We’ve all heard the reported dangers of plastics in toys, but what steps should we take in protecting our children and others’? Just how zealous should we be?

This issue was recently raised on the ever-resourceful, always thought-provoking local parenting forum UrbanMamas. It was not the first time I’d heard the “My kiddo got 3,500 new plastic toys for Christmas, now what do I do with ‘em?” quandary, nor was it the first time I’d heard the question raised of whether it’s ethical to pass on those toys to other children if they’re made of questionable materials. I once heard a mother (in a different venue) haughtily scoff, “If it’s not good enough for my child, it’s not good enough for other people’s children either, so I just toss those horrible toys in the garbage!”

Wow. The environmental (to say nothing of elitist) irony boggles.

Personally, I am all for gently suggesting to friends and family what sorts of gifts you’d like for your children (keeping in mind, of course, their budget constraints). I think it’s totally within your rights as a parent, whether you’re concerned about playthings’ PVC content or their developmental appropriateness, and you don’t have to do it in a way that’s condescending or snotty. The results just might surprise you. (To wit; my mother-in-law sent wooden puzzles at the holidays, after my husband oh-so-casually mentioned that my daughter liked them, and that we preferred wood toys. I was totally impressed!)

However, I also think that it’s important to be gracious, and accept whatever your children receive as efforts of goodwill – even if they wind up going to Goodwill (the gifts, not the children!). Which, of course, brings us back to the key dilemma: to donate or not to donate?

From an ecological, economic, and emotional perspective, it seems absolutely insane to dump tons of toys into a landfill and deprive some other potentially less-fortunate child of potential enjoyment. (Not that I’m … umm … opinionated or anything.) Donating serves so many purposes at once: freeing up your own home from clutter, ridding your home of items which aren’t a priority for you (important emphasis, that, as not everyone may share your priorities with their own families, especially if they’re just struggling to make ends meet), and teaching your children a valuable lesson about reusing resources and helping others.

So why not take inventory of all those toys strewn across your living room floor, and select some to pass along in the New Year? So many avenues for donations abound, depending upon your values and preferences – Craigslist, Freecyle, the Salvation Army, women’s shelters, and of course, that aforementioned stalwart Goodwill – that there’s bound to be a convenient option. Many folks will even come to you for pickup if you’ve got something they’re longing for!

I’d say more, but I need to go respond to my own Freecycle posting …

Coming soon: consignment sale how-tos, and the steamy details of my love affair with New Seasons’ online delivery service.