I have decided to engage my children in some fun summer learning activities. The main reason is to help Owen get ready for kindergarten but just as important… Sophie and Brody will learn as well. With a head full of ideas on what to get them, I made my first trip to Meijer. I came home with blocks and a new Leapster game (to help with reading and vocabulary).

I didn’t get blocks made out of rubber foam or even plastic blocks. I got 100% recycled wooden blocks. The blocks reminded me of the kind I had as a kid. I also thought about buying Lincoln Logs… but one step at a time.

The kids love the blocks! Owen builds stuff, Soph likes to stack them and Brody has turned into baby Godzilla and wrecks everyone’s creations (well that and likes to chew on them). But the main part is… the kids have a blast!

This just goes to show that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to keep kids learning and entertained! Owen enjoys the blocks way more than the new Leapster game. Score 1 for the old fashioned way.

Like many parents, I find myself thinking twice before buying toys. After all, you never know if the toy is defective or filled with lead products, or just plain harmful to your child.   So, I frequent a website that features W.A.T.C.H. (World Against Toys Causing Harm).

They had a list of 10 most dangerous toys for 2008, but I cut the list down to the 6 that I thought could be potentially dangerous.

1. Animal Alley Purse Pet – Harmful because the hair on the toy is not secure. So it could cause aspiration/choking.

2.  TMNT Battle Gear (Michaelangelo Set) -  Harmful because of the potential to harm someone else with blunt force injuries.

3.  Walk’n Sound Digger the Dog – Potential for child to become entangled or strangled

4.  Inflatable Giga Ball -  This rather large ball is comprised of holes that children are able to climb into and tumble and roll all over the grass.  However, the product is not recommended to be used on hills and water as there is a danger for potential impact.

5.  Sportsman Shotgun – This is sold as a toy, but the W.A.T.C.H. group categorizes it as a weapon.  Remember that line in “The Christmas Story” when the child wants a gun and the mother says “No!  You’ll shoot your eye out.”  Same thing applies here.

6.  Extreme Spiral Copters – Another potential eye gouger.  This toy launches little plastic pieces in the air.  It is cautioned not to use other materials to launch (which you know kids will do this with relish) and to aim away from eyes, faces, etc. when launching.

So, there’s the list of potentially dangerous toys.  The question is, are they really dangerous?  What do you think?