Perhaps the worker at Babies R Us had noticed me walking up and down the aisles, examining the toys, sighing, and putting them back. Or perhaps she was just doing her job. But when she asked, in a friendly manner, "Are you finding what you're looking for?" I hesitated, then replied, "No."
"What are you looking for?"
"A toy not made in China."
(Today's Mallard Fillmore comic strip.)
She was certain she could help me, but as she checked toy after toy her astonishment grew. She discovered one item—alas, for a much older child than our six-month-old grandson—made in North America, and I pointed out the one toy I had found that was made in Thailand.* Other than those two, everything was from China. Every. Single. Toy. Clothes are made all over the world, judging from my label-reading experience: Honduras, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Domincan Republic.... But not toys.
I was not surprised, having been through this drill before, but the helpful salesperson was astonished, and even called a supervisor for help. Perhaps that's one reason China has a virtual monopoly on children's toys, and agri-business rules our food supply: we don't know where things come from. I left empty-handed; our grandson will have to make do with something more creative.
*Alas, my sources in Thailand tell me that as far as the safety of children's toys goes, this is no more reassuring than "Made in China." But at least it broke the monotony.
http://laughingsquid.com/bronte-sisters-power-dolls/
Funny! They're not made in China, either, although they probably would be, if they were made at all.
Well, I think your first mistake might have been to go to Babies R Us (or Toys R Us). A smaller local toy store might have had something else to offer.
It did make me curious about Lego though. When the boys were little, they had a product called Primo.
http://www.amazon.com/Lego-1192-Primo-Block-Gift/dp/B00004TXZL/ref=sr_1_14/181-0578140-3923657?ie=UTF8&s=video&qid=1269378856&sr=8-14?ie=UTF8&tag=squidoo0c5-20
Big, rounded-corner blocks perfect for little hands. It does not appear that they make them any more (we're going to be rich, we have some in our attic!)
Anyway, I found this on Lego's message boards in answer to a question about manufacture: http://messageboards.lego.com/en-us/showpost.aspx?PostID=1822888
It sounds like most parts are made in Europe or Mexico, but some of the electronics or textile pieces may be made in China. Easy enough to forgo those if you stick to basic building kits.
True, true. I almost never shop there, but it's just the right distance for a good walk....
