Eco Child's Play » Green Toys

Encourage Early Literacy with Everything Mailbox

Jennifer Lance — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:47:58 +0000

Common to many preschool and primary classrooms is a mailbox, as letter writing is one of the early literacy standards. Whether children are writing with letter like forms or forming actual sentences, the act is significant in the process of learning to read and create written form.

Furthermore, learning through dramatic play is developmentally appropriate.

Children think it is great fun to write letters to their friends, families, and pets, to pretend to be the mailman, and to receive special letters just like in real life.

The Everythingland Mailbox by Metamorphic Toys promotes early literacy whether at home or in a classroom.

Product Features

Customizable art toy inspires kids imaginations & encourages creativity

May be colored, painted & decorated with glued on adornments.

100% recyclable & biodegradable. Made using recycled materials.

Made in the U. S. A. from sturdy 270# (44ECT) corrugated cardboard

Toy mailbox fit standard mail & is 24″ tall sized for kids 2 – 8 years old.

Children can be creative and decorate this recycled cardboard mailbox however they want. ”Eco-Art” stickers are included, which are reusable, glue-less and also can be decorated. What makes them “Eco-Art”?

Other stickers are made with a silicone coated backing sheet that is non-recyclable and non-biodegradable. Metamorphic Toys offers good green fun with Eco-Art U-Stick’ems!

These toys are made in Minnesota. Although I think you can easily make your own cardboard mailbox out of old boxes, children are sometimes more inspired by products that look more realistic like this one.

Early literacy activities are so important, and letter writing is becoming a lost art form. Hopefully children playing with the Everything Mailbox will receive more than just bills in their daily mail.

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review would be positive or negative.

Encourage Early Literacy with Everything Mailbox is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Toxic Toys: What is that New Plastic Barbie Smell?

Jennifer Lance — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:24:23 +0000

Barbie Portrait (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s always interesting to look at what keywords readers use to find us. Recently, readers were searching for the answer to the question:

What is that New Plastic Barbie Smell?

Off the top of my head, I don’t know. I haven’t been around new Barbie in almost a decade, but my guess is the plastic used in Barbie contains a vinyl that off gases. If something smells strong like chemicals, you can trust your olfactory senses to let you know it is toxic.

I found the following information on about.com:

Materials Used To Make Barbie Dolls:

Almost all Barbie dolls are made of vinyl with a soft feel to it. However, a few collector Barbie dolls have been made of porcelain, and the collector Silkstone Barbie dolls are made of a hard vinyl with a porcelain feel. Hair on Barbie dolls is generally rooted synthetic fiber.

eHow digs a little deeper, and the news isn’t good:

Polyvinyl Chloride (Vinyl)

Barbie Dolls are composed of polyvinyl chloride (vinyl or PVC), a thermoplastic polymer that is mixed with a plasticizer to make the dolls more flexible and less brittle than PVC alone.

Synthetic Fiber

Barbie Dolls’ hair are made of rooted synthetic fibers that are dyed in lots to fit the specific dolls.

Elastomer

Around 2000, when Mattel decided that Barbie’s stomach needed to be more elastic and flexible, the company decided to incorporate elastomer into the mix. Elastomer allows Barbie a more realistic range of motions. Finding the correct formula for Barbie’s elastomer was difficult, because Barbies need to withstand bending, posing and even biting, since they are often playthings for young kids, according to article “Engineering Barbie” in the December 2000 issue of “Design News.” Mattel now uses an “ultra-soft” elastomer with the same softness as foam.

PBT (Engineering Thermoplastic)

Mattel also manufactures more expensive, collector’s edition Barbies that were typically made of porcelain in the past. In the early 2000s, however, Mattel switched over the PBT, an engineering thermoplastic often found in bath-ware items. Mattel’s custom formula is called “Silkstone,” and it gives Barbies a more even and lifelike complexion. Through a series of testing, engineers made a strong, durable Barbie that can undergo serious abuse, according to the “Design News” article.

Water-Based Paint

Today, Mattel crafts Barbie’s eyes with a water-based paint. Past Barbies used solvent-based paints that were not as environmentally friendly. This water-based paint is highly adhesive to most materials and takes far less time to dry than previous materials used by the company.

Well, at least the paint is “environmentally-friendly”.

PVC is very toxic. Not only should we be concerned about what this dangerous chemical does to our children, but what it does to people living around factories is deplorable. HealthyStuff.org explains:

Detection of chlorine in a toy component indicates the likely use of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or vinyl, a widely used type of plastic. PVC is of concern to the environment and public health during all phases of its life cycle – production, use and disposal.

During the production phase, workers at PVC facilities, as well as residents in surrounding areas, may be exposed to vinyl chloride (a building block of PVC) and/or dioxin (an unwanted byproduct of PVC production), both of which are carcinogens. At the end of a product’s life, PVC can create dioxin when burned. PVC is not easily recycled.

Because PVC is an inherently brittle material, it requires additives to make it flexible and to impart other desired properties. Another group of additives commonly found in PVC products are phthalates. Phthalates are used in many plastics, especially PVC products, as a softening agent to make the plastic flexible. Over 90% of all phthalates are used in PVC products. Since 2009, childcare products (products for children under three years of age) and children’s toys (toys produced for children under twelve years of age) containing concentrations of DEHP, BBP, and DBP greater than 0.1% have been considered banned hazardous materials. DINP, DnOP (di-n-octyl), and DIDP (diisodecyl) in concentrations greater than 0.1% have been placed on a provisional ban (CPSIA 2008) unless there is a future determination of safety. This restriction does not apply to other PVC products.

The other ingredients are added to the PVC in order that it is not brittle giving the doll some flexibility.

In addition to being made of toxic materials, Barbie’s cardboard packaging is sourced in rain forests.

It’s best to avoid Barbie all together. Toxic plastic, deforestation, sexism and body image…

Toxic Toys: What is that New Plastic Barbie Smell? is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Family Travel Games and the Benefits of Playing Them: Spot It!

Jennifer Lance — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:29:47 +0000

I wish I made time to play more games with my children. There never seems to be enough time at home to commit to one. Sometimes it is easier to make time to play games when traveling, as household chores are not beckoning and idle time is more prevalent.

Spot It! comes in a little tin and actually contains four games for players seven years to adult and two to eight players.

Product Description

Truly Amazing. There is always one, and only one, matching symbol between any 2 cards in this game. Spot it and you win. There are only 8 symbols on each card, but 2 matching symbols may be different sizes. This challenge increases as new cards are quickly revealed in this fast-paced game. Spot it contains four fast, challenging mini-party games in which all players play simultaneously. The Tower, The Well, The Hot Potato, and The Poisoned Gift can be played in any order, or you can just play your favorites. The bottom line is, have fun. Designed for all ages and packaged in a travel-size tin, Spot it. has colorful, appealing symbols on high-quality, glossy card stock. With fast action and endless fun, this unique card game is sure to be a splash at your next party and to become a family favorite. Spot it develops visual perception and matching skills. It supports quick mental processing and sharpens cognitive skills in a fun atmosphere. The symbols are universal and easy to remember but the variety of imagery will challenge any eye.

This game has really, really good reviews on Amazon! Unfortunately, there is nothing eco-friendly about it. Children do learn a lot from playing games. Turn taking, following rules, as well as specific skills inherit to the game itself are important parts of child development. Scholastic, not my favorite company because of their crappy book orders, explains:

Games don’t need to be overtly academic to be educational, however. Just by virtue of playing them, board games can teach important social skills, such as communicating verbally, sharing, waiting, taking turns, and enjoying interaction with others. Board games can foster the ability to focus, and lengthen your child’s attention span by encouraging the completion of an exciting, enjoyable game.

I do prefer cooperative games and do think that winning should not be overpraised or valued greatly. It’s about process not end result.

Disclosure: The products described above were sent to us as free samples. Prior assurances as to the nature of the reviews, whether positive or negative, were not given. No financial payments were accepted in exchange for the reviews. The reviews reflect our honest, authentic opinions.

Family Travel Games and the Benefits of Playing Them: Spot It! is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Free App For iPhone and Facebook “Recalls Plus” Gives Parents Peace of Mind

guest writer — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:02:51 +0000

Between birthdays, holidays and everydays, us moms are constantly sifting through piles of products, gadgets and gear for our kids. But sometimes it’s hard to take stock of what we bring in and every day recalls on products that touch our children’s lives come out. But no longer must we wait for the news to push out messages of a product’s recall, now we can proactively monitor product recalls with, a just-launched app for iPhone and iPod touch, Recalls Plus, which enables busy parents with young children to proactively protect their children from dangerous products, allowing them to quickly take action to prevent a potential threat.

Not only do I love it, but this app was also featured on Apple’s “What’s Hot” list within the first days of launching and can now be found in the “Great Free Apps” section. It’s simple to use, easy to navigate, and really helps calm my nerves that I’m doing all I can to monitor the products that touch my kids’ lives.

Features of the Recalls Plus App include:

Proactively delivers timely recall alerts for the items on your Personal Watch List (a personalized list of the brands and products that you wish to monitor)
Hand curates every product and food recall directly from government agencies (CPSC, NHTSA, FDA, USDA) for relevance to children and consolidates them in one place
Provides a simple, easy-to-use solution to track recall information and instantly share it with family and friends

Because sorting through the large volume of typical recalls, many with low personal relevance, can be overwhelming, this app gives parents like me peace of mind that I’m not missing any relevant recalls. The Recalls Plus App is available for FREE from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/recalls-plus/id499200328. It’s also available on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/recallsplus.

Check it out and populate your personal watch list!

Free App For iPhone and Facebook “Recalls Plus” Gives Parents Peace of Mind is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Barbie and McDonalds: Little Black Girls Dream of White Barbie Careers

Jennifer Lance — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:00:45 +0000

Oh yes, two of my favorite companies have teamed up to insult us once again.

McDonalds, of course, is responsible for using crappy little toys to sell children high calorie meals. From greenwashing to promoting unattainable body images, Barbie’s crimes are too large to list! Now, both companies have really gone too far!

McDonald’s recent Happy Box image partners with Barbie in ways I can’t believe made it past anyone in either corporation. The image features an African-American girl dreaming of future careers. Each of the career Barbies in the bubble above is white! What kind of message does that send? Dream big little black girl…some day you will be white!

PhD in Parenting explains:

What does this Happy Meal Box say?

If you read the fine print on the box, it is about careers. If you just look at the box (which is what most people will do and is all that much of the Happy Meal eating public — i.e. not yet literate children — is capable of), you get a different message. You see a little girl of colour dreaming about being one of five almost identical blond, blue-eyed, unrealistically proportioned white women wearing a lot of sparkly pink. Even if you read the big, bold text without getting into the fine print, it is still telling this little girl that if she dreams really big, she can be just like Barbie.

A few years ago, Renee from Womanist Musings wrote about the damage that Barbie dolls do to girls, especially girls of colour:

For any little girl, a Barbie Doll is a complicated gift because it is so completely unrepresentative of female bodies. Barbie is one of the mothers of negative body images. This is compounded when the child in question is Black. When a Black girl is given a Black doll with Eurocentric features and straight hair, what does it teach her but that she is not beautiful. Because beauty is one of the few sites of female power this can be extremely damaging.

I’ve written my own thoughts on black barbie dolls, and perhaps this Happy Meal box would be less offensive if black dolls were used; however, when you look through the 120 career barbie dolls over the years, I can only find images of two that are African American. These African American dolls, which are listed with “AA” in parentheses in case you can’t tell from their caucasian features, didn’t begin production until 2004. I guess presidential candidate and news anchor are not suitable for dreams of a little girl on a Happy Meal box.

Barbie and McDonalds: Little Black Girls Dream of White Barbie Careers is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Natural, Green Toys: The Stick Book

Jennifer Lance — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:29:38 +0000

A little over a year ago, Jonathon Liu wrote on Wired about The 5 Best Toys of All Time:

Stick
Box
String
Cardboard Tube
Dirt

Jo Schofield and Fiona Danks have written about Wired’s number one toy in The Stick Book: Loads of Things You Can Make or Do with a Stick.

The stick is a universal toy. Totally natural, all-purpose, free, it offers limitless opportunities for outdoor play and adventure and it provides a starting point for an active imagination and the raw material for transformation into – almost anything! As New York’s Strong National Museum of Play pointd [sic] out when they selected a stick for inclusion in their National Toy Hall of Fame, ‘It can be a Wild West horse, a medieval knight’s sword, a boat on a stream, or a slingshot with a rubber band . . .’ In this book Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield offer masses of suggestions for things to do with a stick, in the way of adventures and bushcraft, creative and imaginative play, games, woodcraft and conservation, music and more.

This book features 70 stick projects. Each one is beautifully photographed and explained. My favorite project ideas are:

Make a Star Wand
Wild Weaving
Make a Sun Clock
Make a Fairy House or Gnome Castle
Make a Necklace

Would I buy this book? Yes. You might think, “Why would I need a book to tell me how to play with sticks?” This book gives you so many ideas and inspiration from the photographs. I think it is worth it!

Natural, Green Toys: The Stick Book is a post from: Eco Child's Play

5 Green Products: Bumblelina, Cascades Recycled Gift Wrap, Plan Toys, Zomsters, Booda

Jennifer Lance — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:07:13 +0000

1. Cascades eco-friendly wrapping paper

I don’t like wrapping presents. Not only can’t I fold perfect corners, but I can’t help but feel it is a waste of paper, especially for a large present.

Sure children delight in tearing it to pieces, and I have tried saving it, but let’s admit it…wrapping paper is a single-use product like a plastic bag.

There are a lot of great alternatives to paper wrapping. Reusable shopping bags, like ChicoBag , are great, but really, how many shopping bags does one person need. I already have them coming out my ears. Fabric is also a great alternative, but it is more expensive, and you have to be a quilter to really put those scraps to use.

Cascades has a great, eco-friendly wrapping paper:

Did you know that many types of wrapping paper are not recyclable? The Cascades Boutique team decided to fix this situation by coming out with 100% recycled fibre wrapping paper. It is one of the only industrial packaging papers made in Canada! In addition to being recyclable, the paper comes in various designs and colours.

In order to make this product greener, the paper is rolled without using a cardboard core. Therefore, the roll appears smaller than the standard roll. However, since 10 metres of paper is provided, it means you can wrap many gifts from the same economical format roll.

I really like this paper, and it is way more affordable than other recycled gift paper I have seen. Four rolls for $12 is a great deal, and the rolls contain a lot of paper. Plus, I love that they are missing those cardboard tubes in the middle. Way to go Cascades!

Would I buy this product? Yes!

2. Bumblelina

Bumblelina by Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D. and illustrated by Patrick Carlson is a simple story about a little, preschool bee. She is small and can’t fly like her peers, but she doesn’t give up. Eventually a gust of wind helps her out, and she learns to flap her wings.

Her friends celebrate her success.

“My youngest daughter, Anna, once told me she would ‘speak in big words so I would understand,’ which both made me laugh, and really hit home. While I’d like to think I’m pretty good at communicating, I sometimes forget that when I’m not writing textbooks, I don’t need to talk like one!” says Dr. Madia.

So why write a series of books for children?

“My daughters challenged me to write something simple, and Bumblelina became our latest family project,” Madia says. “We carried through the simplicity of the words, designed to engage children in the rhythmic sounds, by keeping the illustrations in simple sketch form with just a hidden spot of color on each page,” she adds…

“This book teaches children the timeless lesson of trying—about the importance of perseverance,” says Madia. “If you work hard at something and don’t give up, you can achieve your goal. In our instant-message society, teaching patience and hard work is more important than ever before,” adds Madia.

I do like the simplicity of the book, as too often children’s books are overdone and odd in both text and illustration as a result. It is a simple sweet story, but I think something may be missing to truly get the message of perseverance across. A few more trial and errors, perhaps, would make the story stronger.

Would I buy this book? Maybe. There isn’t anything eco-friendly about it, unfortunately.

3. Plan Toys Planactivity Cake Set Play Set

Non-toxic glue, replenshible rubberwood…you can’t go wrong with Plan Toys when seeking out truly eco-friendly play. We have long been a fan of Plan Toys (my son loves the trucks), and yes, sometimes we need to reglue parts, but that’s to be expected with wooden toys.

We were sent the Plan Toys Planactivity Cake Set Play Set:

From the Manufacturer

The set includes a cake with toppings, a cake turntable, a cake server and an icing bag. The cake can also be cut into 6 slices. Great for pretend or imaginative play. Under the Green Concept Design PlanToys selects only materials and manufacturers utilizing a minimal waste concept. PlanToys long-term commitment to social programs promotes healthy child development and environmental protection. All PlanToys are made using chemical free, kiln-dried recycled rubberwood and designed with water based non-toxic colors as accent. A small wooden playthings can produce big change. Through innovation and commitment to design excellence, PlanToys team of child development experts play a critical role in developing their selection of diverse wooden toys.

Product Description

Children can make a pretend cake and decorate for loads of imaginative play. This cake set from Plan Toys includes a cake with toppings, a cake turntable, a cake server and an icing bag. The cake can then be “cut” into 6 pieces for serving to guests. For children 3 years and older. Box measures 7.4 x 2.2 x 7.4 inches.

Children today are bombarded with plastic, limiting toys that do not expand their imaginations or aid their development. Not only can plastic toys be harmful to children’s health, but the production of plastic toys further increases our dependence upon petroleum and leaves a greater carbon footprint than natural, wooden toys.

There are many companies that produce wooden toys; however, not all of these companies provide information about the kind of wood they use or their sustainability practices. In addition, many of these companies manufacture their toys in China, where constant monitoring is required to ensure dangerous substances, such as lead, do not accidentally enter into production.

Plan Toys is a company you can trust! Made in Thailand, this toy company’s ethics mean you can sit back and watch your child play safely with developmentally appropriate toys.

Although this cake set is not as fancy as other wooden ones, like Melissa and Doug’s, it is definitely a greener toy! I trust Plan Toys. I would choose safety and eco-friendly over bling any day!

Would I buy this product? Yes

4. Zomster,

What is a Zomster, you ask?

Zomsters is a small, mother-owned children’s company located in Snoqualmie, Washington. We make kid-friendly clothing and collections that have been carefully selected from earth-friendly materials such as organic cottons, azo-free dyes, non-toxic printing, and recycled and reusable materials.

These cute little monsters adorn artwork and children’s apparel. They are sure to be popular with the kiddos and may even inspire children to create their own Zomsters.

We were sent two Zomsters items to try:

Art Print

Meet George!

George is printed on high-quality archival fine art matte paper with Epson Archival pigmented Ultrachrome inks, making the paper water resistant and lightfast for 100 years. It is packaged in a biodegradeable cellophane sleeve with an acid-free 100% recycled backing board to protect it during shipment.

Toddler Tee

Meet Wally!

Our super-soft cotton toddler tees are made from 100% cotton. They are locally screen-printed in Seattle, using only water-based, low-impact, azo-free inks.

I can’t tell if the t-shirt is organic cotton or not. It doesn’t say so on the online description, nor the painted information on the shirt; however, the tag on the shirt says it is.

Would I buy these products? Maybe the art work, which is affordable at $15. I think $22 is bit much for the t-shirt if it is in fact not organic.

5. Booda Eco-Friendly Plush Dog Toys

Our pets are definitely important members of our family. They deserve the same health benefits of natural living. Beyond just buying quality, natural pet food, pets deserve eco-friendly toys too. Think of how these toys are played with not only in your pets’ mouths, but in the hands of your children.

Booda Eco-Friendly Plush Dog Toys are made from recycled stuffing and natural wool.

Booda® Eco-Friendly Plush Dog Toy All the fun without the carbon footprint. Now your dog can go green too with the Booda® Eco-Friendly Plush Dog Toy. Made from 100% recycled stuffing on the inside and natural wool on the outside, your pooch can enjoy his plush while doing his part for the environment. Even the hangtags are recycled. Available in three adorable styles – hippo, puppy, and elephant – and in small and large sizes. Features: · Environmentally responsible · 100% natural wool exterior · 100% recycled stuffing · Choose from three fun styles.

My whole family loves these toys, especially the dogs.

Would I buy this product? Yes! Very affordable at $5.70!

5 Green Products: Bumblelina, Cascades Recycled Gift Wrap, Plan Toys, Zomsters, Booda is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Eco-Friendly Plush Toys for Pets

Jennifer Lance — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:03:32 +0000

Booda Eco-Friendly Plush Dog Toys are made from recycled stuffing and natural wool.

Booda® Eco-Friendly Plush Dog Toy All the fun without the carbon footprint. Now your dog can go green too with the Booda® Eco-Friendly Plush Dog Toy. Made from 100% recycled stuffing on the inside and natural wool on the outside, your pooch can enjoy his plush while doing his part for the environment. Even the hangtags are recycled. Available in three adorable styles – hippo, puppy, and elephant – and in small and large sizes. Features: · Environmentally responsible · 100% natural wool exterior · 100% recycled stuffing · Choose from three fun styles.

My whole family loves these toys, especially the dogs.

Would I buy this product? Yes! Very affordable at $5.70!

Eco-Friendly Plush Toys for Pets is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Eco-Friendly Toys: Plan Toys Cake Set

Jennifer Lance — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:45:56 +0000

We were sent the Plan Toys Planactivity Cake Set Play Set:

From the Manufacturer

The set includes a cake with toppings, a cake turntable, a cake server and an icing bag. The cake can also be cut into 6 slices. Great for pretend or imaginative play. Under the Green Concept Design PlanToys selects only materials and manufacturers utilizing a minimal waste concept. PlanToys long-term commitment to social programs promotes healthy child development and environmental protection. All PlanToys are made using chemical free, kiln-dried recycled rubberwood and designed with water based non-toxic colors as accent. A small wooden playthings can produce big change. Through innovation and commitment to design excellence, PlanToys team of child development experts play a critical role in developing their selection of diverse wooden toys.

Product Description

Children can make a pretend cake and decorate for loads of imaginative play. This cake set from Plan Toys includes a cake with toppings, a cake turntable, a cake server and an icing bag. The cake can then be “cut” into 6 pieces for serving to guests. For children 3 years and older. Box measures 7.4 x 2.2 x 7.4 inches.

Plan Toys is a company you can trust! Made in Thailand, this toy company’s ethics mean you can sit back and watch your child play safely with developmentally appropriate toys.

Although this cake set is not as fancy as other wooden ones, like Melissa and Doug’s, it is definitely a greener toy! I trust Plan Toys. I would choose safety and eco-friendly over bling any day!

Would I buy this product? Yes

Eco-Friendly Toys: Plan Toys Cake Set is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Gifts that Change Lives: World Vision

Jennifer Lance — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:36:26 +0000

One thing I hate about the holidays is the pressure to BUY something for loved ones that truly have everything, including our kids. The truth is that globally, we are the 25%. Our wealth and the way we dispose of it around gift giving is quite embarrassing when you consider how little the rest of the world lives with in comparison.

Last year, I started giving service gifts. I started with my father, but I had never considered how this might be a very appropriate gift for a child, especially one like my daughter that is sensitive to the plight of those that are less fortunate.

World Vision Gift Catalog offers a “two-for-one benefit”.

The beauty of these items is the two-for-one benefit they provide: 1) a meaningful and affordable gift for a loved one; 2) proceeds that make a difference in the lives of children and families living in poverty in the U.S. and around the world.

With a financial contribution, the gift giver selects one of 36 items that can be given to someone on a holiday gift list and at the same time help a person in need.

We were sent:
Gertie the Plush Toy Goat: “Gertie the Plush Goat is available exclusively through World Vision and is a representation of the goats that help children and families around the world.”

Chuma the Plush Toy Chick: “Chuma the Plush Chick is available exclusively through World Vision and is a representation of the chickens that help children and families around the world.”

What I love about these gifts is how they inspire thoughtful conversations and awareness of both the living and social conditions around the world, as well as our own blessings.

Would I buy this product? Yes.

Gifts that Change Lives: World Vision is a post from: Eco Child's Play