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.  

7. Not all information is equal! 

This pitfall comes from my daughter Kate, who is a high school debater.  She says you need to verify the accuracy of the information you get on the web.  Know your source...and even then double check it - is it accurate?  Is it outdated?

8. Put it in your own words! 

It is so easy to surf, search, copy and paste that some kids don’t even read what they are turning in as homework.  One teacher told me that a student turned in an article from the web on Columbus, Ohio instead of Christopher Columbus! By talking to your kids about their homework you’ll get a good idea whether they are understanding and putting things into their own words or just copying from the web.