The Toys of Summer

Summer! The pace slows, relaxation begins and even parents get to act a little loosey goosey. But before moms and dads kick off their flip-flops, a reality check: There's plenty of seasonal gear that should be avoided, or at least carefully purchased (or borrowed or Freecycled), to ensure their kids' fun will be of the least-toxic variety.

It seems as though every accessory involved with beating the heat is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC, or vinyl): kiddie pools, water wings, slip-n-slides, even garden hoses. Avoiding this most poisonous of plastics is always a good idea, not just for health reasons (soft vinyl products are often made with hormone disrupting phthalates and may contain lead) but also for environmental reasons (producing vinyl releases hazardous chemicals that build up in the fatty tissue of fish and other animals).

First and foremost, try to cut back on impulse junk toys, like unrecyclable foam noodles that barely last for two months and Styrofoam kickboards. If you absolutely want an item, try to locate versions that aren't vinyl but are made of recyclable materials, or borrow from friends, neighbors or other families on a local parenting message board. Plastic wading pools, both hard and soft, are often made of PVC, so cut back on toxic chemicals-and water use-by visiting a local swimming or wading pool instead.

When no non-vinyl alternatives exist (I for the life of me cannot find water wings that aren't vinyl), be careful about storage and how vinyl items are used. Any brand-new vinyl toys should be aired out in the sun for a few hours as soon as you get them home. This allows that "new plastic" smell, which usually indicates the presence of phthalates, to dissipate. Then, move the toys out of direct sunlight when not in use, as heat can speed deterioration and lead to more off-gassing of harmful chemicals.

If kids get thirsty from the ensuing fun, don't allow them to drink from the hose. Many hoses are made from a kind of vinyl that contains lead stabilizers, and standing water in them has been found to have high levels of lead. "Drink-safe" rubber hoses without lead are available (see below), but even these should be flushed with water before used as thirst-quenchers to err on the safe side, as well as to rinse out any bacteria. Come to think of it, drink-safe hoses are a great idea for filling up kiddie pools. Who wants a toddler bathing in leaded water?!

If you've got offspring who like to dig in the dirt, don't allow them to do so too close to the foundation of the house, especially if the house was built before 1978. The soil closest to an older home can contain high levels of lead from paint. Make sure they're not eating the dirt either, and suggest they excavate further out in the yard. As for what they're digging with, opt for recycled plastic buckets and shovels, metal versions or offer them old food storage containers as buckets.

Finally, parents, away from home on a beach vacation with kids begging for toys, may not have access to the aforementioned options. Unfortunately, the plastic on most sand toys at souvenir and discount shops isn't clearly labeled. If you can find a manufacturers' name on the packaging, it's worth a cell phone call in the store to find out what they're made out of. If there's no clear answer, don't sweat it (but also don't let younger kids put these toys in their mouths). The goal is to minimize chemical exposure when and where you can, but also to live and enjoy. Kids should be able to slide, splash and make sand castles. So should parents.

RESOURCES

BETTER BUCKETS
Spielstabil Sand Bucket
$6.50; www.maukilo.com

Haba Digging Bucket
$11.99; www.oompa.com

Green Toys Four Piece Sand Set made from recycled milk jugs
$$19.99/set; www.amazon.com

DRINK SAFE HOSES **only hoses labeled as drinking quality safe are safe**
Gardener's Supply Co. Drink-Safe Garden hose
$24.95/25 ft.; www.gardeners.com

Armadillo Garden Hoses
$49.95/25 ft.; www.armadillogardenhose.com