I was just recently celebrating a 1st birthday of my friend’s baby. Wow, you know you are feeling old as your children are accomplishing major life milestones and you feel like you just blinked.
Every birthday, even the 1st, usually comes with a goody bag for the other children. My children are well versed in this ritual, and I use it when we are shopping for a gift for the birthday child. “You will probably get a goody at the party!” that and the cake are great encouragers when toy shopping with children. I like to use the line, “you can ask for that for Christmas or your birthday”, it is working so far but we will see for how long!
Personally, I would like to do away with the goody bag, even though my children jump for joy when they see them. A lot of the time it is just dollar store finds, while absolutely fun and great, they break within 5 minutes of the child playing with them. Really you think, why bother?!
One toy that stands the test of time are McDonald’s Happy Meal toys. Every toy that my children have received seems to hold up to Jackson’s flinging, throwing and wrenching on. Easton is 2 and is constantly putting everything in her mouth, and I am always wondering how and why they last? Easton also seems to chew and suck the paint off. How SAFE is the paint? Not too long ago they were recalling toys from China that had lead in the paint. I know McDonald’s toys are made in South-East Asia. How lead-free are the toys?
When we visited the Toy Safety facility in Buffalo, NY, we were all a little tired from laughing and watching our camera man & Kathy (Winnipeg Mom) Bust a Move! I was not brave enough to shake my groove thing, but I give them props for rocking out to the Casino Band in Niagara Falls!
I wasn’t sure if my brain was too tired to understand but I soon realized that there are some really INTELLIGENT people working to test these toys. Wow, they were talking about so many things that I had no clue and felt I should have brought my science textbooks! Their exuberance for what they do was incredible, when our other cameraman asked a relevant question they were excited to explain the process.
I was impressed that they created simulated saliva and sweat, which was tested on scrapings that were also grated to resemble an item that had been chewed by a child.
I also found out that the colour YELLOW, which is my son’s favourite colour, is more likely to contain elements of lead. McDonalds’ does not even allow a finite amount of lead in paints.
It was very impressed how McDonald’s thinks of everything, even when it comes to toys. Only certain factories are approved to make toys for McDonalds. I was amazed that there are so many standards, that are ever-changing and that McDonald’s is on top of. They have people who just work on the legislation to ensure the HIGHEST level of safety for the toys for our children’s happy meals!
This year I included a Ronald McDonald Beanie Baby from McDonalds in the goody bags for the kids. They were only 91 cents and knowing that I can feel confidant about the quality and safety of the toy, I am planning on continuing the tradition.
Currently Jackson is ecstatic with the Lego cars that you put together, and Easton is such a big fan of Hello Kitty that I had to go back and just buy the rest of them for her.
that is the BEST idea! maybe I’ll do that for Josh’s party!!!
Over the years I have collected so many Happy Meal toys, I could start a museum. Once we visited the toy testing facility, I was amazed to see all the work to ensure every toy is the best… fun and safe!!!!!
It is reassuring to know that McD’s puts so much thought into the toys because I am positive that almost every kids will have at least a few in their day!