Veber said.Meanwhile, companies that have gone through recalls, like Oak Brook-based RC2 Corp., the maker of a Thomas Friends wooden train toy line, say they have instituted new safety precautions."We hope that parents recognize that our Thomas toys have been subjected to intense internal scrutiny and are the safer for it," said Nancy Davies, a spokeswoman for RC2.Pay attention to agesIt's children younger than 3 for whom buyers and parents need to pay extra attention, Powderly said. Shoppers mainly need to watch out for small parts that can be put in the mouth."We guide parents to toys that are age appropriate," said Richard Derr, owner of Learning Express franchise stores in Barrington and Lake Zurich. Toys are usually marked for the target age they're designed for."Lets put it in perspective; It's the younger ages that people are most cautious about. By the time kids are 7 or 8, it's just about anything goes," Derr said.Organize and superviseOnce getting the toy home, it's recommended that parents follow instructions for toy assembly.Supervising children as they play is, of course, an obligation.It's a wrapSo far, parents aren't holding back, according to area toy store owners."We just had a fabulous weekend. Our biggest sales day ever in 12 years was last Saturday," Derr said.He's finding that people are buying the higher priced items early. The hottest item so far at Learning Express is their wooden kitchen selling for $179. The Playmobile Hospital with a $180 price tag is also hot. The Smart Globe that talks and plasma cars for pre-school aged children are also big sellers.Legos, My First Purse by International Play Things and Webkins also have shoppers coming in the door. "These are great, safe items," Derr said.Retailers understand parents are worried."I think the concern is there. But the wants and needs of children are also there," Powderly said. "We all want to see that delighted look on a child's face at Christmas or Hanukkah."Click for helpSeveral Web sites list recalled items and offer tips when toy shopping. www.cpsc.gov -- The Web site of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a federal watchdog agency.www.toyinfo.org -- A parent's resource for facts and information about toy safety.Recalls, economy bring bad tidings for holiday toy sales 512360Rick Derr of Learning Express toy store in Lake Zurich stresses that parents should read instructions and check the suggested age level of toys before making a purchase.Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer