Eco Child’s Play

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I dislike electronic toys for children, such as so-called “educational” toys made by LeapFrog.  As I have stated before, I think that children learn more from playing with wooden blocks than any battery operated gizmo can teach them, but what about other tech devices, such as iPods and digital cameras?  At what is it appropriate for a child have these “grown up” toys?

Ever since my daughter could hold our camera, we have shared it with her. Last year, her grandmother decided to buy her a digital camera for her birthday.  At first, we looked at several digital cameras designed for children; however, in the end, we decided to buy her a real camera that would last her many years. The quality of children’s digital cameras is poor, and we have made a commitment to giving gifts that last our children as many years as possible.  As an eco mom, I won’t buy junky toy emulations of technology designed for children that will only break and end up in a landfill.  As an artist and a photographer, I felt a good camera would help my young child develop her artistic expression.  Her compositions amaze me, and her photographs help me view the world through her “lens”.  I can see what is important or interesting to her by what she photographs. Read the rest of this entry »

I am not a fan of plastic toys, as they often end up in landfills after a very short play life, and plastic is derived from oil.  The number of plastic toys in my household could be counted on one hand, yet I fear I have derived my children of the creativity and spatial relations Legos can teach children.  Then I discovered Uberstix, which are compatible with other building toys, such as Legos, K’Nex and Erector.

The Uberstix Scavenger Series utilizes recycled materials, such as straws, water bottles, and cups, to create working models. This is a unique idea in children’s toys to use upcycling, the process of using something of waste to create a product of greater value.  My only concern is that Uberstix uses name brands, such as Starbucks or McDonald’s, in its list of suggested waste materials to use.  Considering I try to raise my children as commercial-free as possible, this is concerning to me. I also think that Uberstix could much farther towards greening its product by making the products from recycled plastic. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are seeking less than convention crib mobiles for your child, look no further than Flensted Mobiles. Handcrafted in Denmark; It’s whimsical, engaging, and entertaining. The perfect trio that’s an answer to design obsessed parents who do not want their abode to scream Children aboard.

On the island of Funen in Denmark, where Hans Christian Andersen was born, you can find a present-day fairy tale - Flensted Mobiles - a family business that designs and makes mobiles at “Frederiksminde” the old village school at Brenderup.

According to Flensted Website, Mobiles are traditional part of Denmark’s craft. Flensted is a family runned business that was started by Christian Flensted and his wife, Grethe, in 1954. Today, their son, Ole and wife, Aese, continue on the tradition by creating modern and thoughtful mobiles through the ”The Department of Space Research”. Each mobile are meticulously assembled and balanced by craftsmans. This was the first gift I purchased for Layla before she was born. I was very pleased with the beauty and the lovliness of the mobile. And I love the fact that it was very modern in aesthetics. It’s very delicate, literally strung up by thin strings and metal rod.

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One of my fondest childhood memories was playing with a brand new refrigerator box with our neighbors in the front yard.  This large box was a space ship, a school bus, a house, etc.  Parents know that kids love boxes, and sometimes these corrugated containers are more interesting than the toys they contain on birthdays and holidays.  Kidsonroof has combined children’s love of cardboard boxes with dramatic play to create the MobileHome.

The MobileHome is made from recycled cardboard, is biodegradable, five percent of profits are donated to UNICEF, and is made in China.  It has eight secret rooms and is easy to take with you to the park, on vacation, or around the house.  My children immediately integrated their other toys, including their children’s yoga mat,  into dramatic play with our MobileHome. Read the rest of this entry »

My children’s birthdays are only two days apart, so we have only one party. That party is rapidly approaching, and though I ask guests to not feel compelled to give gifts and to consider the planet when doing so, my children like to give out party favors to their friends. There is nothing I hate more than coming home from a birthday party with a bunch of dollar store junk we have to get rid of immediately. Now, GreenPartyGoods offers solutions for eco-friendly birthday parties.

GreenPartyGoods explains their company’s motivation for offering parents eco-friendly solutions for birthday parties:

While walking my dog through our local park and watching families disassemble their parties, I was horrified at all the waste that ended up in the garbage cans. Bags of plastic utensils, plastic table cloths, crepe paper and cheap goodies bags filled with dollar toys headed for land fill. This is what motivated me to create GreenPartyGoods.

Here are some of my favorite green party goods offered by GreenPartyGoods:

• Toy Wooden Racing Boat: These hand-crafted, hand-painted wooden racing boats are my favorite party favor and the ones we will be giving to our party guests. Since we hold our party at the river, the boats will be perfect for added water frolicking fun. The boats are made by award-winning Anatex. The wood comes from Germany, paint from Russia, and assembled in China. They are tested lead free by a third party and cost $2.50 a piece.

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Most new parents dread the “teething stage” as much as they dread colicky babies. It’s a stage they just want to get over. The drooling, cranky, little bubs, however precious they are, can be a painful ordeal for your little one as well as for you. This is where teething toys come in to save the day. The Happiest Baby on the Block helped my borderline colic, high needs baby get through her fussy stage, and with that over with; I was ready to find the perfect teething toy to soothe her sore gums. I was searching for a non-toxic and non-plastic toy that wasn’t made in China. (I am aware China is getting a lot of flack for this; but seriously, it is your child’s health you are dealing with).

I wasn’t too comfortable with the idea of toys made out of cloth although the Under the Nile Veggie Toys made out of Organic cotton was promising. I wanted something rubbery, squishy, and a throwback to toys I had as a child. “Then I saw her face… and I am a believer.” No, it’s not the Monkees; it’s Sophie the Giraffe. The Très Chic Teething Toy made out of natural rubber and finished with non-toxic paint. Sophie is handcrafted in the French Alps and has been a favorite among infants since the 60’s. A definite throwback to my days (and beyond).

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Children are fascinated by animals. Perhaps they feel a closer connection to our furry friends than adults, or perhaps their fascination stems from their cravings to learn about the world around them. Playing with toy animals opens up possibilities for dramatic play beyond dolls and blocks, as well as complements these traditional toys. You’ve probably seen the plethora of plastic animals in toy stores, from zebras to giraffes, but the wooden toy animal options are usually simple cutouts that are hardly recognizable as animals. Anamalz are different, in that they truly look like animals, are made from wood and felt, and are poseable.

I first read about Anamalz in a post titled “What Makes Toys Green” on Z Recs. I was intrigued and had to get a set for my family. These are the first wooden toys I have encountered to be made from organic wood! Designed in Australia and made from non-toxic European materials, these maple animals are interactive and encourage creative play. Children can bend, balance, intertwine, move, etc. to their heart’s content without breaking these quality toys. Anamalz comes in 30 different species, including a 7 foot tall giraffe! Of course, my favorite is the elephant. Read the rest of this entry »

With the continuing onslaught of Chinese toy recalls, it is no wonder that parents are searching for toys made in the USA. Down to Earth Toys makes this search easy, considering over 90% of their natural and wooden toys are made in the United States! The company states:

We feel that protecting your child, while also supporting America’s economy, are of utmost importance.We know that toys made in America are constructed with safe materials and built by fair labor practices.

One of our family’s favorite toys from Down to Earth Toys is the Lunastix Enchanted Juggling Sticks. If you have ever been to an outdoor concert, you have probably seen someone playing with Lunastix. The kid size version of the juggling sticks is fun for children to play with and master, and they are great for hand-eye coordination. Children’s (and parents’) dexterity, balance, focus, and perseverance improve as they learn to do tricks with the sticks. Let me tell you, it is not as easy as it appears. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve never been a big fan of baby showers (my children had Blessing Ways), and the silly baby shower games annoy me. The typical baby shower involves massive amounts of baby paraphernalia gifts that the soon-to-be mom often doesn’t really need. A friend of mine recently asked me to make a list of eco-friendly baby shower gift ideas. This list includes babywearing items, bpa-free bottles, teething toys, clothes, and beauty products for babe. You don’t have to be invited to an “eco” baby shower to give a green gift.

Top Ten Eco-Friendly Baby Shower Gifts

1. Moby Wrap Baby Carrier: This wrap is perfect for carrying newborns. It is the most comfortable baby wearing apparatus, and it keeps the baby snugly held against your body and protected from curious strangers and their germs. It is made from a large piece of stretch cotton and can be used as a blanket as well as a wrap. It is available in an organic cotton material too.
2. California Baby Shampoo and Bodywash: This all natural, SLS-free baby soap is perfect for a newborn’s first bath. It is so gentle and safe, and it will not irritate eczema and cradle crap.

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Beyond simply shopping for eco toys for my children, I also think it is important to support toy companies that support local designers and promote natural play. Natural Pod is a Canadian company that fits this bill, and they have just expanded their line to include the unique toys of two Canadian designers. Natural Pod’s motto is “Natural items for play and daily living that are mindful, creative and inviting for your family.”

Poot & Boogie Eco-Friendly Dolls

Poot & Boogie eco-friendly dolls are individually handcrafted from cotton and wool. The dolls are stuffed with corn-derived fiberfill, and each one is unique. These dolls are made in Aldergrove, BC, and they remind me of Raggedy Ann and the dolls children played with before plastic dominated the toy world.

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