Eat, Save, and Be Healthy

There is a higher cost associated with organic food purchases, and many people question whether the health benefits outweigh the additional expense. Organic foods are produced by farming practices that are monitored and controlled to decrease risk of food contamination and improve food quality.

Three practices, called the ‘Big Three’ (genetic engineering, irradiation, and sewage sludge) are prohibited by organic regulations. Other practices not allowed in the production of organic food include the use of synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. These prohibitions are important because they help to safeguard the quality of our food and to reduce our health risk from food contaminants.

Listed below are four other reasons you might want to consider when deciding whether to purchase organic produce and/or meat.

• 1—The environment. The natural world supplies everything that keeps us healthy, so buying organic to reduce the quantity of chemicals in the environment seems to be a smart, health-conscious decision. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don’t use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease. Farmers who produce organic products use sustainable practices to work with (instead of against) Mother Nature by doing the following:
  • conserve water resources,
  • promote biodiversity,
  • build healthy and fertile land
  • utilize agriculture methods that significantly reduce pollution and wasted energy

• 2—The economy. Organic farming is one of the fastest growing segments in American agriculture, as more farmers grow and sell foods to customers who prefer to know (1) where their food came from, and (2) how their food was grown. Between 1997 and 2011, U.S. sales of organic foods increased from $3.6 billion to $24.4 billion. China has become the agricultural food powerhouse of the world, but U.S rules and regulations for organically grown foods give you food safety security, and for many people, that is worth the extra expense.

• 3– Taste and quality. “Food is medicine.” Hippocrates said that over 2000 years ago, and it is still true today. Like any medicine you take to keep you healthy, produce is unquestionably the foundation of good health. It’s also why the new MyPlate icon recommends at least half your plate contain fruits and vegetables. When you enjoy delicious fruits and veggies because they taste great, then you will keep eating them. However, taste is subjective, so the only way to know if you prefer organic over conventionally grown fruits and veggies is to try purchasing a few food products and doing your own personal taste test.

• 4—Prevention beats intervention. We don’t know if the increase in cancer, digestive diseases, and other health problems is connected to the chemicals that are present in our modern environments. Each of us is unique in our diet, environment and genetic risk; as well as the fact we are subject to different chemical exposures throughout our lifetime. Therefore, it’s difficult to quantify our risk or assign blame if we do develop certain diseases. But people should aim for healthier diets overall. It’s important to eat fruits and vegetables, however they are grown.

Written by:

Donna Green
Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences
Ohio State University Extension

If you filed your taxes early, do you have your refund spent already? Or if you waited until this week to put things in order would you like to keep better records so that next year is easier? Whatever your answer is we realize that financial education is an ongoing process. Each year we gain more experience and hopefully adapt our daily habits to make the most of managing and saving our money. If you asked yourself, “who taught you how to manage your money?” I’m sure there would be a variety of answers. But often it’s not an area that as parents we think as a major topic to focus on with our preschool children.
At an early age children can identify where you get your money….just go get more at the bank or the store that hands it to you! What they don’t understand is that you worked hard for your money and the transaction that takes place is giving you money you’ve earned. Here are some concepts that the “Thrive by 5 National Credit Union Association” has identified as concepts that children by the age of 5 should understand. All of these will mold into your family values and priorities, but really talk about money in your home and how you choose to use it.
• Spending is only one aspect of money, we can also save it and share it.
• When I buy something, I am trading my money for an item, product or service.
• When I save money, I can buy something in the future when I’ve saved enough money for it.
• We get money, when we go to work.
• We can also get money as a gift.
• We can keep money safe at home or at other places like a bank.
• Coins come in different sizes and colors, paper money has pictures and numbers and both paper and coin have different values.
• Different things have different values.
• We all pay for things in different ways.
• There is a difference in wants and needs. We base most decisions on what we want or need.
• We have a limited amount of money to spend.
• Once we spend it, it is gone until we earn more.
• If we plan how to spend or save our money, we can make better choices
• Money isn’t everything, some things are free.
• People do some things for each other without being paid.
As you read through this list, think about the daily conversations you can have with children in your life to help them understand that money doesn’t grow on trees and planning how to use it will help us manage it instead of it managing us.

Author: Melinda Hill, CFCS, CFLE Extension Educator, OSU Extension Wayne County
Sources: Credit Union National Association, Thrive by 5 for more information: www.creditunion.coop
Reviewed by: Kara Newby, Family Life Program Specialist, OSU Extension

Are you one of the countless adults who would rather get a dental filling than think about your retirement plan?  This week is National Retirement Planning Week. It was created to help people focus on making choices to create a stable financial future for themselves. If you aren’t sure if you’ll ever be able to retire, you are not alone. However, if you’d rather not work until you die, read on.

How do you get started? Whether you are 5 years or 35 years from retirement, the time to make a plan and start saving is today. Actually, it was yesterday, but we can only work with where we are today.

1) Maximize Your Employer’s Plan
If you have a job, you might be lucky enough to have an employer-sponsored retirement savings program, such as a 401(k) account.  If you have access to a plan like this, contribute as much money as you possibly can each month.  If you have an employer match, you want to be sure to take advantage of this free money. An employer match means that your organization will add an amount to your account that equals the amount you contribute, up to a certain amount – typically 1-3%.

2) Save On Your Own
Many of our parents and grandparents were rewarded for a lifetime of working by earning a pension that would send them a check every month to cover their retirement costs. Today, most employer plans will not cover the full amount needed for retirement. This means that each of us must save money outside of our workplace plan.  How much do you need? Should you be saving 5% or 25% of your take-home-pay? The answer to this question will depend on several factors, such as when you want to retire and what type of lifestyle you want to have in retirement.  There are many online calculators to figure out how much you’ll need to save. I like this one: Ballpark E$timate because it is easy to use.

3) Keep Learning
Now that you’ve calculated how much you need to save on your own each month, where do you put it? Do you choose a traditional IRA, Roth IRA, stock mutual fund, or something else?  This is where you need to start reading on your own, and possibly speak with a financial advisor. The Department of Labor has a terrific little book about retirement planning that is free online: Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning. If you’d like advice from a retirement professional, find a certified financial planner here.

4) Start Now!
Now that you’re thinking about retirement, make a plan or add to your savings today. Here are two resources for additional information:
National Retirement Planning Coalition: www.RetireOnYourTerms.org
National Endowment for Financial Education: www.MyRetirementPaycheck.org

Author: Betsy DeMatteo, Family & Consumer Science Educator, Ohio State University Extension

Only in Ohio can the weather go from snow and ice to sunny and warm in a 48 hour timeline. That tells me that spring is on its way and puts me in the mood to get started on spring cleaning. There are many products on the market, but you have several at home that will do a good job for you. Read on to see how using bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and baking soda that might help you with some of your cleaning tasks.
When we clean a surface our goal is to remove the dirt from the counters, cutting boards, dishes or utensils that we might use. We can wash most of those with hot soapy water, rinse and air dry for success. When we sanitize an area, that means we are reducing the germs to a safe level so that illness is not likely to occur. We can do that by using a sanitizer and letting it air dry. If you have young children in your home or elderly, then sanitizing is essential to making sure the food you prepare is free from germs. Check out this web site for more information http://extension.osu.edu/news-releases/archives/2011/january/study-inexpensive-household-cleaners-can-effectively-sanitize-kitchen-surfaces.
What other cleaners can be easily made at home? Here are a few to keep in mind.
Ammonia- (only use in a well ventilated area) wash windows, clean ovens, bathrooms and removes wax from floors. Do not combine it with any other cleaners!
Chlorine Bleach – will kill germs and clean bathrooms, kitchens, disinfect garbage cans, and remove mildew.
Baking Soda- is useful in both cleaning and refreshing items. It can be used to clean refrigerators, clean porcelain enamel, and remove stains from countertops.
Vinegar or lemon juice are good basic cleaners that also give a shine. They may be used to clean glass or chrome fixtures, remove rust and hard water spots and clean copper, brass and to remove mildew.
To get the best results:
*use mild detergents and warm water where possible
*DO NOT mix cleaning products and follow any directions given for items you may be cleaning.
*Avoid scouring powders where possible because they will scratch some surfaces
*Small amounts of chlorine bleach will help kill germs
*Avoid getting surfaces too wet.
*Use clean water and tools
*Hard water areas may need a softening agent added to the water
If you are interested in specific details, here’s a web site from our Extension friends in Michigan that gives actual recipes to solve your spring cleaning dilemmas http://www.msue.msu.edu/objects/content_revision/download.cfm/revision_id.499694/workspace_id.-4/01500631.html/ and happy spring!

Melinda Hill
OSU Extension, Wayne County

Are you, a friend, or a family member struggling with student loans? Currently, there is about $945 billion in outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. That’s more than the total current national credit card debt. The amount some young adults have saddled themselves with is staggering; a staff member in our office graduated from college last summer and just started a repayment schedule of approximately $550 per month for the next ten years. But that’s small potatoes compared to the amount I read about in the Ft. Myers News-Press while I was vacationing in Florida last week; one graduating student reported that her loan re-payment is $1450 per month!!

Recent statistics may appear startling to you if you haven’t had anyone close to you attend college for a while. But statistics show the following:
• 67% of students take out federal student loans
• The average federal loan balance is $23,186
• Master’s degree students accrue an additional $25,000, Ph.D. students $52,000, and professional students (such as medical and law school) an additional $79,836!!

Those numbers do not include the $158 billion in private student loans that were, for example, borrowed from family members or bills that were put on credit cards.

The two primary sources of money students borrow come from the federal government and are called Direct Loans. They are issued to students through their school or university. The first type of loan is called a Stafford Loan. It is either subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans are given to students based on financial need and the interest is deferred until they begin repayment (typically after graduation or the student withdrawing from school). Students who receive an unsubsidized loan accrue interest from the day they take out the loan; and payments are made even while the student is still attending school.

PLUS loans are loans that parents can take out for their children and are unsubsidized. Payments (principal and interest) will be due while the student is still attending school.

If a parent or student is having trouble making their student loan payment, they should use the same care and procedure they would use for any other bill that is delinquent (such as a credit card, car, or house payment). Communicate with the lender to let them know there is a problem. They may be able to help you out by recommending one of the following options:
• Deferment—being placed on deferment means you are given “permission” to not make your payment for “x” amount of time. No interest will be charged on the deferred payments if your loan was subsidized.
• Forbearance—this is similar to deferment in that you don’t have to make a payment, but the interest will accrue even if your loan was subsidized.
• Repayment Plan—if you don’t qualify for a deferment or forbearance, ask if you can reschedule your payment plan. Most repayment plans are predicated on a 10-year time frame, but you may be able to extend it out to 25 years. Your student loan debt must be over $30,000 to qualify for extended repayment.

• Other types of repayment options include:
  o Graduated Repayment—the loan time frame is still 10 years but the payments are reset to smaller amounts in the beginning years and higher amounts in the latter years (based on the assumption that you will be earning more money as the years go by).
  o Income-based Repayment—your student loan bill is based on your income. You will not pay more than 10% of your income, and many will pay less than that or nothing at all.

If your loan eventually goes into default because of non-payment, the federal government may take punitive action against you. Currently, the federal default rate sits at 8.8%. “Punishment” may include one or all of the following: reporting the default on your credit report, taking your income tax refunds, garnishing your wages, charging high collection fees, and last but not least, revoking your professional license. Remember, there is no statute of limits on federal student loans and you can’t discharge them through bankruptcy.

Written by:

Donna Green
Extension Educator
Family and Consumer Sciences
Ohio State University Extension

It’s time to celebrate America Saves Week 2013! This year, celebrate in style by following the steps of the Saves Week theme: Set a goal. Make a plan. Save automatically.

This is more than just a theme – it is a recipe for success, because these steps can help you reach your goals.  Making good financial decisions has to be conscious – most people don’t wake up one day with a sudden ability to make a beautiful budget or perfectly plan for the future.  However, with the right tools, anyone can become financially savvy.

Set a Goal
What are you saving for? A rainy day emergency fund? A car? Education for yourself or the kids?  That dream vacation?  Whatever your goal is, the first step is to choose wisely.  Your savings goal isn’t wild and wishful thinking – it’s that thing that wakes you up at night, or that you find yourself thinking about during the day.  What can you do with money that you really care about?  Once you’ve picked your most longed for goal, write it down.  Be very specific, put down how much you need altogether and how much you’ll save each week or month to make it happen.  Not realistic? Rework your plan until you come up with a regular amount to save that you can accomplish.

Make a Plan
Budgeting can be like dieting – we start out with the best intentions, only to get off track somewhere down the line.  Now that you have your almighty savings goal, you have the motivation to figure out how to rework your spending so you can accomplish it.  Is that goal worth reorganizing for?  Is it worth paying down debt or reducing expenses? If not, pick another goal!  Only you can figure out how to manage your expenses and your income so that you can reach your goal.  Be sure to include your family in your plan too. In fact, the best goals and the best plans come from working together.

Save Automatically
Sticking to your plan and continuing to put money aside for your goal can be challenging.  One strategy many people find helpful is to put your savings aside first, before you pay bills, go grocery shopping, and find your pockets empty.  If you have an account with a bank or credit union, not only is your money safe, but you also have the ability to automatically put money into your savings account whenever you have a paycheck come in. Check into your financial institution to learn about this easy and free service that can help you reach your savings goals. If you don’t already have an account with a bank or credit union, automatically saving can be a great reason to look around for a free account with the best features that meet your needs.

Are you an American Saver?  Take the America Saves Pledge (or re-pledge) today to set your savings goal and make a plan to save. You can also get daily tips for saving money on Twitter (@MoneyMattersOH) or on Facebook (America Saves or Greater Cincinnati Saves).

Written by Betsy DeMatteo, Family and Consumer Science Educator for Ohio State University Extension.

Have you ever thought about your spending purchases from an ethical standpoint? I’m sure you’ve noticed the “Buy American” bumper sticker on the back of some people’s cars, but for the most part not too many people give daily consideration to where and how the products they buy are made. With us being a cog in what is essentially a global economy, it makes sense to know where your hard earned dollars are going. When you purchase something that was made in a foreign country, are your dollars potentially supporting that country’s dictatorship? Are the workers treated well? Do they make a living wage? The November fire in a clothing factory in Bangladesh that killed over 100 workers has re-opened people’s eyes to an awareness of how workers around the world are treated.

Bangladesh has become a favorite of American retailers such as Walmart, JC Penney, Kohl’s, and H & M. Those companies come to Bangladesh because it has some of the cheapest labor in the world, as low as 21 cents an hour. Workers produce clothing in crowded conditions that would be illegal in the U.S. In the past five years, more than 700 Bangladeshi employees have died in factory fires.

This is not said to make you feel guilty about buying things that were made in Bangladesh. However, it is important for you to know that as a consumer, you can be a voice for change. We all want to get good value for our purchases; economics play a large role in our spending decisions. Beyond the money issue, though, you might want to also consider various ethical concerns when you make a purchase, such as:

Where was the item made? Retailers will take notice if a large number of people start questioning them about where their products were made, what conditions are like for the workers who made them, and whether they were treated fairly and paid a living wage.

Where will the product go when you are done with it? None of us keeps everything forever, but some items are especially transitory. Bottled beverages such as juice, water, or pop are meant to be one-time usage products. However, plastic bottles don’t break down after they are discarded; they are made from petroleum products. If they’re not recycled, they will be thrown into the landfill, where they will remain a plastic bottle for 1000+ years. Can you use glass bottles or a stainless steel cup instead? Those items can be washed and used over and over again, reducing the amount of waste that is buried in the ground.

Are you willing to purchase used items? Buying something that someone else used is recycling at its finest. You not only get a great deal, money-wise, but you also keep useful items out of the landfill and lower the environmental costs of producing a brand new item.

Do you buy or use local products? Eating local foods reduces transportation costs and the environmental impact of hauling food cross-country. And by supporting locally owned businesses, you keep your money within your community.

Can you buy less stuff? Everything we bring into our home has to be maintained in some way, shape, or form. Think about how much of your time is going to be given over to maintenance of that item. Will you also have to invest more money into the product just so you can keep using it (for example, batteries)?

Where will your dollars go after you make your purchase? Will those dollars be used against you, or a person like you? Will your money help build a better world for the person who made the item, or will it line the pockets of the corporation (or multi-million dollar sports star) whose name is on the product??

Bottom line? We only get a couple of opportunities a year to vote in an election (primary, general). Those elections eventually shape our government and communities. But we get opportunities every day to influence the world when we lay our hard-earned dollars down at the cash register. By using that consumer power, which is huge, we are making impacts that benefit all people in more equal ways.

Written by:

Donna Green, Family & Consumer Sciences Educator
Ohio State University Extension

Are you the resolving type?  How are those New Year’s Resolutions coming along?  Resolutions made in January have such a bad reputation, I’ve stopped attempting them. However, goals are important at all times of year – not just in January.  No matter what you call them, it’s important to set aside time to review where you are and where you’d like to be.  This is especially true of your finances.  Do you have more debt than you’d like? How does your emergency fund look? Does it exist?  You don’t need to make a lot of money to pay down debt and save successfully. It’s all about starting small and thinking BIG!

Here are 5 Resolutions worth making – no matter the date!

1. Get Out of Debt

The best way to be in control of your money is not to owe it to anyone else!  How do you do it? Find ways to cut back so you have more money to pay down debts.  Check out Power Payments for help with a schedule to become debt free.

2. Save for Emergencies

Having money to fall back on is the difference between families who succeed and those who struggle when times get tough.  Credit lines are not emergency savings.  How can you get a jump start? Save a portion of your tax refund this year!

3. Save for Retirement

Do you have a work-related retirement program, such as a 401(k)?  If your employer will match some of your contributions, be sure to take advantage of this free money!  No work retirement plan? Open up a Roth IRA and decide a percentage of your paycheck to contribute each month.

4. Make Savings Automatic

It’s much easier to save money when it’s not available to spend.  Out of sight really can help money be out of mind! Set up an automatic deposit to your savings account whenever your paycheck is deposited.

5. Buy a Home and Pay Off the Mortgage Before You Retire

For many middle-income families, their home is their largest investment. Once that mortgage is paid off, housing costs are much lower.  Everyone can afford a home with patience and a plan.  Develop savings for a down payment to buy a home, for moving expenses, and for emergency needs (home repairs!) after you’ve bought that dream home.

Would you like more savings resources and motivation to stay on track with your savings goals? Check out America Saves for tons of free resources.  You can also register to be an America Saver for monthly newsletters with savings tips from financial experts.

Make 2013 your most successful saving year yet!

Written by: Betsy DeMatteo, Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension

Do you remember each and every Christmas gift you received as a child? In my family, I am noted as the person with the most “long term memory,” but even I can only remember a handful of them. What I do remember most about Christmases’ past is the day spent with extended family, the pretty tree and decorations, and of course all the good food. So if you’re sitting at home this January feeling guilty because you didn’t give your kids the usual Santa bag full of gifts, take heart. They are not going to be scarred for life because they didn’t get a ton of presents last month.

That being said, I acknowledge that gift giving is an important part of the holidays. Who can forget the excitement of bedtime on Christmas Eve, when you knew morning would bring a world of magic? From an adult perspective, the holidays aren’t quite so magical, and it’s not because you know who Santa really is. This is just my personal take on the holidays, but I really don’t mind the extra work of decorating and cooking. It’s finding the extra dollars to purchase gifts that is the biggest challenge. Christmas can be a difficult time of year, money-wise. It’s too late now to do anything about the Christmas that just passed, but you can make plans to handle next year’s financial holiday stress by considering an old-fashioned concept—opening a Christmas Club.

Christmas club accounts were very popular when I was a kid. My mom had one for the family and I had a small one for myself. It cost 50 cents a week, and every November I would get a check for $25 to spend on gifts for my parents and siblings ($25 bought a lot of stuff in the 60’s). I would divide up my paper route money and put $2 away every month. As credit cards became more prevalent in the 70’s and 80’s, people let go of the Christmas club method of savings. The current recession might be the perfect time to resurrect that tradition.

Christmas clubs were savings programs set up by banks during the Great Depression. If you wanted to participate, you would pick an amount of money you thought was needed for gifts, deposit a set amount every week, and receive the money back at the end of the year (just in time for Christmas shopping). The check would include the amount you deposited, plus some interest. With the current economic situation being what it is, the interest you earn will be minimal, but that is true of most savings accounts right now. The real financial advantage will come when you spend cash for your gifts instead of credit. That way you avoid the interest and charges you would usually be paying January through June of the following year. What good does it do to fight the crowds on Black Friday to get a $60 sweater for $30 if you end up paying $80 for it with all the interest charges?

Some of you might be thinking “I can do this on my own without having to use a special account.” If you can, that’s great. But if you need a little more structure to keep you honest, a Christmas club is the perfect solution. Most of the banks that are located where I live in northern Ohio offer Christmas clubs. January is the perfect time to go to your bank and talk to a representative about starting an account. It is also a time for resolutions of all kinds (both health and wealth), so this would be one small step you could implement that would pay large dividends next December. Ask for an amount to be automatically withdrawn from your checking account and transferred into your Christmas club.

Some of the features you might want to inquire about include no minimum balance requirements, competitive interest rates, direct deposit, one free withdrawal, and no monthly maintenance fee. Decide beforehand how much you think you will need to budget for gift giving, so you have a target figure in mind when you decide how much you want transferred into your club account. It’s actually easier to have a Christmas club account today than it was when I was a kid and I had to physically walk or ride my bike up to the bank every week to deposit some of hard-earned paper boy money!

A lot of full service customer options have gone the way of the dodo bird, from the guy who filled your tank at the gas station and washed your car windows to the farm workers who went door-to-door in our neighborhood selling fresh leaf lettuce and vegetables. I’m glad our banking institutions still offer this amenity to their customers. Once again, the way our parents and grandparents managed their finances is looking more and more attractive to a new generation of spenders.

Written by:

Donna Green
Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences
Ohio State University Extension

Whether you plan to purchase toys for a holiday or another special occasion here are some things to consider before you buy:

Age and Development of the Child
Of course you want the child to enjoy the toy. Toys may be marked as to appropriate ages for that toy, but what if you are not sure? Children of the same age are not identical. Consider each child’s actual age, physical and cognitive development as you shop. Think about their habits and routines. Consult with the child’s parent if buying a toy for a child that is not your own. When you initiate the conversation it allows parents to express ideas for toys that are age appropriate for their child and toys that they would not want the child to have. Parents may also know that someone else is planning to get a particular toy, thus saving the need to return a duplicate item.

Cost of the toy
Does it fit into your budget? Are you using a charge card because you want to or because you have to. Remember, paying more isn’t a guarantee that you are getting a better item. Use common sense and avoid ‘impulse’ or ‘guilt’ shopping. Sometimes young children may be as interested in the box as they are with the toy. Consider a “certificate” for the child to do something with you as part of your gift, such as: bake cookies, go to the park, ride bicycles, build a snowman, or paint a picture. Creative gifts can extend the joy of gift giving and receiving.

Safety of the toy
Some common hazards to be aware of:
• Any toy or part that fits through a toilet paper tube should be avoided for children under age 3 or when the child puts things in their mouth to prevent choking hazards. Avoid button batteries around young children. Balloons can also pose a threat. Be aware that some building toys contain small but powerful magnets that could fall out and look like shiny candy to a child.
• Toys that seem too noisy for you are probably too loud for children’s sensitive ears. If you still want to get the toy, consider removing the batteries.
• Cords and drawstrings on hoods and jackets can pose a strangulation hazard. Mobiles should be removed from babies’ cribs before the child can push up (around 5 months.)
• Lead is hazardous for children. Hardware stores usually carry a home lead tester. PVC plastic contain phthalates which may cause developmental problems.
• When giving toys such as bikes, scooters, skateboards, and inline skates remember to include safety equipment such as helmets, knee/elbow pads, etc.

Websites to check for more information:
http://cpsc.gov Since 1995 the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has set CPSC standards and monitored toys that have been made or imported into the United States. They issue safety recalls. You can report unsafe toys at CPSC’s hotline 1-800-638-CPSC.
http://safekids.org As part of The National SAFE KIDS Campaign this website provides adults with fact sheets, links to other sites, and details about car seats and crib safety.
http://toysafety.net This site provides information about toy safety and is a project of the National Association of State Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs).

Sources:
Choosing Safe Toys for School-Age Kids, Children’s Medical Center, Dayton, Ohio. http://www.childrensdayton.org/cms/kidshealth/1a4f706239b2045d/index.html, accessed December 12, 2012 2:42 p.m.
Smart Toys for Every Age, Children’s Medical Center, Dayton, Ohio.
http://www.childrensdayton.org/cms/kidshealth/9537e1915e26ea2/index.html, accessed December 12, 2012 2:30 p.m.
Tips For Toy Safety, U.S. Public Interest Research Group. http://uspirgedfund.org/resources/usf/tips-toy-safety, accessed December 12, 2012 2:50 p.m.

Authored by Pat Holmes, Family & Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension