When I was growing up I had a friend with a fascination for chewing obscure things. It wasn't uncommon for her to pop off a plastic grape from her mother's decorative fruit display and toss it into her mouth. She'd gnaw on it to get it softened up, then with her thumb and index finger pull it out of her mouth sucking out the spit, turning it over a couple times for inspection and then she'd push it back in for the next round. She'd play with it much like a kid might play with chewing gum. However, she was not a gum chewer, her interests focused solely on pencil erasers, trinkets from nickel machines, plastic utensils, straws, toys and a number of other items not intended for human consumption. As far as I know she never actually swallowed any parts of the item, at least not intentionally.

Knowing not everyone has a child who is constantly on the prowl for fresh pliable materials to sink her teeth into, it isn't uncommon for kids to leave their mark on one or many a favorite toy. And the first thing that comes to mind is the recent toy recalls that have been making headlines. Most of the current recalls have been the result of toys that contain lead paint and if you've got a chewer on your hands, health problems may lie ahead.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a child who swallows large amounts of lead may develop anemia, severe stomachache, muscle weakness and brain damage. Even low levels of lead are linked to lower IQ scores. If your child has been exposed to a recalled toy, Dr. Carl R. Baum, director of the Center for Children's Environmental Toxicology at Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital says, "First, take away the toy and any others within reach of the child that may have been recalled. You should not panic because a brief encounter with a toy does not definitely mean that your child has been poisoned. It can be difficult to determine the amount of lead that has been swallowed, and that may depend on the condition of the toy and the amount of time spent with it. Your poison control center or doctor should be able to guide you and recommend whether follow-up testing, such as an x-ray or blood test, is necessary."

With this in mind, it makes shopping for our little loved ones a bit more challenging. I looked to family and friends to see what they would consider "safe" toy purchases.

Top picks you will not find on the lead recall list:

- LEGOs, a Danish product founded in 1932 and an environmentally conscious company focused on minimizing waste and energy used during the manufacturing process. Always purchase according to the manufacturers age recommendations. A little LEGO trivia: The name LEGO is derived from the Danish words LEG GODT which means "play well" and it turns out one of the meanings in Latin is "I put together".
- K'NEX toys as in BRIO and Lincoln Logs. K'NEX Brands, L.P. has headquarters and manufacturing facilities located in Hatfield, PA.
- Lauri, Inc. residing in Smethport, PA produces educational toys originally intended for schools. Find them at www.lauritoys.com
- Ravensburger, maker of Pirates of the High Seas (winner of the Family Fun 2007 Toy Award) and The a-MAZE-ing Labyrinth game (Parenting Magazine's Toy Hall of Fame).
- Gamewright, founded in 1994 by four parents wanting great games for their kids. Their games have won over 150 prestigious awards from organizations like Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Parents' Choice, Dr. Toy and MENSA.
- Sargent Art washable paints, made in the US
- Schleich Toys makers of realistic animal and fantasy figurines
- Beethoven's Wig CD series

Many of these items can be found online or at specialty toy stores. Here in Colorado Springs look for them at stores like Toys for Fun or Poor Richards.

Other great ideas range from simple everyday items like books and Sharpie markers (provided your child does not have a habit of writing places they shouldn't) to signing your child up for a special program like Science Matters ( www.sciencematters.tv) or an art class at Bemis School of Art or Studio 101. And if shopping's not your thing there's the old fall-back of a gift card or cash - let them decide!

Just remember to check for age appropriateness and packaging labels, many of the toy recalls are due to choking hazards. For a listing of recalls go to http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html and for more information on lead exposure go to www.cdc.gov , search on lead exposure.

Wishing you safe and joyous holidays ....and happy shopping to all!