Important Advisory:

The Asterisk on the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Lead-Free* Platinum Award list indicates that samples from only one particular batch of these toys tested lead free.  Other production runs or samples of the same products may contain lead.

We have not had the other toys on our website independently tested for lead content. For the future, we are requiring companies to provide us with documentation that their products have been tested by an independent lab and found to be free of surface and embedded lead, as well as phthalates.  

3. Build up your home reference center.

CD-Roms can inexpensively provide a better starting point for research than the web because the information has been prepared and edited with kids in mind.    Encyclopedias have come down so far in price that you may be able to purchase several of the best: Encarta Reference Suite  ($64.95, http://www.microsoft.com/encarta, Windows 95/98), World Book (Deluxe Edition $59.95, http://www.woldbook.com, Windows 95/98)and Grolliers ($59.99, http://www.grollier.com, Windows 95/98, Macintosh).  Significant discounts are available on all of the above. 

Don't overlook CDs that cover only a single area:  Primary Sources American Memories ($69.95 each, or $225 for entire series, http://www.classroom.com, Windows 95/98) is a new series of CD's that puts a documents, photos and audio files from the Library of Congress into a multimedia exploration of  topics in American History.  Encarta Africana 2000 ($69.95, http://www.microsoft.com,Windo ws 95/98) focuses on Black experience and culture.  It is a must-have on every American’s reference shelf.