Keeping playtime safe

Gift-givers should seek to get the lead out this holiday season.

In the wake of this year's widespread toy recalls, parents seem to be paying more attention than ever to the origins of the plastic items with which their children play. As the holidays approach, extra caution must be taken to stock young ones' toy chests with safe new treasures.

Consumers have been on red alert since RC2's recall of 1.5 million Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway toys in June and Fisher-Price's recall of 967,000 Sesame Street and Dora the Explorer toys in August due to excessive amounts of lead in each product line's paint. Just last week, Six Colors face-and-body paint was recalled due to high levels of lead and other chemicals in the product.