Make it Easy For Out of Town Family and Friends to Call With a Toll Free Number

Toll free numbers are not just for the Fortune 500 sized businesses anymore! Thanks to the ease of getting a toll free number set up, it’s becoming more common not only for a small business to utilize a toll free line, but also for the average family to get their own toll free number. Having a personal toll free number allows friends and family to call you from out of town without paying long distance fees or running up their cell phone – and you only pay a few pennies per minute when you use the line.

It used to be toll free phone numbers required extensive equipment installed and an expensive monthly bill in addition to a pay-per-minute fee for all calls coming or going. Reserving a number was a timely process, and scheduling the installation often a chore because it would interrupt the operation of the business while the service was being set up. As recently as a few years ago, only big businesses could afford to have a toll free number because of the expense – and the calls could only be received in the location that the equipment was set up in.

Today, toll free numbers have gone “virtual”, enabling anyone who wants one to set up a toll free number for their home or business. There is no requirement to have any special equipment installed as calls coming into a virtual toll free line are forwarded to the phone of your choice. Receive calls on your home line, your cell phone, or your regular business line any time you want – and you can even set it up so your incoming toll free calls are forwarded to wherever you are at that time, meaning you never miss a call with a “follow me call forwarding” feature. You can set up a list of your numbers and what order to forward the calls until they find you!

Monthly service plans for virtual toll free numbers are as low as $2 per month, and the calling minutes with many providers of virtual toll free numbers can be prepaid, which means you will never be surprised with a high phone bill. Unlike cell phone plans that do not allow you to roll over unused minutes, the minutes you purchase for use with your toll free line are yours until they are used, even if you don’t use them all in the month you buy them.

Using a toll free line at home is a bit like having a calling card for your family and friends who are outside your local calling area, only easier since you won’t have to reload cards or mail them out: just give out your 800, 866, 877 or 888 number and let them use it whenever they wish to call you.

Thanks to the ease of setting up and the affordability of using a virtual toll free number, no family should be without their own line. Forget paying monthly service plans for long distance and give out a toll free number to friends and family instead.

Lee Percival uses Get800Today.com and their toll free phone service. He recommends getting a toll free number for business and personal use.

What’s the Best Way to Find Affordable Full-Service Long Distance Movers?

Finding long distance movers does not have to be a daunting task. However, it is important you don’t want to pick just anyone. This is because you don’t want to risk your possessions becoming damaged. If your possessions do become damaged, you want to know that you’re dealing with a long distance mover that will take care of things for you. You shouldn’t be left in the dark with a job that is not done well and belongings that are damaged.

Finding the best mover

There are some initial steps that you must take to find the perfect full-service long distance mover. Those steps include:

- Look around in your local area or look on the Internet to see what long distance movers service your area.

- Once you find the full-service long distance movers that service your area, it is time to look on the Internet for reviews on the services that they provide. Reviews are fantastic at helping people make informed decisions regarding the services that they need.

- Once you narrow it down based on Internet reviews, it is time to make the phone call. This means that you’re going to ask them questions such as what sort of insurance they have. You need to know what it is they cover and what they don’t cover so that you know you’re protected.

- Make sure you take a look at the state you are moving to, if it is a different state. The laws differ from state-to-state, which means things could change during the move. The mover should go over this with you when you are telling them where it is you are moving to.

- Get a written estimate for services from the moving company. Don’t trust a verbal estimate. You need to have on paper what your moving service includes and what it doesn’t include. From there you can compare with other companies you have received written estimates from.

- Don’t forget to compare costs. The idea is to find an affordable full-service long distance moving service. You don’t want a service that is going to charge you an arm and a leg for something that someone cheaper can do just as well.

Doing this takes a lot of the stress out of moving. You shouldn’t have to bite your nails down to the quick out of nervousness because you’re afraid valuables are going to get damaged. You should be able to have confidence in your full service long distance movers. You should be able to acquire a track record from them that shows they are very good at what they do.

Other things to consider

When choosing your full-service long distance movers, make sure you get a list of what they do and do not move. This can vary from company to company because of the trucks that they have. This could be something that determines who you choose to be your mover. Remember that your possessions are traveling a long way, so you have to ensure that everything is in good hands.

If you’re ever in doubt about any details of your contract, the ideal full-service long distance movers should have their contract details on their website. This is so you can refer back if you need to. Never let yourself be in doubt over anything. All doubt does is cause you to worry. These tips are in place to try to remove some of that worry. You have enough on your mind when it comes to moving to a new home, so you don’t need more than what you can handle.

Toronto movers provides local and long distance moving services. Over thirty five moving companies locations nationwide with branches across Canada and the United States for international moving.

Celebrate the Holidays With the Gift of Time

The meltdown in the economy and the crisis in confidence couldn’t have come at a worse time. Have you been feeling stretched by the financial pressure? If you’re facing tough buying decisions, the responsibilities of the holiday season may even be getting you down. These are challenging times. This year, in more ways than one, you just have to let go of the idea of a perfect Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa.

Even though it’s important to honor the tradition of giving, the accumulation of material things can’t hold a candle to the gift that matters most. Bringing cheer to others is a great way to cheer yourself up as well. And you can do it without breaking into your savings account. With the holidays fast approaching, you certainly don’t want more pressure. So follow these practical tips and keep stress in check as you focus on more joy and less stuff:

1. Give the gift of connection. Put heart in your relationships. Arrange a regular weekly date with your parents. Invite them out to lunch, a museum or the movies. Send a card to someone with whom you’ve lost contact. Enclose a recent family photo, your email address and a promise to keep in touch. Drive an elderly neighbor to the grocery store, a doctor’s appointment or the shopping mall.

2. Give to a worthy cause. Get the family or a group of friends together and spend a couple of hours at a homeless shelter. Pass forward gifts you’ve never used. Or bring some toys or clothes that are in good shape. Buy a small present for a street person you pass regularly and make eye contact when you give it. Put a big smile on your face and help cook the holiday dinner at a soup kitchen. Make a donation to Aunt Sue’s favorite charity; every gift counts no matter how much you spend.

3. Give of yourself. Enjoy time with your friends by inviting them over for an evening of fun. Organize a potluck dinner and have them bring their signature dish. Cut down on expenses by exchanging memories instead of presents. Or express yourself and create some of your holiday gift items. Make a coupon book filled with orders for good deeds. Add a personal touch by baking decorative cookies with the kids. Show others you care with an IOU to babysit so they can have a much needed night out.

4. Give to yourself. Take some down time over the holidays. For a couple of hours each day, try not to focus on your problems. Curl up with a great book from the library, watch the ballgame with your teenagers or take your grandkids to the park. Enjoy peace of mind by paying down your debts. Hold back from buying lots of gifts or taking the family on an expensive outing. Decide together how to spend a fun and relaxing day. Your family will understand and grow from the experience.

The holidays don’t always have to look like a Norman Rockwell painting. You create more stress for yourself if you stick to old routines and operate on automatic pilot. Begin to lay the groundwork for change in your gift giving rituals. As you can see, it doesn’t have to cost you anything but time. And when money is tight and life is challenging, connection and support mean the most.

It will be a gift to yourself when you recreate the joy of simpler days. Small changes can represent a new beginning. Take heart as you give a little that feels like a lot. And in these hard times, that’s a good lesson for all of us.

2008, Her Mentor Center

Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D. & Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. are founders of http://www.HerMentorCenter.com, a website for midlife women and http://www.NourishingRelationships.blogspot.com, a blog for the sandwich generation. They are authors of a forthcoming book about family relationships. They offer free newsletter Stepping Stones.

Are Nursing Homes Really Jails?

You’ve probably never heard of Charls Todd “Bud” Lee, although he was an award-winning photojournalist whose work has been published in “Life” magazine, “Esquire,” “The New York Times Magazine” and even “Rolling Stone.” His photo of a bleeding 12-year old boy in Newark, New Jersey, who’d been caught in the crossfire of a police shooting, graced the cover of “Life” magazine in July, 1967. Almost exactly 16 years later, however, Bud suffered a stroke that left him semi-paralyzed and landed him in a Florida nursing home.

It turns out that Florida law requires nursing home care for Medicaid recipients, rather than allowing them to live wherever they choose. Bud is still there, in the Community Care Center in Plant City, Florida, an involuntary resident, more than five years later–and he’s really angry.

Last September, Bud’s plight caught the attention of Matt Sedentsky, a writer for the Associated Press. Sedentsky’s subsequent September 21st article, arguing that Florida nursing homes, fearful of losing money, have successfully pressured politicians to make such alternatives as in-home health care difficult for Medicaid recipients to obtain.

He reported that Bud Lee has filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of the approximately 8,500 Floridians who are similarly institutionalized. As Bud succintly described his situation, “Most of the people come here to die, so you want to die. It is a prison. I can’t escape it.”

A recent study found that seniors fear moving into a nursing home and the loss of their independence far more than death. Indeed, according to the study commissioned by Clarity and the EAR Foundation, fully 89 percent of America’s elderly want to age in place, and will use adaptive technology to stay independent. Their Baby Boomer children, the study noted, are equally concerned about nursing home care for their parents, and they’re eager to support their parents in this quest.

More than one-quarter of the study’s respondents cited as a fear a loss of independence, which is closely aligned with the fear of nursing homes. Moving from their home into a nursing facility is a fear of 13 percent of seniors, while a mere three percent of research study participants identified the fear of death.

These fears appear to be justified. A recent report by the Department of Health and Human Services found that about 17 percent of nursing homes had deficiencies that caused “actual harm or immediate jeopardy” to patients, including infected bedsores, medication mix-ups, poor nutrition, and patient abuse and neglect. In fact, approximately 20 percent of the complaints verified by federal and state inspectors involved abuse or neglect of nursing home patients.

Last May, the 18,000 residents of Albert Lea, Minnesota were shocked to learn that 15 residents of the Good Samaritan nursing home, all suffering with Alzheimer’s or dementia, had been verbally, emotionally and sexually abused by local high school girls who were working at the facility. The subsequent report by the Minnesota Department of Health quoted one employee as saying that “When (the students) would do these things, they would pull the curtain enough, so when they heard a door open, they could stop. They were quite sneaky about what they were doing. The ones they were targeting were those that have Alzheimer’s so bad, that they wouldn’t be able to say it or remember.”

The report found that the abuse involved spitting and putting fingers in mouths, poking breasts and nipples, touching and tapping genitals, sticking buttocks in faces, rubbing buttocks and penises, anal insertion, and restraining residents and teasing them.

Following investigation by state and local authorities, a 19-year old and an 18-year old were charged with gross misdemeanors, carrying a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $3,000 fine for each count. One of the teens faces 11 charges; the other, 10, including abuse of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver, abuse of a vulnerable adult with sexual contact, disorderly conduct, and failing to report suspected maltreatment. Four of the others, all 17 at the time of the alleged abuse, were charged in juvenile court with failure to report maltreatment.

More than 1.5 million people live in the nation’s 15,000 nursing homes, which are typically inspected annually. They are required to meet federal standards as a condition of participating in Medicaid and Medicare, which cover more than two-thirds of their residents, at a cost of more than $75 billion a year.

Although there are obvious acts of nursing home abuse—long-term over-medication, for example–others are more subtle, or as in the Albert Lea situation described above, difficult to detect because of the dementia of the patient. Consequently, these cases can easily be overlooked by family members. Following are some indicators of abuse:

Bedsores or open wounds are common instances of neglect or abuse. Nursing home personnel often claim that bedsores are normal among frail or immobile seniors. Unfortunately, concerned family members are duped by these explanations, and their parents and loved ones suffer pain and sometimes die from these sores. Experts say that almost all bedsore cases are caused by abuse or neglect. Guidelines require nursing homes to move patients regularly and ensure that sheets and clothing are kept dry. Should a family member find a bedsore, insist that the victim is moved to a medical facility for treatment.

Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns or fractures are often evidence that residents are being dropped or abused by staff personnel. This often occurs when the senior is in a medicated condition. Family members are urged to ask questions to get clarification about these situations, and vague or questionable responses often indicate abuse.

Torn, bloody or stained garments are the best evidence of sexual abuse, which, as described above in the Albert Lea story, frequently occurs in nursing homes, where victims are often medicated or suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Refusal to allow contact with a resident, or unexplained delays in making the resident available for a visit, indicate underlying abuse, that is, the nursing home staff is attempting to intimidate or prevent the victim’s reporting of the abuse or neglect.

Modifications to the resident’s financial documents, including wills and trusts, are cause for suspicion, particularly if these changes occur abruptly or if the resident cannot adequately explain why they occurred. Such changes suggest that the resident may have been coerced or threatened.

Each of these warning signs should spur action among family and friends, including reports to police. Suspicions of sexual or physical abuse require changing nursing facilities, as well as police involvement. Nursing home residents, who are frequent targets of abuse, nonetheless have civil rights that need to be protected, most often, unfortunately, by concerned family members and friends.

Laurence Harmon is a principal of Great Places Inc., found at http://www.greatplacesinc.com, the leading website providing advice to Baby Boomers, 76 million strong, who are increasingly responsible for their aging parents’ care.

Unique Birthday Gifts For Dad

What do give a man who has everything? One of these unique birthday gifts for dad, of course!

Grilling for Golfers

Is your dad the king of the golf course and the grill? If so, here’s a gift worth taking a swing at! Not only will the PAR-B-QUE 3-piece grilling set help him show off his golfing prowess right there on the back yard bar-b-que, but the extraordinary design is like no other. Each of the three pieces offers the perfect combination of function for the grill and love for the game of golf.

He’s guaranteed a hole-in-one with the spatula putter and golf ball tongs, and the grip on the meat fork is fit for a champion! Every grill master needs his tools, but take it one step further by giving him something he can be passionate about!

The PAR-B-QUE 3-piece grilling set is an unparalleled choice of unique birthday gifts for dad. After all, nothing brings out the caveman in a guy quite like standing over raw meat with a club in his hand — is there any better gift than that? This one is an ace for sure!

Engraved Cuff Links

If your dad has that certain “distinguished gentleman” allure, then the set of personalized silver cuff links just might be the ideal gift. Each stunning silver cufflink in the pair arrives engraved with one, two, or three initials of your choice, offering a handsome nuance to his professional wardrobe.

Even if your father is more casual than collected, personalized silver cuff links still make a great gift. If dad only dresses up on special occasions, your touching gesture will mean that much more. In fact, he’ll pull your gift out for all of the most important moments in his life, and that makes for an exceptional birthday gift he won’t soon forget.

Business Card Sculptures

Almost everyone has business cards these days, and now you can turn them into truly unique birthday gifts for dad! Even a man who seems to have everything isn’t likely to have one of these unusual items on hand, so you can bet on this one being an instant hit!

The golfer card sculpture is the ideal desk accessory for a father who loves the game of golf.

All you need is to send off 20 of your dad’s personal business cards and you’ll receive a perfectly posed three-dimensional figure with one heck of a golf swing! Your dad can admire the stance and show off his business all at once, and it’s the ideal distraction for those days when he’d rather be anywhere other than work.

If you dad prefers the expanse of his executive office to the golf course, then the executive business card sculpture is the better choice for him.

He’ll find it impossible not to smile when this hardworking cardboard figure catches his attention, and you can be sure that it will! This little man sits at a desk that offers a great view of the face of the business card as he takes an important call, and every detail has been meticulously crafted to create a conversation piece that you can bet that he’ll proud of.

Both card sculptures arrive on a handsome walnut base and include a glass dome that offers a full 8″ of coverage. The classic presentation is the perfect finishing touch to this spectacular and very unusual gift!

For more information on unique birthday gifts for dad and last minute birthday gift, go to www.Coolest-Party-Ideas.com for some extra personalization fun!

Muck Boots in the Snow Fort

My kids love to play outside in the winter, especially when there is ten feet of snow. But, I don’t know of any mother that has had an easy time finding quality winter boots for their kids. When your kids like to play outdoors in the snow and mud like mine do, keeping them warm and dry can be nearly impossible! Usually by the time my kids wander back inside, their little feet are frozen solid. But this doesn’t happen anymore, not since they started wearing Muck Boots.

Now, the kids can go outside for long periods of time and really get down to business building their snow forts. Nothing can be more fun than burrowing a big hole in the side of a backyard snowbank and hiding inside. I’ve never been inside a real igloo, but if they make the fort big enough for me then I can’t resist climbing inside to check it out! Digging a hole in a snowbank takes time, though, and staying warm long enough to get the job has always been a challenge. Muck Boots are thermal insulated to keep those little toes toasty for as long as it takes to finish the task.

Muck Boots actually have a completely solid rubber construction, making them 100% waterproof. Though I have heard this claim before about other boots I have bought for my children, I have never found it to be true before. I didn’t think this was even possible with a kids boot, but Muck Boots really solves the problem of getting a waterproof boot. And, when my kids take off their Muck Boots (yes, they can get this kind off all by themselves), their feet are still warm and toasty inside—their feet are definitely the last thing to get cold now! The stretch-fit topline binding fits snugly to the calf, keeping snow from piling inside, yet allowing complete freedom of movement during any igloo building, climbing, or running that might happen.

One of the great things about the Muck Boots for kids is that they not only work great in the cold and snowy conditions, but when spring arrives and all that beautiful snow turns the backyard into a huge mud pit, these same boots work like a charm. They keep the mud and wet out nicely, and they are super easy to clean up, all I have to do is hose them off. Again, that solid rubber construction makes them the perfect choice for any outdoor conditions.

I won’t go back to buying the cheap, generic rubber boots for my kids ever again. I have finally found some boots that I can trust to keep them warm and dry when they play outside. There are several Muck Boots kids’ styles to choose from, depending on what you need. Kids should be playing outside more, anyway, and I know that my kids are playing outside this winter more than ever, now that they stay warm and dry longer. Muck Boots has made this possible!

Don VanPelt is a writer for Muck Boots Direct who has published many articles about boots. Read his comments and recommendations for the best places to buy Arctic Muck Boots at Muck Boots Direct.

Tips For Blended Family During the Holiday

During the holiday for some people it can be very difficult to choose who or where to go when there is a blended family involve.

This new way of celebrating the holidays can be difficult for the children in making grown up decision of who they want to spend time with.

Creating new tradition

It can be difficult for the newly formed parents to decide who to go to for the holidays because you may feel that who ever you pick to go to as an example with the in-laws the other may feel bad or left out.

Creating a new tradition can be the way to go to bring newness and fun for you and your children and to be open to this new way of behaving.

Children have a hard time in accepting change when comes to leaving one parent behind when they are accustom to having their traditions at Christmas.

No guilt

Children in a blended may have a hard time accepting the new person into their family because of the fear of liking the new person as much or close to their feeling for their parent.

Children may feel that they are doing something wrong or that they are forgetting their parents’ traditions and may wish to continue this again.

Children may feel guilty and do not want to be in a place that they have to choose one parent and their partner over the other parent.

Making a decision which parent is going to have the children and for what occasion can either be, easy or difficult depending on the feeling of the parents and children that need to work it out.

Doing things together

Your children wants to be reassured that they are not leaving out another parent and that they are allow enjoying their time with the other parent and not feeling guilty and that is where the other parent responsibility is to their children in dealing with the transition.

Listening

To help children to make a better transition from moving from one family they may feel that they are abandoning one to go to another is giving them a chance to express their feeling without attempting to cover it up or justify it.

So before expressing your feeling as an adult it is a good thing to listen to your children before you make your decision.

One parent may be alone

If one parent is left alone and the children knows about it the other parent has a responsibility to reassure the children that the one that is left alone will be fine with out them so no guilt is form.

Making a new transition

Making a new step for a parent is not always easy to be welcome in the new family and also difficult for the children involve.

Each person that you may come across may have their own ideas of whom or what you should or should not do at a time like this and your responsibility is to first breathe and know that you are not the first to go through this situation or the last.

To know sometimes people in general have difficult in accepting change because it ask of them to adjust and they may not know you well and that may make them uncomfortable.

The new family you are going into wants to know that you will be a better person and will enrich their family, and that they can trust you to do the right thing by the children although they may not be your own.

Conclusion : Blended families during the time of the holiday can be a time of renewal and fun depending on the adults and their openness to change.

The author grants full reprint rights to this article. You may reprint and electronically distribute this article so long as its contents remain unchanged, and the author’s byline remains in place. Francis is the owner of http://trans-formers.com if you want more information on free relationship advice in your life you can find at:http://www.trans-formers.com/free-relationship-advice.html

Biggest Shopping Days and Seasons During the Year

Black Friday is not the only big shopping day of the year. There are plenty of other days that are giving it a run for its money. However, it is still the leader with its fantastic deals after Thanksgiving Day. But what are the other shopping days and seasons throughout the year that are proving to be quite profitable for businesses? We know that there are more than one.

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day

Mother’s Day is a day in which mom is honored for everything that she has done. It is that one day a year where everyone stops and thinks, ‘Thanks mom for everything you have done for me.’ There are so many gifts that are made available to buy mom such as flowers and even electronics. It has been advertised and hyped up to the point where mom receives gifts similar to what she would receive on her birthday or Christmas.

As for Father’s Day, unfortunately, dad is second place to mom. Father’s Day is still an incredible shopping day, but it definitely does not come with all of the hype that Mother’s Day does. This isn’t to say that dad isn’t appreciated, because he is. It’s just that dads aren’t really gift receivers like mom unless they simply don’t want to admit how excited it makes them, even if you do buy them a tie each year.

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is another day in which appreciation is shown for your significant other. That’s when the department and food stores start stocking up on roses, various flowers, and boxes of chocolates. There are even stuffed animals and balloons thrown in there to make the day special. This is also a huge shopping day for jewelry stores because this is a day in which a lot of proposals for marriage are made. It may seem a little clich?, but a lot of restaurants seem to set the mood on this particular day, making it perfect for that marriage proposal.

Christmas and Black Friday

The Christmas shopping season is kicked off by Black Friday. It is that shopping day after Thanksgiving in which stores offer up door buster deals by opening their doors at 5:00 a.m. and letting the hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of people into their stores to scoop up the best deals of the season. In all reality, it is the best time of year to shop for such items as clothes, toys, and various other gift items.

Once Black Friday begins, the stores remain busy until Christmas Eve as shoppers are taking advantage of last minute deals to get their last minute shopping done. This explains why these stores have to have extended hours and why they have to have seasonal help. This is by far the busiest shopping season of the year. Where Valentines Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day are all busy periods, the Christmas shopping season lasts just a little under a month. All of the rest only last for a matter of days to a week and that is it.

There you have it!

So there you have it, a rundown of the biggest and busiest shopping days and seasons of the year. Although there are other busy seasons, such as Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July, these are item-specific seasons. You’re either buying food or fireworks. These other seasons are huge money-makers for businesses. They are also great times for people to do their shopping because of all of the sales that encourage people to buy more. So whatever your favorite shopping season is, be sure to find the best deals and to have fun.

Canadian Online Shopping offers reward points on all online purchases made at participating retailers sites. From clothing to Dell Computers, choose from over 45 band-name stores.

Don’t Compromise Your Child’s Safety This Christmas

Sit back for a moment and consider the amount of products available to us on the high street that provides a cheaper alternative to the real thing. Fashion is at the forefront of my mind; as consumers, we are lavished in affordable replications of the unaffordable designer brands. We let the major supermarkets fight between themselves to offer the most cost-effective food aisles, while electrical stores contend with the eclipsing black market.

There is no need to mention names as we all know who I’m talking about, but what I’m really talking about is how we can’t be tempted by a cheaper substitute when lives are involved, even if we save a few pounds.

Almost every week I read articles on children who have disastrous encounters with toys that parents have purchased from rogue trader and unknown retailers. With Christmas looming, these parents are suddenly greeted with extensive and unrealistic wish lists from their kids. They are forced to concede in the secrecy of their idiotic minds that by getting that doll from the guy down the pub or racing car from the woman at the Sunday market will not only save them a few quid this year, but will serve as a safe equivalent. And who is to question their parental decisiveness? They’re only kids, right – would they even tell the difference? The main difference is a very thin line between them stroking the loose hair on their new Barbie doll, to actually choking on it. Yes, they are kids now.

It is estimated that a distressing 35% of toys that are imported into the UK are not meeting the safety criteria set by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) and are being sold in shops and on market stores, with more arriving during the festive period.

“Some countries are completely ignoring the safety standards required by the UK market,” says Christine Heemskerk from the TSI. “China, for example, has very poor safety controls and is the world’s biggest toy exporter. The problem is compounded by some unscrupulous retailers illegally stamping safety marks on products which have not passed the necessary safety tests. Everyone is concerned – manufacturers and enforcement authorities alike.”

Three years ago, trading standards chiefs claimed unsafe toys had virtually disappeared from Britain, partly due to extremely robust European regulations. The epidemic, however, has since returned with China sustaining their lax controls and now exporting a staggering 22billion toys a year – 20 million of these entering the UK.

But, it is the household brands that have come under scrutiny lately. In June this year, Mattel, the world’s biggest toymaker, were forced to recall 94,000 Fisher Price products and thousands of Barbie furniture play sets over fears that their paint contained excessive amounts of lead. A Month later, two million Polly Pocket, Batman and Doggie Daycare toys were also taken off the shelves because they contained small magnets.

“We have to target the manufacturers as they are regularly contracting and subcontracting out their work,” Heemskerk continues. “We find the biggest risks come from small parts, lead in paints and highly-toxic chemicals in some plastic toys.”

Council trading standard bosses are also vehemently warning shoppers this Christmas to be vigilant when buying baby products and children’s games after uncovering potentially lethal fake toys across the country. The Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS), which works closely with local council trading standards, claims officers seized tens of thousands of counterfeit items since September, with a large proportion bearing the names of popular children’s characters.

“The fakes are often poorly made, don’t carry the required CE safety mark and can break easily, posing choking hazards,” says a spokesperson for LACORS. “We have seized large quantities of toys from various outlets, including warehouses, shops, market stalls and street traders.”

The list of areas involved in the operation is voluminous and it is seemingly apparent there is no corner of the country where illegal or dangerous toys can hide. Norfolk Trading Standards apprehended more than 600 counterfeit ‘Hello Kitty’ toys from a stall in a Norwich shopping centre, while Bedfordshire Trading Standards seized 400 unsafe items from a baby store in Bedford. And Trading Standard officers in Salford, Liverpool, Blackburn and Bury have between them confiscated thousands of fake toys displaying brands such as Disney and Spiderman.

Babyoka are an online baby shop that work with all the top brands and some less well-known, but reputable manufacturers. They are fully aware of the imperilments when children and toys merge, and are especially rigorous with the manufacturers they use and the safety standards that need to be adhered to.

“We work very closely with all of our manufacturers to ensure that we only stock products that are completely compliant with all required safety standards, including visiting the factories themselves,” says Rebecca May at Babyoka. “Stay safe, shop at Babyoka and remember: a sensible parent means a safe and happy child.”

So, a busy schedule ahead for local authorities, manufacturers and retailers at a time when the season of giving and sharing begins. Never before have parents’ judgement and attentiveness been needed to make Christmas a happy one – not a fatal one.

Matt Crick is writing for Babyoka, a leading online retailer of quality baby products and nursery goods who aim to deliver next working day. They offer top brand name products along with other high quality baby supplies from some less well known, but reputable manufacturers. They are a small family run business who offer a friendly service, with customer care being their main priority; making them an unrivalled online baby store

10 Things To Consider Before Getting Gifts For Children

Choosing safe toys for toddlers is an important job for any parent. You need to keep in mind the child’s age, interests and skill level. Each child is different so a toy for one three year old may not be appropriate for another child of the same age because their skill level is different. You want to look for quality design and construction in the toy you are choosing for a toddler. Read the directions before you purchase a toy. Be sure they are clear and concise. Read the label carefully as it contains important information. Some toys will have clear warning that state “Not recommended for children under three.” In this case, if the child is two, this would not be a safe toy for that child. Other warnings include “Flame resistant” and “Washable materials.” These are safe toys for toddlers. Let’s take a look at some different types of toys and their safety features.

1. Sharp edges- Toys for children under the age of eight years old should be free of sharp glass and metal edges. Toys that are made of brittle plastic or glass breaks easily, exposing sharp points and edges. Wooden, metal and plastic toys may have sharp edges due to being poorly made. Keep in mind that toys that are used for long periods of time and aren’t made very well may break and the edges will become exposed and sharp.

2. Small parts- Toys that are from years ago can have smaller toys hidden inside which is a danger for toddlers who can swallow a small object. There is a new law however than stops toy manufacturers from putting any small parts in toys that are intended for children under the age of three years old. This includes but is certainly not limited to small eyes that are just glued on to stuffed animals and dolls, removable squeakers on squeaky toys and dolls and stuffed toys that are stuffed with small pellets which can be swallowed and lodged in a child’s throat or ears.

3. Loud noises - Loud noises scare small children. Just look at any toddler at a fireworks display. Most of them are startled and jump at the banging of the fireworks. Toy cap guns should not be purchased for any toddler. Not only do they scare children but some of them can do damage to a toddler’s hearing. There is a law that requires that all noisemaking toys carry a label that states “Warning: Do not fire closer than one foot to the ear. Do not use indoors.”

4. Cords and strings - Many toys on the market today have some kind of string attached to them. Like the Seek and Say toys where you pull the string and the toy says a saying or makes an animal nose. These kinds of toys are dangerous for toddlers. Even though the string is attached to the toy, pulling the string hard enough can easily break the string. Any toys with sting or cords can easily become wrapped around a child’s neck. Never hang any toys that have long strings from a toddler’s crib or playpen.

5. Sharp points - This is a bit different that sharp edges. Older toys were made with objects such as pins, staples and wires which are of course dangerous to preschool aged children. A new law now states that toys made for children under the age of eight years of age cannot contain sharp points. Be sure to double check and make sure that dolls clothing, hair or accessories do not contain staples or pins.

6. Propelled objects - I think these types of toys are dangerous for kids of any age but this holds true especially in younger children. Propelled toys are like missile launches and Frisbees. They can be dangerous when flying through the air and hits a child in the eye or even cause head injuries if it hits hard enough. Other propelled objects include lawn darts or darts from a dart board game.

7. Age appropriate toys - Believe it or not, not all toys are suitable for all children. Be sure to follow the labels exactly as stated. Some toys can be bought for an older child and get into the hands of their younger brother or sister in which the toy is not intended for. Be especially wary of balloons. Balloons that are not blown up can be a chocking hazard.

8. Electric toys - Here are another type of toy that is pretty dangerous at any age. My nephew suffered burns on an electric train that was improperly wired. This was many years ago and now electric toys must be made with specific surface temperatures, electrical construction and very clear warning labels.

9. Infant toys - There are many toys on the market today that are made for infants such as rattles and teethers. It is important to make sure these toys are large enough so that they cannot be swallowed.

10. Online Reviews - When in doubt about any toy, do a search for the toy and then put the word review after it. You will find other users of that particular toy and the positive and negative experiences they had.

Age Appropriate Toys: Here are some toys that are safe toys for toddlers.

0-18 months

Stacking toys

Picture blocks

Picture books

18 months- 3 years

Tricycle

Hobby horse

Push-pull toys

Dollhouses

Blackboard with chalk

3-6 years

Playhouses

Toy soldiers

Trains

Race car tracks

selvi is a busy working mom of two young daughters. For cool preschool activities,free printables,science projects and etc, visit http://amazing-preschool-activities.com

Next Page »