Christmas Tales 2009

CEO Robert Eckert, of the giant toy company, Mattel told CBS News that “we are by no means perfect”, concerning dealing with overseeing subcontractors in China, responsible for producing toys for the company. Federal regulators and toy manufacturers testified to Congress on Wednesday, September 12, that Chinese standards are loose and U.S. enforcement is weak, contributing to the increase in Chinese-made toys being recalled. Mattel has had to recall millions of toys so far this fall. Recalls, one might think would be more costly than implementing stricter safety standards.

There have been recent “congressional efforts to impose mandatory safety-testing standards”, according to the September 12, CBS News article. You would wonder why safety-testing standards or at least better quality control measures have not already been a part of operating protocol? After all, when you are outsourcing work, and your name goes on the product would you not want to know that you are in control of the quality of the product? Seems like basic business common sense to control your product, when it is being outsourced to another country.

Mattel promised to strengthen their toy testing and if you go to their site:

www.mattel.com/safety/us/ you will see the following 3-stage safety check of paint used in their toys:

1. All paint must be tested before it is used on our toys. No exceptions.
2. We have significantly increased testing and unannounced inspections at every stage of production.
3. We are testing every production run of finished toys to ensure compliance before they reach you.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is responsible for protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products, including toys. Consumers can report incidents of dangerous products by calling the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772 or by using the Website to contact them: www.cpsc.gov/talk.html

Consumer reports is one way that we can find ourselves taking some responsibility to protect others. When faced with a defective product, we have two choices: we can throw it away and forget about it, or we can contact the manufacturer or the CPSC to report the dangerous situation. Reporting, gives us the power to make changes for the better.

In the case of the Gymboree, Pirate Sword recall, there were 11 reported incidents that triggered the 6,000-product recall. It is up to the company to listen to those who make the reports and to issue voluntary recalls of the product to ensure public safety.

It takes a combination of governmental regulation and standard safety control, and companies who value public safety over company profits that are willing to enforce product quality testing before reaching the consumer; in order to reduce the number of hazardous products reaching the public.

Evergreens were used to decorate homes during winter long before Christmas became a holiday. Evergreens were believed to keep witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illnesses away from homes where they were displayed.

Germany is credited with the traditional Christmas Tree celebration of decorating trees and bringing them into their homes. It is believed that Martin Luther, the 16th century Protestant reformer was the first to add lighted candles to the tree. He wanted to recapture the sparkling stars on a dark night and how the stars illuminated his walk home, so he brought a tree into his home and placed it in the center of the room. He then wired the tree branches with lighted candles.

By 1890, Christmas ornaments were arriving in America from Germany and the Christmas tree became popular in the U.S. In the early 20th century most Americans were using homemade ornaments on their trees. While Europeans liked their trees to be small, Americans liked their trees to reach from floor to ceiling. Popular homemade ornaments included popcorn strings decorated by being dyed bright colors and laced with berries and nuts. Electricity changed the tree to include electric lights and trees began to glow in town squares and in homes all across America, making the Christmas Tree, a American tradition.

Many cities claim to be the first city to have a Christmas tree in America including: Windsor Locks, a city in Connecticut. They claim that a Hessian soldier put up a Christmas tree in 1777 while he was imprisoned at the Noden-Reed House, making it the first Christmas tree in New England.

Easton, Pennsylvania also claims that German settlers put up a Christmas tree in 1816. There is a diary entry made by Matthew Zahm, of Lancaster Pennsylvania, which says a Christmas tree was put up in 1832.

A German immigrant living in Boston, Charles Follen, claimed the custom itself of decorating the Christmas tree. Another German immigrant from Wooster, Ohio is said to have made popular the practice of decorating the Christmas tree by cutting down spruce trees from a wooded area by his town, and having a tinsmith construct a star, he placed the tree in his house, decorating it with paper ornaments and candy canes. He was recognized by the National Confectioners’ Association as being the first to put candy canes on a Christmas tree. Those first candy canes were all white though and had no red stripes.

The Christmas tree today is a very important part of the celebration of Christmas. The tree symbolizes life.

Traveling by air is usually stressful but when you have to travel during the holidays it usually means taking along family members and that can add extra stress. Reduce air travel stress by planning ahead and using these airline tips for a happy and stress free airplane ride. 

There are a few things to keep in mind when traveling by air with kids in tow. The first is that airline food is tasteless, plain and unappealing to most adults and certainly kids will find it equally disgusting. You can bring plastic containers or baggies filled with your child’s favorite treats and meals such as fruits, veggie sticks, toddler finger foods, cheerios and such that will appeal to their young taste buds and keep them happily munching. Remember to bring along wipes to clean sticky fingers.

Unlike a car ride, where you can pull off at rest stops, a plane is a long endless ride for youngsters. To help pass the time you can pack in your carryon baggage some simple toys to amuse them. Pack crayons and coloring books, stuffed animals, dolls and action figures. You can also bring along Music CDs with headphones.
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During the weeks leading up to Christmas many families celebrate the anticipation of the holiday with an Advent Calendar. There are many ways to make your own Advent Calendar and it is a fun family project designing and putting it together. Here are some simple calendar ideas to get your started.

The word advent means “arrival” and the calendar is a good way for families to count down the days until the big celebration day arrives. There are many ways to make an advent calendar each having its own special way of rewarding little ones for their patience. 

There are many printable templates that you can find online to guide you in your calendar design. You can make an advent wreath made with handprints, or make an advent jar or tree.

Advent Wreath – Good Deed handprints

Supplies you will need Read more »

Here you have, the 10 perfect gifts for your child’s teacher!

1. Crayons: to color your day bright and  beautiful
2. Pipe cleaner: to remind you to be flexible
3. Eraser: to remind you that everyone makes mistakes and they can be erased
4. Lifesavers: You are a lifesaver to many of your students
5. Shiny Penny:  To remind you each child will shine in their own special way
6. Gum: to help your class stick together
7. Bandages: to help fix any hurt feelings
8. Animal Crackers: eat these when you think your classroom is a zoo
9. Chap Stick: to moisten your lips after giving all those directions
10. Wiggly Eyes:  for when you wish you had eyes in the back of your head
11. Tylenol: for those trying students and situations
12. Kleenex: to help wipe tears, yours and theirs

Technorati Tags christmas, Christmas Ideas

According to Britannica Online, though wood engravers produced prints with religious themes in the European Middle Ages, the first Christmas card, as the term is now understood, is believed to have been designed by John Callcott Horsley in England in 1843, created for his friend Sir Henry Cole. An edition of 1,000 cards was placed on sale in London.

It was lithographed on stiff cardboard, 5 1/8 by 3 1/4 inches, in dark sepia and hand-colored. The center of the card shows a family party in progress, beneath which were the words “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.” To one side is a scene of the hungry being fed and to the other side the poor being clothed.

In the United States, the owner of a variety store in Albany, N.Y., in the mid-19th century produced a card carrying Christmas greetings from “Pease’s Great Variety Store in the Temple of Fancy.”

Technorati Tags christmas, Christmas Cards