Labor & Employment Law

AAM Highlights Safe Toys and Made-in-America Holiday Gifts

By Mike Hall

Do news stories of tainted toys imported from China have you thinking twice about what you’re putting under the tree? The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) suggests parents take a look at the wide range of toys and games offered by NMC Toys.

NMC Toys was founded in 2007 by Kerry and Andrew Menger, the parents of two small children who say the rash of recalls and reports of toxic and dangerous toys made in China, along with shoddy quality, spurred them to establish NMC.

NMC is not the maker of the toys but the retailer, and all the toys on NMC.com meet or exceed U.S. safety standards and include the country of origin. The toys are designed for children eight years old and younger. Say the Mengers:

“When it comes to our own home we choose to keep Chinese Made Toys out of our children?s hands. Many of the toys in our home wind up in our children?s mouths and we did not want to gamble with their future?.The toys of NMCtoys.com are designed to foster your child?s imagination, improve their motor skills and bolster their self-esteem.”

Click here to see the entire line of toys and games.

For more gift ideas, check out the AAM?s blog, Manufacturethis. The blog is running items daily on made-in-America kid and adult gift ideas, from bicycles and games to clothes, snowshoes and picture frames. Says AAM Executive Director Scott Paul:

“When you buy an American-made toy, you’re not only helping to employ a U.S. factory worker, but you’re also choosing a safe option. There are many, many instances of toxic and lead-painted goods from China. Our children’s health isn’t worth the risk.

“My twin boys are getting made-in-Ohio Little Tikes trikes for the holidays. The sense of satisfaction that I had assembling the trikes was beyond description. I know our boys will be thrilled. But I also know that somewhere in Ohio, there are factory workers who made and assembled these toys. And, in a very small way, I’m supporting their jobs.”

Another great place to find a wide assortment of union-made products is the AFL-CIO Online Store, where you will find unique apparel, buttons, mugs, decals and other outstanding union items.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on December 18, 2010 (boomark / email).