If you want to study ancient or classical civilizations (including the Near East, Egypt, early civilizations of the Mediterranean, classical Greece and Rome, and the early civilizations of India, China, and southeast Asia), you should take part in interdisciplinary programs that include courses in art, architecture, classics, history, ancient and modern languages, and theology.

However, if you wish to study the historical periods (from the fall of Rome to the present), then you should combine history (including archival and oral history research) with courses in historical and vernacular architecture, material culture and folklore, and archaeology. During your studies at the undergraduate level there is usually little specialization.

A major in anthropology requires courses in all of the subdisciplines. If you are interested in ancient and classical civilizations, the particular undergraduate major is not important. You’ll need to have an masters archaeology degree (B.A./B.S.) to work as a field archaeologist in the U.S. and to perform basic laboratory studies. You can get it through participation in an archaeological field school or as a volunteer.

It’s very important to underline that the Ph.D. degree requires 2-3 years of courses beyond the M.A. This degree also requires the successful preparation and oral defense of a dissertation containing original research in your chosen specialization within the field of archaeology.

Some graduate programs offer streamlined tracks for students with a B.A. degree so that they work directly toward a Ph.D. while others require an M.A. degree first.
There are some programs that offer a non-thesis M.A. degree. If you are planning to work immediately on a Ph.D. degree, the preparation of a thesis is an important part of the educational process.

An M.A./M.S. would be enough to direct field crews and is sufficient for many government positions in archaeology. An M.A./M.S. with a thesis and a year of field and laboratory experience is the minimum for certification by the Society of Professional Archeologists.

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Filming in Israel is a dream come true for crews filming historical, biblical and nature documentaries. Biblical Productions, which has been providing Production Services in Israel for many years, regularly takes crews to the most interesting and intriguing locations around the country. One of the most popular and historically most important filming locations is Qumran, where in 1947 a solitary Bedouin shepherd stumbled into the greatest archaeological find of the century – the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The wilderness of Judea, mile after mile of perched rock and barren hillside, was home to Bedouin shepherds and a connecting pathway for camel caravans. For thousands of years, the Judean desert has held secrets buried in its sands. Here, at the lowest point on earth near the Dead Sea, in the intense heat of the barren Judean desert, David fled from King Saul seeking refuge in the mountain caves, John the Baptist lived on locusts and wild honey, and Jesus rejected the temptations of the Devil. It was at the Northwestern point of the Dead Sea, where one afternoon in 1947 a small shepherd boy climbed into the caves of Qumran and discovered the scrolls.

Blind to the value of the rolls of old and rotting leather, the shepherd sold the scrolls for the low price of 7 Palestinian pounds. Yet the dealer realized their value quickly and sent the Bedouins back to the desert to look for more scrolls. On November 23rd 1947, Elazar Sukenik, Professor of Archaeology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem received an urgent phone call from a friend, an Armenian antique dealer from the Old City. They arranged to meet the next morning. By afternoon, three scrolls were wrapped inconspicuously in newspaper on Sukenik’s lap.

In the following months, Sukenik and a small team at the Hebrew University began the delicate task of unrolling scrolls stuck together by 20 centuries of decomposition. They identified the almost complete manuscript of the Book of Isaiah, which remains the oldest biblical text ever found, almost identical to the Bible we read today.

Today, crews filming in Israel can see these scrolls exhibited in the Israel Museum. Film permits in Israel can be acquired by Biblical Productions as well as interviews with experts about the discovery and scientific examinations of the scrolls. Many crews filming in Israel choose to film in Qumran as well as in the Israel Museum, if their script explores the Dead Sea scrolls in depth. 

Meanwhile scholars at the American School of Oriental Research in East-Jerusalem (ASOR) opened and photographed the scrolls. A leading US Biblical scholar at Johns Hopkins University, Professor William F. Albright, declared that the scrolls were the work of the Essenes, a mysterious sect, and without hesitation announced that this was the most important archaeological find of the century. News of the discovery sent Bedouins, together with archaeologists, racing to excavate the area. In cave 4 alone, not far from the original cave, dug out of a sheer face of an escarpment, Bedouins found 15,000 fragments from about 500 scrolls.

During the spring of 1953, the archeologist, Father De Vaux, Director of the Ecole Biblique in East-Jerusalem, came to carry out the first extended excavation – a dig that would occupy him and his team for the next four springs and lead him to a view of an Essene life that would be argued about by scholars for decades. The two-month dig unearthed the remains of considerable construction; and it soon became clear that this was a well-established settlement.

The historical site of Qumran is one of the most popular film locations in Israel for crews. Having become a well-known National Park, Qumran offers a solid wood path that leads through the excavated ruins, as well as a film and a little museum. The caves themselves are currently not accessible for the public, however, filmmakers can get great shots from an empty riverbed next to the caves, as well as from up above at the park. The white soft hills that hid the Dead Sea Scrolls for so long form a nice contrast to the sharp mountains of the Judean desert in the background. More caves from ancient times are accessible at the back of the sites; however, caution is advised when climbing over the rocky paths with camera and sound equipment. 

The Magic School Bus Video Collection

It can be a daunting task to choose a camp, however, with over 11,000 camps in the United States. And, even if you were an 8-week camper as a kid, there are trends that have changed the face of the camping industry in the last few years. If you are aware of these trends, it can be helpful in guiding you to the right program for your child.

CAMPS

Shorter sessions & more oversight. Many full season camps have moved to 2 shorter sessions and many camps now offer 2 week sessions to allow parents to fit in a residential camp experience around their many other activities. In addition, most longer term camps are now offering short, introductory sessions for younger kids that could last anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks. In many cases, this short term “taste of camp” is as much for the parents’ sake as for the kids. Some camps have relaxed their communication policies, allowing phone calls or on-line sites to view camper pictures. For some parents, these new approaches make the decision to send a child to camp a little easier.

Allergies & Medications. With the rise in allergies, camps have responded in a couple of ways. Some camps have moved to a peanut free environment to eliminate the risk completely. (So much for those kids who used to go away to camp and live off of peanut butter and white bread as an alternative to the hot meals!) There are even gluten-free camps for kids with Celiac disease. Many camps are relying heavier on outside companies to package camper medications in daily dosages and then send them to the camp for distribution. With so many children on “meds” these days, shoring up camp medication policies has been a focus for many camps.

A Camp within a Camp. You still want the feel of a traditional summer camp, but you want your child to improve their horsemanship, tennis backhand, or make the school basketball team in the fall. There is a movement in summer camps toward specialty camps WITHIN traditional camp settings. With so many camps in the United States and parents researching camps by search engine, camps must differentiate themselves in ways that they never have before. In addition, parents are looking for specialized programming at a younger age. To meet this demand, you can find specialties such as culinary arts, fencing, science, foreign language, horseback, tennis or golf within a traditional camp session. Circus Arts has become the “new gymnastics” and so popular that camps are spending thousands (maybe millions) of dollars erecting trapeze courses and tight ropes and indoor pavilions dedicated to this “high-flying” activity. Circus Arts gives kids a safe, “extreme” sport, while giving them impressive new abilities and teaching them an original form of creative or performing arts. Where gymnastics appeals only to girls, circus arts gives co-ed camps a leg up in attracting boys as well.

Specialty Camps. If parents weren’t campers themselves, they might not know the benefits of a long-term, traditional camp experience. In addition, many parents feel the need to fit in as much as possible during the summer, not unlike the year-round focus to shuttle kids from one after school program to another. Therefore, specialty camps have sprung up all over the place in offerings such as rock music, creative writing, aviation, sports broadcasting, skateboarding or robotics. Specialized programs in the culinary arts have also become more and more popular. And, of course, there are specialty camps for almost every sport, whether your child is trying to build an interest in a particular sport or trying to perfect a sport for a fall tryout.

Enrichment programs. For many years, there have been pre-college programs for high school kids, but more recently there has been a rise in enrichment programs for younger kids. Starting in 4th grade, a child could spend 1 – 6 weeks in an enrichment program where they would live at a boarding school or college campus in a dorm room, eat in a community dining hall, take classes of special interest, participate in recreational activities and take part in organized field trips. The type of “academics” the kids are exposed to in an enrichment program is far different from the rigor of the school year: how often does an AP track kid get to take a workshop in Lego engineering or the Science of Superheroes? Unusually these programs allow both for the child who needs remedial coursework to help with a learning deficit or a challenge course to supplement a different child’s quest for knowledge.

Special Needs. Kids with ADD & ADHD used to be labeled as “special needs” kids. Now, every camp has kids with ADD and those directors do not even consider it an accommodation. Today, many mainstream camps will admit blind kids, deaf kids, kids with Asperger’s and cerebral palsy. They see a benefit to the other campers learning compassion and learning how to accommodate a child with differences. If a parent doesn’t want their child to stand out, however, there are also dedicated camps for kids with all sorts of differences, like Prader Willi, Williams Syndrome, Downs Syndrome, and more severe forms of autism.

Summer opportunities can help your child develop new interests, open their mind, choose a new direction, or make lifelong friends. As a parent, you need to ask yourself what your child needs over the summer and then you can match them with the appropriate program. Perfectly matched summer programs can have a profound impact upon your child and help them develop life-long passions. But, these programs are not inexpensive. So, when choosing, know all of the options and make a wise choice for your child.

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Trends for Teens

When it comes to summer camps and teen program trends, parents seem to be driving the train. Whether it is “helicopter parents” demanding more communication with their children while they are away or parents demanding peanut free environments, camp and teen trip directors must adapt to a changing society. In the last 15 years, summer programming for teens has become a very competitive industry. Each program must differentiate itself in some way and stay one step ahead of the curve. By this time, program directors have evaluated what worked best for their participants last summer and are now busy trying to be on the “cutting edge” for next summer. Teen program directors walk the fine line of trying to use the “build it and they will come” philosophy, while appealing to both parents’ wishes and those of the teens.

So, what are the trends that are driving the teen summer program industry? There is a demand for shorter programs to accommodate the schedules of busy teens. Programs have to be planned around summer school, sports commitments, or family vacations. Parents want more “bang for the buck.” While programs abroad used to be strictly delineated between language programs, community service, or adventure travel, today your teen could choose one program in which she could do all three. Program directors are starting to plan their itineraries to attract more boys, because girls tend to dominate the travel industry. One director planned more trips to China because boys are interested in ancient Chinese warriors. Here are some other trends and unique programs for summer 2008 to help you and your child think outside the box:

TEEN PROGRAMS

Options for “Tweens”. Kids may skip the whole traditional camp experience and seek a non-camp experience later. Because teen program directors have realized that middle school age kids are looking for new and exciting programs, these “tweeners” have a world of options open to them now. Most language requests used to be for Spanish and French, now there are language programs for Chinese, Japanese and Arabic. Spanish may still be your child’s passion, so how about a community service program in Costa Rica? If your 7th grader is interested in saving the world, there are marine science sailing programs in the British Virgin Islands where they can participate in turtle conservation. Most adventure travel programs that used to be dedicated solely to high school students, now offer the same types of experiences to 6th, 7th & 8th graders, customized to their maturity level and educational experience.

Community Service. How do we teach our children the value of “giving back,” of appreciating what they have? Or, more pragmatically, how do we complete those high school community service requirements? This is no small task for a parent, but more easily accomplished through a quality community service program. Your child can assist in the construction of new classrooms in India or work with orphans in Russia. Your child can work on hurricane reconstruction on the Gulf Coast or teach tennis to underprivileged kids in urban areas.

Internships. Does your child have a specific interest in a career path? Do you want them to gain experience in that field? If so, this is the option for your child. In an internship program, your child can work side by side with professionals in their area of interest – from Archaeology to Fashion Design, from Medical Research to Strategic Studies. Up to now, this type of internship experience has been organized mainly in England, but now they are springing up in large U.S. cities, like New York City, Boston and Philadelphia, run by reputable teen program directors. After their daily “work,” the staff organizes evening activities, weekend excursions and college visits for the participants. They are housed on safe college campuses.

Language programs. Though learning a foreign language is not a new concept, combining it with other interests in clearly a new phenomenon. Plus, your teen can dabble in rare languages, like Arabic, Modern Greek, or Swedish right here in the U.S. Many language programs abroad incorporate a home stay, where a student is matched with a family in order to reinforce the language of study while enriching the student’s experience through cultural exchange and community service. Some students will forego the home stay experience to focus on another interest. Perhaps your child wants to study painting, photography or cooking while learning Italian. Or, maybe your child wants to study architecture in Switzerland while learning French.

More Exotic & Intensive Teen Travel. The travel programs are responding to the fact that parents want a bigger “bang for the buck.” Now a child can live with a host family in a rural village, hike to ancient ruins, and help build a school for kids — all in a 4-week trip. Teen travel programs used to focus on traditional destinations like Western Europe or Central America. Now, there is a trend to the more exotic. It is not uncommon to find teen programs that travel to Senegal, Bolivia or Cambodia. While these programs used to be about visiting busy tourist attractions, some have morphed into mini think tanks, undertaking the study of global issues. One such program for next year will take students and turn them into global awareness “action corps” groups. They might study health care and global health care issues in Ghana, or community development in El Salvador, or biodiversity in Madagascar. While in those countries, they would participate alongside local friends and experts before returning to the U.S. to develop and present plans for continuing action.

College Campus Academic Study Programs. Whether purely for enrichment or college credit, academic programs are much in demand. They give high school students a taste of what it’s like to live on a college campus. In addition to academic study, each program offers SAT Prep, college tours, leadership programs, a range of sports programs, visits to local attractions as well as weekend excursions to nearby cities. The directors of these programs are always looking to provide unusual course offerings. Course studies range from architecture to advertising, economics to environmental science.

Gap Year Programming. U.S. students are one of the few countries in which kids follow a traditional path from high school to college to graduate school to profession. Our students are finally mirroring the desire of their foreign counterparts and taking some time off between high school and college. They now even have a name for it – “the Odyssey.” Your graduate can sail around the world or live with a family in a rural village in Kenya, help teach in the village secondary school, offer extracurricular activities and initiate and participate in community service projects. There are summer programs for graduates and programs that range from 3 months to a full year of study or travel. These are great for the graduate who does not start their college experience until January, too.

Summer programs can provide alternative and enriching opportunities for kids of all ages. Whatever type of program you and your child choose, you want it to be a well-run, well-supervised, enriching experience. With all of the choices available, it can be helpful to talk to a camp and teen trip consultant to help you formulate the right questions and guide you to the right program. Happy camping!

Play is the child’s work: in the unstructured atmosphere of the School of Organic Education, kids are creative, motivated learners.: An article from: Mothering

Like most individuals on this planet, I have spent a good deal of time fantasizing about the life I would have if only I could choose. I would be more confident. I would be more adventurous. I would get more education and get a better paying job. I would choose satisfying and complimentary relationships. I would feel like I had a valid place in this world.

As much time as I spent fantasizing, however, I probably spent even more time wallowing in the misery of my real life and making excuses about why I couldn’t accomplish these things. I began to assume that every day would be the same as the last. I even started to believe that dreams were for kids and for irresponsible people that intended to bounce from one failure to the next.

Then, one day I had an epiphany. At the time, I was a housewife raising three small children. Though I have the amazing ability to stretch a dime into a dollar, money was always extremely tight. My life centered around taking care of my children and finding ways to stretch the budget just to pay for the necessities of life.

I really loved being with my kids. I felt it was an important job and was willing to sacrifice to do what I felt was the right thing for my kids. But I had a good number of aspirations that didn’t involve cleaning up messes, rereading stories for the hundredth time, or playing with bugs in the park. I wanted to be able to pay the bills each month. I wanted to become more confident and able to be part of an adult world. I wanted the freedom and ability to drive my children to various places. I wanted to see and learn a little bit about the world. I wanted to go to university and get my archaeology degree. In short, I wanted to be Tami, the person, and not just Mommy or Mrs. Brady.

For several years, I stewed about my quandary. I had always said I was going to go to university but frankly no one believed I actually would. The most vocal members of my family questioned why I would even want to go to university, especially to take archaeology. Archaeology was a job for single men. The only mothers who would dare train for such a job were simply trying to run away from their responsibilities. I had no intention of abandoning my family and so I eventually decided to give up on my dream.

My brother came to visit one day. We were both venting about our lives and talking about our bleak futures. I told him that I had finally given up on my hope of becoming an archaeologist. He asked me why I had to give up on this dream. I remember him saying “why not”. Rather irritated at my single brother’s grasp of the seemingly obvious, I explained the situation to him: my responsibilities, my lack of finances, my confidence issues, my lack of an adventurous nature, etc.

Over the next few weeks, for some reason, I just kept replaying that conversation in my head. I kept hearing “why not”. Yes, I could list a whole book of reasons why I couldn’t become an archaeologist. Strangely, however, these reasons seemed more like excuses.

I started wondering what I would tell my children if they were in my place. Surely, I wouldn’t tell them to settle and be miserable. I started questioning why I was so willing to run away from a challenge. Finally, I realized that if I didn’t at least try to reach my goals, I was going to regret my decision for the rest of my life.

Within six months of that epiphany, I started taking university classes. I researched and found student funding. I volunteered and then got a part time job at the local museum on weekends so that my husband could watch the kids while I was working. I practiced my driving skills and learned how to take public transit. I pushed myself to interact with other students and resisted my natural urge to run away from the large crowded campus. I scheduled my classes around my children’s school schedule, even taking a few late night classes, so that my children would not require daycare and would never come home to an empty house.

Seven years later, I had earned an undergraduate honours degree in Archaeology and graduate degrees in Archaeology and Heritage, awarded with distinction. I now run my own archaeological consulting company out of my basement. This allows me the freedom to choose my projects so that I don’t have to stay away from my family for long periods of time. It also allows me the option to take on non-archaeological projects such as the writing of this book without the loss of income associated with working part time. Moreover, I found that as I reached towards my goals (sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing in my attempts) that in moving through or around these obstacles and challenges, I became happier in my life and more confident that I could achieve other ambitions that I had. My husband says I also became a lot nicer to be around.

In this way, the phrase “why not” changed my life. Perhaps, you too can change your life simply by asking yourself “why not”.

Like most individuals on this planet, I have spent a good deal of time fantasizing about the life I would have if only I could choose. I would be more confident. I would be more adventurous. I would get more education and get a better paying job. I would choose satisfying and complimentary relationships. I would feel like I had a valid place in this world.

As much time as I spent fantasizing, however, I probably spent even more time wallowing in the misery of my real life and making excuses about why I couldn’t accomplish these things. I began to assume that every day would be the same as the last. I even started to believe that dreams were for kids and for irresponsible people that intended to bounce from one failure to the next.

Then, one day I had an epiphany. At the time, I was a housewife raising three small children. Though I have the amazing ability to stretch a dime into a dollar, money was always extremely tight. My life centered around taking care of my children and finding ways to stretch the budget just to pay for the necessities of life.

I really loved being with my kids. I felt it was an important job and was willing to sacrifice to do what I felt was the right thing for my kids. But I had a good number of aspirations that didn’t involve cleaning up messes, rereading stories for the hundredth time, or playing with bugs in the park. I wanted to be able to pay the bills each month. I wanted to become more confident and able to be part of an adult world. I wanted the freedom and ability to drive my children to various places. I wanted to see and learn a little bit about the world. I wanted to go to university and get my archaeology degree. In short, I wanted to be Tami, the person, and not just Mommy or Mrs. Brady.

For several years, I stewed about my quandary. I had always said I was going to go to university but frankly no one believed I actually would. The most vocal members of my family questioned why I would even want to go to university, especially to take archaeology. Archaeology was a job for single men. The only mothers who would dare train for such a job were simply trying to run away from their responsibilities. I had no intention of abandoning my family and so I eventually decided to give up on my dream.

My brother came to visit one day. We were both venting about our lives and talking about our bleak futures. I told him that I had finally given up on my hope of becoming an archaeologist. He asked me why I had to give up on this dream. I remember him saying “why not”. Rather irritated at my single brother’s grasp of the seemingly obvious, I explained the situation to him: my responsibilities, my lack of finances, my confidence issues, my lack of an adventurous nature, etc.

Over the next few weeks, for some reason, I just kept replaying that conversation in my head. I kept hearing “why not”. Yes, I could list a whole book of reasons why I couldn’t become an archaeologist. Strangely, however, these reasons seemed more like excuses.

I started wondering what I would tell my children if they were in my place. Surely, I wouldn’t tell them to settle and be miserable. I started questioning why I was so willing to run away from a challenge. Finally, I realized that if I didn’t at least try to reach my goals, I was going to regret my decision for the rest of my life.

Within six months of that epiphany, I started taking university classes. I researched and found student funding. I volunteered and then got a part time job at the local museum on weekends so that my husband could watch the kids while I was working. I practiced my driving skills and learned how to take public transit. I pushed myself to interact with other students and resisted my natural urge to run away from the large crowded campus. I scheduled my classes around my children’s school schedule, even taking a few late night classes, so that my children would not require daycare and would never come home to an empty house.

Seven years later, I had earned an undergraduate honours degree in Archaeology and graduate degrees in Archaeology and Heritage, awarded with distinction. I now run my own archaeological consulting company out of my basement. This allows me the freedom to choose my projects so that I don’t have to stay away from my family for long periods of time. It also allows me the option to take on non-archaeological projects such as the writing of this book without the loss of income associated with working part time. Moreover, I found that as I reached towards my goals (sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing in my attempts) that in moving through or around these obstacles and challenges, I became happier in my life and more confident that I could achieve other ambitions that I had. My husband says I also became a lot nicer to be around.

In this way, the phrase “why not” changed my life. Perhaps, you too can change your life simply by asking yourself “why not”.

There is nothing kids enjoy more than getting out of school for the summer. No more having to get up early and no more homework until the end of summer when school starts again. Unfortunately, for parents who have to work all summer, there isn’t always an opportunity to make the most of summer vacation and kids could end up wasting their entire summer in front of the TV or playing video games.

If you always thought of summer camp as a punishment for kids who wanted to stay indoors, then you need to take a look at some of the more modern versions of camp that are available for kids today of all ages. Not only are some of them designed as a place where kids can have lots of fun but at a themed camp they can even learn to do something that they have always been interested in.

Movie Camp. If your child has fantasies about being the next great actor or director, there are camps where they teach every aspect of the movie making business. Not only will your child learn how the real movie business operates but he/she will probably have the opportunity to entertain you with the final production that is the result of most of these summer camps, either in person or on video tape.

Adventure Camp. For the teenager who is always bored, an adventure camp is sure to bring excitement to life. Whether it is an interest in horseback riding or in whitewater kayaking, there are all types of adventure and adventure sports camps that will give them the adventure they long for while they are in a safe and controlled environment.

Educational Camp. For those kids who are always ready to learn something new, academic and educational camps will give them the opportunity to learn more about their favorite subjects. They can enjoy cultural studies, photography, science, animal studies, archaeology and much, much more.

Space Camp. There is nothing that will compare to space camp at Camp Kennedy Space Center where children will learn all about exploring space and what it takes to work for NASA. Campers even get to meet and learn from a real astronaut!

If you can’t afford to send your kids to camp or your children are to young to send away from home, look for day camps that are offered in your area in the summer. Check your local library and any community colleges to find out what is available.

If your child has a special condition like diabetes or asthma that makes it difficult to attend regular events, there are camps for kids where he/she can be with others who understand what they are going through while giving them the opportunity to enjoy their summer break

You will find a number of summer camp directories online to help you find the right one for your child/children and keep them outside and active during their summer vacation.

Government of India has prohibited import of ‘Toys’ from China appearing under ITC Codes 9501, 9502, 9503 of Schedule – I of ITC(HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items. The prohibition has come with effect from 23 January 2009 and will remain in force for six months. Prohibition covers following toys from China:

9501 Wheeled toys designed to be ridden by children (for example, tricycles, scooters, pedal cars); dolls’ carriages

Although DGFT notification No. 82 /(RE-2008)/2004-2009 dated 23 January 2009 says that “Import of Toy” are prohibited, since the prohibition covers all goods falling under Codes 9501, 9502, 9503, even parts of such toys are covered within the said prohibition. The apparent reason for import ban on Chinese toys is concern about child safety. It is believed that Chinese toys contain high level of toxicity injurious to the health of a child. High levels of lead in children’s bodies can cause physical illnesses, including diarrhea and nausea, and can also, reportedly, harm children’s intellectual development and their IQ levels. Phthalates -DEHP, DBP and BBP, commonly added to plastic products to make them soft and pliable, found in soft plastic toys may cause serious long-term side effects, such as hormone malfunctioning and reproductive defects. CPC and other hazardous chemicals used in doll dress are believed to be carcinogenic. It is also alleged that Chinese toys have loose small parts which may come off from the toys while playing and may be a health hazard when swallowed by the child.

In recent months, Chinese toys have created a scare worldwide for above reasons and led to recall of many toys. Mattel recalled “Sarge” vehicles, Dora the Explorer products, gangly dolls of Big Bird from Sesame Street and almost a million other toys from its Fisher-Price line and Nickelodeon characters, all manufactured in China. RC2’s Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway toy line were recalled. In January 2009, DDI Inc., Iowa, USA recalled Toy Construction Play Sets and Fantas-Eyes Inc., New York, USA recalled High School Musical Manicure Kits all manufactured in China due to lead containment. A comprehensive list of the Chinese toys recalled in recent months in USA can be accessed @ http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html. I

t is really very scary to know that our children are playing with life threatening Chinese toys and it appears that Government has really done a commendable job. USA and European countries have taken a lead in recalling the Chinese toys, and India, a latecomer joined the bandwagon by banning the import. Many countries in the world have quality standards for Toys & Children’s Products. Most of these seek to limit potential hazards, such as choking or fire hazards that could cause injury. Children, especially very small ones, often put toys into their mouths, so the materials used to make a toy are regulated to prevent poisoning. Materials are also regulated to prevent fire hazards. Children have not yet learned to judge what is safe and what is dangerous, and parents do not always think of all possible situations, so such warnings and regulations are important on toys.

Presently, India does not have quality standard for toys. It is reported in media that Government is working out quality standard for toys and within six months we will have our own standard. Till such time, our children are deprived from the pleasure of toys. I think you know all what I have told as you may also be following the frenzied media reporting about the recall of dodgy Chinese products from superstore shelves in the US, UK and other European countries. All this happened in spite of the fact that they have very tough quality standard. We also know that quality of Chinese toys exported to US and Europe is much higher than what the Indian importers have been importing into India. Therefore, India is rather facing a much more precarious situation at home.

Still I am wondering whether ban on Chinese toys is correct. Are Chinese toys actually lethal or “toxic toys” drama is a poisonous metaphor for contemporary fears of China, of its apparently rapacious economic growth, of adulteration of milk and chocolate products. Lead-based paints are dangerous when the lead is leached and indigested by the children. Lead can’t be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Lead from the paint can be leached only by continuous sucking on such toys and putting them in the mouth for days at a stretch, or by indigestion of significant amount of scrapings of paints. Children often suck on toys, but not for ‘days at a stretch’.

In the year 1998-99, the George Foundation under “Project Lead Free” screened blood of children in major cities and found that over 51% of the children below the age of 12 living in major urban areas of India had unacceptably elevated levels of blood lead of 10 mcg/dl or more. Blood lead levels in children of around 10 mcg/dl are associated with disturbances in early physical and mental growth and in later intellectual functioning and academic achievement. Lead contamination most often arises from the dust and soil, but can also come from lead water pipes or environmental pollution. Lead concentrations in blood of residents near waste dump, where you can see a large number of children playing, is typically high. However, none of the various studies have ever pointed out lead in paints of toys as a contributing factor for higher lead concentration in children blood.

Toys have a history as old as human civilization itself. The origin of toys is prehistoric; dolls representing infants, animals and soldiers are readily found at archaeological sites. They have been written about in some of our oldest literature. Toys excavated from the Indus valley civilization (3000-1500 BCE) include small carts, whistles shaped like birds, and toy monkeys which could slide down a string. Toys, like play itself, serve multiple purposes in both humans and animals. They provide entertainment while fulfilling an educational role. Toys enhance cognitive behavior and stimulate creativity. They aid in the development of physical and mental skills which are necessary in later life. Toys for infants often make use of distinctive sounds, bright colors, and unique textures. Through play with toys infants begin to recognize shapes and colors. Repetition reinforces memory.

We grew with toys made from clay and wood. They were simple toys produced by village artisan. Fancy toys were luxury meant for affluent. A lot of water has flown in Ganges since the import of toys was de-regulated. Now, Chinese toys are not only available to urban kids but even invaded remotest and poorest household in India. Chinese toys are complicated with flashing lights and sounds which appeal to children. Cheap Chinese toys create a ‘wow’ moment for kids that have fun, innovative features and include new technologies and engaging content. I am amazed with a cheap Chinese helicopter which goes 10 feet up in the air and cost just Rs 800/.

Chinese toys are not “Toxic” but “Exotic” for the children. There are more toxic substances out there ruining health of our kids and killing them. A World Bank study of 2000 put the number of yearly deaths in India among children due to dirty water at 2.06 million. The maximum permissible level (MPL) of lead recently proposed by Codex Alimentarius Commission is 0.1 ?g/g for cocoa butter (a key ingredient in chocolate) and 1.0 ?g/g for cocoa mass and cocoa powder (COPAL 2004b). In a recent study of cocoabased chocolates sold in India, Dahiya found the average lead concentrations to be 1.92 ?g/g, which is much higher than MPL. By banning the import of Chinese toys, we are depriving our children from some cheap exotic toys which the kid has become accustomed to. I fail to understand how parents are going to convince the child about harmful effect, or it is going to be “Tabilisation” of childhood.

Some may argue that Government has banned import of toys only from China and imports from other countries are still allowed and therefore our children will not be deprived of the pleasure of toys. Import statistics of toys for past 5 years reveals that about 90% of imported toys were from China. Korea is a distant 2nd source.

Therefore, other countries are unlikely to fill in the vacuum created on banning of Chinese toys. The notification has banned import of toys parts also. Domestic toy manufacturer importing parts from China are also likely to suffer. China has shown the world that mass production can bring the cost of products to ridiculous low level. Even if Indian entrepreneurs tries to fill in the gap, they will never be able to match the price which our remotest and poorest household in India have witnessed in near past. Surprisingly, notification prohibits import of ‘Toys’ from China. It is estimated that about 75% of toys sold in USA are manufactured in China. It is also known that parts and components manufactured in China are widely used by toys manufacturer around the world. It is a question of interpretation whether Chinese toys imported from USA or other countries will be permitted free import. Toys sold by Mattel, Funskool & Lego will also be affected as either toys or parts are Chinese. Many quality standards around the worlds are available for toys. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has certain quality standards, ISO 8124-1:2000 for Safety of Toys, ISO 8124-2:1994 for Flammability, ISO 8124-3:1997 for Migration of Certain Elements. Similarly, ASTM, American and European standards are also available. Till our standards are drafted, Chinese toys may be allowed importation as per ISO or ASTM standard. I Hope that cry of our children will be heard by the policy makers in near future. Till then, I am mourning the demise of Chinese toys from the life of our kids.