1. EarthBall

The EarthBall is inflatable and made from “New…Child Safe Phthalate-Free Material”.  It is 16-inches in diameter, but what makes this ball really cool is that it glows in the dark.  Created with NASA satellite photos, the cities of the world illuminate.  The EarthBall is an amazing visual tool for teaching children about energy consumption, world population, light pollution, etc.  Adults are just as fascinated as children by the EarthBall, and it comes with a Global Handbook including games and information.

Would I buy this product? Yes. It costs $14.00, and it is the best inflatable ball on the market in my opinion. Our EarthBall was a birthday gift from a dear friend.

2.  Green Dragon Natural Roach Kill

This is a product that I have not been able to test, so I will pass on the manufacturer’s claims and my concerns.  I do not have cockroaches, so I don’t know how well this product kills them.  Sometimes I do have ants, but I find that rubbing garlic where they enter the house is enough to deter them during the short season they want to come in.

Each year, Americans use 22 million pounds of insecticides in their homes.  These products are ineffective and dangerous, but they have been the only method of eradicating insect pests.  Until now…

Green Dragon’s Insect Bait is manufactured using natural compounds that are environmentally-friendly and less toxic to people, children and pets than insecticides used by other companies, and most importantly:  IT Works!  One treatment with Green Dragon’s Insect Bait is enough to eradicate roaches, ants & silverfish for up to 6 months…

Green Dragon’s Insect Bait is scientifically formulated with a blend of five all-natural attractants, agents to prevent running and slow drying, and the proven efficacy of 40% boric acid.

Even though this product claims to be all natural, it comes with plenty of warnings on the label.  It is not recommended to be used on surfaces that come into contact with food, such as counters, so it definitely is not benign.   The product clearly comes labeled “CAUTION:   KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN”, but the website is adorned with pictures of kids and families.

Would I buy this product? No.  I suppose if I had a really bad roach or ant problem, I would resort to Green Dragon over the more commercial toxic brands, but just because something is natural, does not mean that it is non-toxic.  The warnings on the package are enough to scare me away.

3. Bluebird Musical Tower

This wooden toy is a really cool concept. Kids love exploring the sounds of marbles falling on wooden parts with the help of gravity.

Feed the bluebird a marble and she’ll sing for you. Align the 30 wooden “leaves” in rows on the tree tower, and the marble will bounce down, striking every leaf as though it were a note on the musical scale.

Every cascade creates a different tune. The bright and colorful tower includes 10 wooden marbles and 10 glass marbles that add to the different tones.

I have seen this toy in catalogues and wanted it, so when it went on sale, I jumped on ordering it. Unfortunately, we have never been able to get it to work right and have owned it for two years.  The marbles bounce out of the tower and never reach the bottom, no matter how I adjust the wooden leaves.  The kids still love to play with it, but it does nothing but frustrate me.

Would I buy this product? No.  Even on sale at $40, it is not worth it because it does not come already assembled to work perfectly.  I really should have returned the one I bought.

4. Sweet Spud Organic Enlightened Baby Clothing

When I first opened our package by Sweet Spud, I was struck how soft the fabric felt.

Sweet Spud creates refreshing organic baby apparel that enlightens the spirit. One positive message at a time, tiny tots are inspiring the world in our debut line of adorable, natural baby wear. Featuring infant bodysuits, yoga style pants and knot caps, our “spuds” are super comfy and safe for your baby. Made without pesticides, harmful dyes or heavy metals, Sweet Spud uses only the purest, softest certified U.S. organic cotton for your baby’s delicate skin and sensitive respiratory system. Consciously made in the U.S.A., we are sweatshop-free and earth-friendly.

From soil to shelf, our products are true to the Earth.

I love the little onesie we received has a quote on it from Mahatma Gandhi, “My life is my message.”   This baby clothing is 100% Certified U.S. Organic Cotton and made in the U.S.A. 

Would I buy this product? Maybe.  Although I absolutely adore this clothing and it’s enlightened messages, I think it is overpriced at $26 for a little onesie.  I do think the organic knot cap is affordable at $13 though.

5.  Peeled Snacks at Abe’s Market

My kids love dried fruit.  We dry a lot of pears and tomatoes from our garden, but we don’t put up the plethora of flavors available by Peeled Snacks.

In New York City in 2004, Noha Waibsnaider founded Peeled Snacks when she noticed that something was missing in the snack market. You could get processed potato chips, sugar-filled candy, or energy bars with mysterious ingredients, but you couldn’t get something that made you feel good about snacking. So she set about to fix that problem. Her solution? Tasty and nourishing snack mixes that are now Peeled Snacks.

Peeled Snacks comes in many flavors. From Plu-what? to Bing Bing Cherry, there is a taste to please every member of your family.  My concerns with this snack is that it contains sulfur dioxide and potassium sorbate to “ensure freshness”, and it is not organic.

To go organic, or NOT to go organic. Organic is obviously important, though when we were deciding whether or not to go organic, we weren’t sure that people were willing to pay the extra cost for products just because they are grown more sustainably. Also, some of the farmers we work with told us that they have been doing things the same way for generations, and they weren’t about to change in order to get the organic certification. Luckily, since we made the decision to go organic, organic food has grown by leaps and bounds, making sustainable products more available to everyone and many of those farmers have benefited from it.

Would I buy this product? No.  I just can’t get past the food additives and response to not going organic.

Disclosure: The products described above were sent to us as free samples, unless noted differently in the review. 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.

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5 Green Products: Phthlate-Free Glow-in-the-Dark EarthBall to Peeled Snacks Full of Food Additives to Avoid is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Photo by Mattel

Computer Engineer Barbie

It always amazes me when PR people don’t do their homework.  Anyone who does a quick search of Eco Child’s Play would find it quite apparent that I am not in favor of encouraging children to use tech gadgets, have busted Barbie for greenwashing, and detest her boobs.  That’s why I was surprised to be sent announcement about the latest Barbie:  Computer Engineer Barbie.

Computer Engineer Barbie is part of the career series.  Past careers have included astronaut, news anchor, army medic, chef, ballerina, firefighter, flight attendant, aerobics instructor, business executive, etc.  Although many of these roles go beyond typical gender stereotypes, many do not, and in most cases it is a lame attempt at best.  Consider Computer Engineer Barbie with her pink laptop and sparkly skin tight pants…

To ensure the doll accurately reflects this occupation, Barbie® designers worked with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering to ensure that accessories, clothing and packaging were realistic and representative of a real computer engineer. Looking geek chic, Computer Engineer Barbie® wears a t-shirt featuring binary code and computer/keyboard icon along with a pair of black knit skinny pants. Computer Engineer carries a Barbie® smart phone, fashionable laptop case, flat watch and Bluetooth earpiece. With stylish pink-frame glasses and a shiny laptop, she is ready to conquer the day’s tasks on the go or from her desk.

I have to admit I have not met a lot of computer engineers in my day, but the few I have known were never dressed like this.  And please, what girl is going to be inspired to become a computer engineer because Barbie made her think it was “cool” when she was young. Randy Atkins of the National Academy of Engineering writes:

Barbie is another wonderful way of introducing girls to engineering, a profession that includes computer engineers and many others all working together on the world’s most important challenges. The National Academy of Engineering shares their passion for portraying engineering as a “cool” and creative career path, because that realization both opens doors for girls individually and is vital to tapping a rich diversity of ideas that will lead us all into the future.

Come on Barbie, let’s just come out with the hairy leg/armpit crunchy girl wearing organic clothes and made out of hemp whose career is tree sitting…that’s a doll that might win my endorsement.

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Green Mama’s Rant: Computer Engineer Barbie is a post from: Eco Child's Play

GREENWASH ALERT!

1.  Small Steps Recycled Paper Products

Marcal Small Steps motto is “Paper from paper, not from trees”.

For over five decades, Marcal has been saving trees and reducing landfill by making its paper products from recycled paper.  Marcal uses paper collected from curbs in residential neighborhoods in cities and towns across America; from the small blue baskets in office buildings, unwanted junk mail, and waste from printers; all in an effort to do something good.

Small Steps makes:

• Recycled Everyday Napkins
• Recycled Hypoallergenic Facial Tissues
• Recycled Dinner Napkins
• Recycled Paper Towels

Would I buy these products? No, even though purchasing recycled paper products is a “small step”, removing these unnecessary products from our homes is better step for the environment. I shamefully admit to buying recycled paper towels, but I seek out unbleached ones and they last in our home a very long time (except when paper towel loving grandparents visit).  We occasionally buy facial tissues too, but this is pretty rare.  Cloth napkins are so much nicer than paper ones.

Editor’s note:  Thanks to one of our readers who commented below, we were alerted this may be greenwashing on the part Marcal.  The EPA asked the company to pay $1 billion for pollution clean up of a New Jersey river, and the company filed bankruptcy.  Small Steps may be a genuine effort by the company to go green, or it may be simply greenwashing in an attempt to change the polluting image of the company.  Given the company quote above that they have been saving trees for five decades, I strongly suspect greenwashing.

2.  Derma e Very Clear Natural Facial Products for Problem Skin

Whether you are a teenager or an adult like me that sometimes has blemishes, natural treatments for problem skin are the way to go.  Using Tea Tree, Willow Bark, Rosewood, Lavender, and Chamomile, these products are soothing to the skin while still addressing blemishes and break outs. All of these products are made in the USA.

• derma e Very Clear Problem Skin Moisturizer: “Derma e Clear Skin 3 Problem Skin Moisturizer is a daily moisturizer that provides a proper balance between moisture and oil, thus preventing clogged pores and bacterial infection while hydrating the skin.”
• derma-e Skin Care Very Clear Cleansing Scrub: “Derma-E Very Clear Cleansing Scrub 4 Oz. Removing dead skin cells to unclog pores is essential for healthy, balanced and clear skin. This gentle yet effective scrub utilizes Aloe and Apricot Kernel Meal to exfoliate skin. Used once or twice a week, this formula will help draw out impurities, resolve bacteria and stimulate new cell growth for clean, clearer skin.”
• derma e Very Clear Spot Blemish Treatment: “Unburden your skin of bothersome blemishes with derma ® Very Clear Spot Blemish Treatment. It uses natural extracts and oils to reduce harmful bacteria and pore-clogging oil without causing dryness, peeling, or irritation.”
• derma e Very Clear Problem Skin Cleanser: “Punishing your acne-prone skin isn’t the answer. derma ® Clear Skin 1 Problem Skin Cleanser uses effective, natural antibacterial agents combined with skin-soothers to reduce excess oil and harmful bacteria without irritating your skin.”

Would I buy these products? Yes, they are priced similar to other natural beauty products ($10-$20), and although I cannot vouch for the claims, when I have a breakout, I am willing to try anything.  Also, these products have low scores on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database ranging from two to three.

3.  Leather Work Gloves for Children

My son is a little helper. From the garden to the woodshed, he’s out there with us doing all of the chores of country living. We have bought several pairs of cotton work gloves in the past, but these gloves never fit right, get lost, aren’t like Mommy and Daddy’s, don’t last, are not very protective, etc. It seems only fair to give children real tools, like leather work gloves.

Young children want to help you carry garden clippings, clear brush and weeds, and do other work in the yard. Sturdy, well–fitting leather gloves protect their hands and help them grip tools firmly.

Would I buy this product? Yes, I actually did. I bought a pair of these gloves for my five-year-old son and am very happy with their quality.  Plus, they only cost about $5.00.  Of course, if you are a vegan, you would want a cloth alternative.

4.  My Professional Workshop Wooden Toy Tool Bench by HaPe

Might as well continue the working theme! This tool bench is my son’s absolutely favorite place to hang out when playing.

Big building projects call for big workbenches and that’s the idea with My Professional Workshop. The 78-piece set includes an abundance of screws and wood pieces to construct things with the hammer, screwdriver, vice, and ruler.

We’ve reviewed several toys by HaPe in the past, and all of them have been extremely well made and of high-quality.

Would I buy this product? Yes, I actually did.This is a big ticket item (about $100), and as a parent, I have always been hesitant to shell out the big bucks not knowing if it is really a toy my child would play with or not.  For my son, this toy was worth every penny. We’ve had our workbench for two years now, and the interest has not worn off. We have added other tools to it along the way, and it consistently promotes extended creative play.

5.  Glob It On:  Natural Paint Colors Made From Organic Plant Extracts

Every child’s art supply comes with the assurance that it is “non-toxic”, but I have often questioned how true this statement really is; however, I don’t question the toxicity of Glob It On Paints!  This may be one of the coolest products we have reviewed in a long time.  Made from organic plant extracts, Glob comes in powder form that you mix with cold water to the desired consistency.

Finally, eco-friendly paints made from natural ingredients. Created with a focus on sustainability, these water-based paints and pigments are biodegradable.
GLOB™ is made from colors found in nature.  Our botanically crafted products are colored by fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices.

The vibrant pigments in GLOB™ have been used by different cultures throughout the ages in artists’ paints and body products.

Using cosmetic and food grade ingredients, our products are truly non-toxic.

GLOB™ paints are unmatched in quality and environmental synergy.

The colors are truly vibrant, and the paint mixes up easily.  I enjoyed painting with our Glob samples .  Mixed up paint needs to be stored in the refrigerator, because they are truly all natural, but you can easily just mix up a little at a time based upon your needs.

Would I buy this product? Yes!  Yes!  Yes!

Disclosure:  The products described above were sent to us as free samples, unless noted differently in the review.  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.

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5 Green Products: Greenwashed Recycled Paper Products to Natural Paint Colors Made From Organic Plant Extracts is a post from: Eco Child's Play

1.  FairyTale Knit Collection Organic Plus

Available from Essere Organics, this adorable collection of organic plush is truly natural. Made from certified organic cotton and an eco-friendly natural dye process, these are toys you will not worry about harming your child, besides they are truly delightful.   Made by miYim, I really like the organic FairyTale knit collection.

Fairytale Knit Collection characters are soft and naturally colored with embroidered details and natural unprocessed/unbleached cotton filling. Three distinctive characters create the Fariytale knit collection. Pick up your favorite: Baby Victoria Bunny, Baby George Monkey, and Baby Abigail Bear. It’s all in the ingredients! The miYim process is the secret to creating our charming colors. When woven, the cotton is allowed to retain its natural form untreated, unbleached, and unprocessed. It is dyed using only all-natural ingredients derived from nature’s plants and minerals. miYim is water-washed, clean and pure combined to form the world’s first all-natural children’s toy.

Would I buy this product? Yes.  Normally, I would shun a product like this due to its cost (on sale right now for $18.39 at Essere) in relation to its size (nine inches); however, I am a sucker for cute plush toys, and this one is truly natural and organic.  It’s hard to find a plush toy that is completely natural through and through, from the stuffing to the dyes.

2.  Little Chickadee Organic Bath Hooded Towel

How often do you bath your little one? Every day? Every other day?  Glo Baby makes organic, fair trade hooded towels that are thick and luxurious.

Did you know that babies can lose a lot of heat through the tops of their heads, especially when they’re wet that is why a hodded [sic] towel is so important. This delightful animal chickadee wrap is not just adorable but is also made from soft absorbent organic terry that is both certified organic and certified fair trade.

Would I buy this product? Yes.  I have previously stated that $32 was too much for a towel, but this one is thicker than many, and you really only need one towel to last your child through toddlerhood.  Plus, it is not only certified organic, it is also certified Fair Trade.

3.  Organic Denim Dress Jumper

Here’s an organic version of a classic outfit for children.  Made by Krawlers, this sturdy jumper is made from low impact dyes.   According to Essere Organics:

Cotton accounts for 25% of pesticide use in the world

it takes approximately 1 pound of chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) to grow enough cotton for one t-shirt

skin is our largest human organóand [sic] it is constant contact with these cotton garments

our babies’ skin is extremely sensitive to this contact

Would I buy this product? No. I think that dresses like this make learning to crawl hard. My daughter’s knees would get stuck inside the skirts of her dresses, which would frustrate her efforts to be mobile. I also think price is a bit steep (on sale for $23.99).

4.  Sniffle Buddies

Oh, how it bothers me when my five-year-old son wipes his nose on his sleeves.  Whether it is laziness or convenience, he usually doesn’t go for a tissue when the nasal drips start running.  Sniffle Buddies was invented by two moms to solve this very problem. Worn around the wrist, these naturally antibacterial wrist bands are like having a “handkerchief for the wrist”.

Bamboo is said to possess a property called “Bamboo Kun” which means that it is naturally anti-microbial. Even through processing into fabric and after fifty washes, bamboo fabrics retain their anti-fungal, anti-bacterial nature, according to research by Japan Textile Inspection Association…

Our research directed us to bamboo. The bamboo velour is really soft & absorbent and the source is a renewable crop. It’s especially appealing due to the natural antibacterial & anti-fungal properties. It doesn’t need a chemical to create those qualities…it’s natural.Today’s version of Sniffle Buddies® is 70% Organic bamboo, 28% Organic Cotton, and 2% poly for stretch.

Would I buy this product? No.  I don’t want my son to keep using his wrist for wiping his nose, whether he is wearing a Sniffle Buddy or not.  His father called this product “disgusting”.  I want my son to move towards using a handkerchief rather than a band on his sleeve.  Also, I find the idea and image of a woman doing yoga with one of these on really bizarre.

5. Whoops Bunny 100% Tree Free Wall Poster – 2010 Planner

Families have busy lives, and sometimes it is hard to keep track of everyone’s schedules.  Planners are useful, and Whoops Bunny makes a poster that allows you to visualize the whole year in a vertical fashion.  Not only is this yearly planner helpful for family organization, it is very eco-friendly. It is 100% tree free and “made entirely from inorganic mineral powders derived from stone”. It is also “produced with zero consumption”.

An environmental whoops is something we take very seriously at Whoops Bunny. In our own small way, we try to minimize the whoops to the environment.
Here at Whoops Bunny HQ, we recycle all our plastic, paper and glass, even driving miles to the glass recycling plant. We try to minimize our use of paper and if we can, we’ll reuse scraps of paper for our scribbles. We only print using 100% recycled paper or using paper that is FSC certified.
We also use low energy lighting. Did you know that a single low-energy bulb can save a heap in energy costs over its lifetime and also avoid hundreds of kilograms of CO2 emissions?
We will always attempt to package your products using packaging that is either re-usable, biodegradable or is made from a sustainable source.

Would I buy this product? Maybe. My first reaction was the price was too expensive.  $25 is a lot for poster, but then again, I spent $20 on our custom photo calendar which is not nearly so eco-friendly.

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.

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5 Green Products: FairyTale Organic Plush to Sniffle Buddies is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Photo by eren | thisvintagechica

Scholastic book orders suck

I fondly remember Scholastic book orders from my childhood.  It was always so exciting to get that little newsprint catalog each month and browse the affordable books.  My children experience this same excitement, only problem is…their book orders suck!

What has happened to Scholastic’s quality?  Do they really think parents want to buy crappy cheap Chinese toys and video games instead of quality literature?

It’s been eight years since I taught elementary school full time, and even then I noticed the children were more attracted to the fuzzy diaries and the cheap horse necklaces than the actual books in book orders.  As a teacher, I liked being able to provide affordable books for families to purchase, as well as earn points redeemable for classroom books from our orders, but I hated sending home all that junk and poorly written books.

Scholastic has just continued to go further and further downhill since my teaching days. This week, my daughter brought home two book orders. The first one, called “Click” contains nothing but video games.  Sure there are some “educational” titles such as “Kid Pix” and “Learn Math“.  There’s even an “eco-friendly” game called “National Geographic: Plan It Green“, but the selections are mostly what I consider junk like “Chicken Shoot” and “World of Goo“.  Even the prices aren’t so good anymore, as most of these titles are available for less on Amazon.  It’s not that I am anti-video games, I just don’t think they belong in school book orders.

The second book order my eight-year-old daughter brought home from school is called “Lucky”, and guess what…they snuck a few “educational” computer games in there too.  Even the classic Guiness World Records book is the “Gamer’s Edition”.  Oh, there are other great gems, like the Purple Princess Wins The Prize that comes with a giant purple ring!  Why does Scholastic think that every crappy book needs a crappy toy to go with it?  Of course, it is not all bad.  I did find The Frog and Toad, books way below my daughter’s reading abilities, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a book we have already read several times.  In the end, I must confess, I allowed my daughter to order some crappy spy kit with some crappy toy, as long as she used her own money.  Her teacher will be getting a lot of pennies

Although I applaud Scholastic’s attempt (or was it greenwashing) to go green, until they remove cheap crappy toys from their book orders, I don’t care how much FSC-certified paper you use.  This is certainly not the first time that we have ranted about the lack of books in Scholastic book orders, and it will probably not be the last.

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Green Mama’s Rant: Scholastic Book Orders Suck! is a post from: Eco Child's Play

1.  The New 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth

This updated version for kids of the classic 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth is a handy reference for any child looking for small steps they can take to live a greener life.  The layout is user friendly and appealing, and it is a great resource for the classroom and home.  Not only does this book include tips, such as “plant a tree” but it includes “eco-experiments”, such as making your own recycled paper. As you would expect, this book is printed on “certified chain of custody” recycled paper with soy inks.

Would I buy this product? Probably not. My experience with these sort of books is they sit on shelves, good ideas or not, without much use. Besides, most of the information can be found on the 50 Simple Kids website for free.

2. Safe Sippy 2

The Safe Sippy 2 is a BPA-free stainless steel cup designed from children older than six months.  It’s a versatile cup offering both a sippy cup and straw insert, and it costs about $13.  It also comes with a plastic cover, so the part your child’s mouth touches can be kept clean when transported in a bag.  Z Recommends reports in their 2009 BPA-Free Sippy Cup Showdown:

The Safe Sippy leaks very little – none at all when left on its side, and not much when shaken hard upside down – and the seal on the screw lid is very good. Flow is moderate, and encourages mouth formations that better support speech development than traditional sippys. The angle of the straw, however, requires the cup to be held with the straw angled away from the user, which is counter-intuitive, or be tipped waaaaay up. We like the insulation provided by the silicone sheath, but it is exceedingly difficult to put on the bottle, and this cup also requires a bottle brush to clean well…

Would I buy this product? Probably not. I’ve never been a fan of straw sippy cups, as I fear germs hide where I can’t really clean.  My kids used the Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Sippy, and they are still around today as little water bottles once my children moved on from the sippy lids.  I don’t think the Safe Sippy has that same versatility to grow with a child beyond the preschool years.

3. pao pao (baby) unbleached cotton nursing cover

The pao pao (baby) nursing cover is made from natural unbleached cotton. It has a d-ring and nurse strap to help keep it in place and to keep the cover from smothering the babe, and it has cute little pockets decorated with eco-fi felt made from recycled plastic bottles.  There’s even a terry cloth washcloth on the inside corner for little dribbles that need wiping.  It is handmade in California, and at $30 is a bargain.

Would I buy this product? No. In our society, there should be no need for nursing covers. We should be able to nurse openly without worrying about showing a tit. I never used a nursing cover or blanket, and I felt I could still nurse discreetly by just pulling up my shirt.  If you feel the need to cover when nursing, you definitely should chose a handmade eco-friendly product like pao pao (baby).

4. Fair Trade, Organic Joobles Pip the Dog

Fair Indigo is a great company featuring Fair Trade products. The Joobles line is designed for children, and Pip the Dog is a cute, cuddly, handknit toy that is made from organic cotton and eco-friendly dyes by a Peruvian cooperative.

What makes it fair?
Started by a Peruvian family; mom, dad, and daughter; this company provides work and hope to hundreds of rural and urban Peruvians all over the country. Small groups of impoverished workers are trained to run their own small businesses making hand-knit clothing and accessories. In addition to providing much needed employment, they train workers throughout Peru in such valuable skills as quality control and production planning. The Fair Indigo Foundation also works with this company’s charitable arm by donating free breakfasts and school supplies to children of the workers.

Would I buy this product? Yes. I would so much rather support Fair Trade cooperatives than Chinese factory workers when purchasing toys. At 11 inches long and only $25, Pip the Dog is a bargain, and that helps provide educational programs and supplies to Peruvian children.

5. Oceana Adopt a Creature

Adopting an ocean animal as a gift is a great way to teach children about marine life.  By making a minimum donation of $35 to Oceana, you’ll receive a cookie cutter and oven mitt or stuffed animal.  From hammerheads to sharks, Oceana’s got you covered.

Oceana is an incredible organization:

Oceana, founded in 2001, is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. Our offices in North America, South America and Europe work together on a limited number of strategic, directed campaigns to achieve measurable outcomes that will help return our oceans to former levels of abundance. We believe in the importance of science in identifying problems and solutions. Our scientists work closely with our teams of economists, lawyers and advocates to achieve tangible results for the oceans.

Would I buy this product? Yes. I believe strongly in giving gifts that have far reaching positive outcomes both environmentally and socially.

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.

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5 Green Products: 50 Simple Things to Fair Trade Joobles Toys is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Photo by kowitz

FTC finds PG-13 movies are marketed to young children

If you are like me, you’ve taken your eight-year-old child to a PG-13 movie.  After reading all of the Harry Potter books, how could we not go see the movies?  As a parent, that is my choice, but unfortunately, many movies are marketed to young children even though they carry the PG-13 rating. For example, a four-year-old child in my preschool has seen Transformers 2 even though it carries a PG-13 rating because he loves the toys.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has found for the seventh time that “movie studios intentionally market PG-13 movies to children under 13, and the movie industry does not have explicit standards in place to restrict this practice. The growing practice of releasing unrated DVDs undermines the rating system, and confuses parents.”

According to the Motion Picture Association of America:

A PG-13 rating is a sterner warning by the Rating Board to parents to determine whether their children under age 13 should view the motion picture, as some material might not be suited for them. A PG-13 motion picture may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category. The theme of the motion picture by itself will not result in a rating greater than PG-13, although depictions of activities related to a mature theme may result in a restricted rating for the motion picture. Any drug use will initially require at least a PG-13 rating. More than brief nudity will require at least a PG-13 rating, but such nudity in a PG-13 rated motion picture generally will not be sexually oriented. There may be depictions of violence in a PG-13 movie, but generally not both realistic and extreme or persistent violence. A motion picture’s single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context. The Rating Board nevertheless may rate such a motion picture PG-13 if, based on a special vote by a two-thirds majority, the Raters feel that most American parents would believe that a PG-13 rating is appropriate because of the context or manner in which the words are used or because the use of those words in the motion picture is inconspicuous.

Variety goes on to explain even PG movies “signal to parents that there may be some material not suitable for a child under 10.”  These ratings are meaningless when it comes to marketing geared at young children.  The FTC found in its seventh report on the subject:

As detailed in the marketing plans reviewed by the Commission, movie studios targeted violent PG-13 films to children under 13 both through advertising and promotional tie-ins with foods, toys, and other licensed products. Studios continued to place a significant number of ads for violent R-rated movies on television shows and Internet sites highly popular with children under 17. Increasingly, industry members post “red tag” trailers for R-rated movies, intended for age-restricted audiences, on the Internet without age-based access restrictions.

Ironically, the video game industry is leading the way at compliance with marketing and advertising rules.  Video games are blamed more often than other forms of media for contributing to violent behavior in children.

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FTC: Violent Entertainment Still Marketed to Young Children is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Cutting Food Box

One of the most captivating activities for youngsters in our house is working with food – helping to prepare it and serve it, and of course, eating it. We let our 4 year old help out when we’re cutting vegetables by giving her a standard table knife (butter knife) and setting her up with a cutting board and a carrot or celery or other veggie, and she enjoys it immensely. But when we aren’t in cooking mode, having a play food set to work with will keep her busy for hours.

The folks over at Gummylump were kind enough to send me the Melissa & Doug Cutting Food Box to review, and my daughter has been hooked on it ever since she opened it.

The Cutting Food Box has eight different food items that are ‘cuttable’, held together with velcro until the child begins the food prep. It also comes with a cutting board and wooden knife, and when the kids cut the veggies or bread, it makes a sort of crunching noise as the velcro parts, giving kids a little audible feedback in their play.

Included are a carrot, a cucumber, an apple, a bell pepper, two kinds of bread, a tomato, and slice of watermelon, all fitting together into a wooden crate. My daughter has been having loads of fun preparing treats for us all – taking our ‘orders’ as if in a restaurant, and then bringing us a plate filled with the food.

This play food set feels like it’s made to last, and at a price point well under $20, it’s sure to make a great holiday or birthday gift.

[Update: Gummylump has generously offered to give away a Cutting Food Box to one lucky Eco Child's Play reader! To enter, leave a comment here with your favorite food-related activity for kids. We will pick one reader at random on Tuesday, December 29th.]

Thanks for all of your comments and entries in this contest! I used Random.org to pick a winner, and the winning comment is #39, Lauren.

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Review of Melissa & Doug Cutting Food Box is a post from: Eco Child's Play

1. First Step Organic Cuddly Bear Kimono Bodysuit

Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality certified 100% organic cotton non-toxic apparel for your baby. Our hip and stylish organic baby basics collection includes short- and long-sleeve tees, snap-bottom bodysuits, wrap-around bodysuits and pants.

A cute little bear adorns the front above the words “natural life” on this soft, natural kimono style, long-sleeve onesie.  This adorable organic onesie is made with nickel-free snaps and 100% organic cotton that is GOTS certified.  Before reading this product’s description, I had never considered that the snaps in children’s clothing could contain heavy metals.

Would I buy this product? No. I know sustainability is expensive, but at $23 for something so little seems a little steep. Under The Nile organic long sleeve bodysuits are only $12, but they don’t have the cute little bear on them.

2. Green Toys Dump Truck

Green Toys is great company that makes recycled plastic toys in the USA. Although I prefer sustainable wooden toys, sometimes plastic is best.  For example, plastic trucks, such as this dump truck, are perfect for sand and gravel play.

Need help hauling a big load while helping save the planet? Then the Green Toy Dump Truck is ready to get working. Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Green Toys Dump Truck is possibly the most energy efficient vehicle on this or any planet. The super cool eco-design has a workable dumper and no metal axles.

Green Toys also makes a super cool recycling truck.

Would I buy this product? Yes, I actually have.  My son has had a lot of medical interventions and fears doctors. I resorted to bribery positive reinforcement the last time we went to the dentist with a trip to the toy store to try and relieve his anxiety. This dump truck was the only eco-friendly toy we could find in the toy store.  $20 may seem like a lot for a plastic toy, but recycling isn’t cheap!

3.  EO Products Hair Care

EO Products is a company I have long trusted for beauty and personal care.  Their new hair care line lives up to the same standards of being “natural, gentle, effective and free from animal testing” you would expect from this great company.  The new hair care line includes:

• EO Restorative Shampoo for Dry Hair, Chamomile & Honey
• EO Conditioner Restorative for Dry Hair, Chamomile & Honey
• EO Everyday Shampoo for Normal Hair, French Lavender
• EO Everyday Conditioner for Normal Hair, French Lavender
• EO Sweet Orange Clarifying Shampoo
• EO Rose Geranium & Sweet Orange Conditioner
• EO Volumizing Shampoo for Fine Hair, Rosemary and Mint
• EO Light & Volumizing Conditioner for Fine/Oily Hair, Rosemary & Mint
• EO Protective Shampoo for Color Treated Hair, Rose & Chamomile
• EO Nourishing Conditioner, Dry or Treated Hair, Rose & Chamomile
• EO Repair Deep Conditioner Wild Lime & Ginger

Besides the natural unique ingredients, such as quinoa protein and carrot oil, I love how many EO products are available in bulk gallon jugs.  Plus, these hair care products are made in Marin County, California, which is closer to my home than where most beauty products originate.

Would I buy this product? Yes.  EO products are affordable, and I regularly buy them for my family. I feel safe using these products on my children.

4.  Degree 6 Clothing:  “Style for the conscious human”

Degree 6 (D6) Clothing is a line of organic, sustainable, eco-friendly fashion for the whole family. The children’s clothing is very cute, and I love how the label reads like a label found on food items. It contains information such as serving size, calories, fertilizers, toxic dyes, preservatives, etc. From t-shirts to jumpsuits, this clothing is made from organic cotton, bamboo, and/or recycled polyester. In fact, D6 chooses bamboo for its t-shirts because:

Manufacturing a single cotton t-shirt requires a whopping 700 gallons of water. This sobering statistic stands in stark relief when compared with bamboo. When it comes to water usage, bamboo is the clear winner; the same sized t-shirt made out of bamboo fabric requires 1/20 of the water that cotton does – or approximately 35 gallons.

Would I buy this product? Yes for sustainability, but I don’t know the price. Women’s t-shirts sell for $92, so I doubt these baby clothes would be within many people’s budgets.

5. The Itchy Kids Club: Silly Poems for Itchy Kids

Itchy Kids Club provides support for children with allergies.  From environmental allergies to food allergies, it can be hard to be an itchy kid. The silly poems in this book make it a little bit easier by letting kids know they are not alone.

Woe is Me

My toes are itchy from the grass

My belly hurts from all the gas

My skin is tender from the rash

My hives are lumpy and aghast

Allergies from grass and trees

Belly aches from milk and cheese

Eczema from head to knees

Breakouts from food allergies

I don’t like being such a pain

I don’t like having to complain

But you must know how I disdain

These allergies make me insane

Having food allergies can be especially difficult for young children. My neighbor’s grandson has many food allergies.  The other day, his sister and some friends were eating cheese. He took cheese out of the refrigerator and told his mother he just wanted to look at it.

Would I buy this product? I don’t know. It seems expensive at $20 for a softbound book, but if I had a child who was really suffering from allergies, this book could be helpful. It may even inspire your child to write their own itchy poems.

Disclosure:  The products described above were sent to us as free samples, with the exception of the dump truck which I personally purchased.  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.

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5 Green Products: Organic Kimono Baby Clothing to Itchy Kids Silly Poems is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Go Green Bear

Trying to keep your house free from toys that have dubious origins and unhealthy materials can be tough sometimes, especially when well-meaning relatives send gifts that they think your kids will enjoy (but that come from mainstream toymakers).

So when Vermont Teddy Bear offered to let me review a couple of their eco-conscious bears, I was jazzed to check them out and to see what my older kids (ages 11 and 4) thought about them.

The company sent me a Go Green Bear and a Woolen Bear to review, and as soon as I handed them to my girls, it was love at first sight. They got named, dressed, and put to work in the play kitchen immediately. My kids are pretty picky about the toys they love, so as far as I’m concerned, that’s a great sign that the bears are a good choice for a natural toy gift for children.

The Go Green Bears have fur made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, dyed with natural dyes, and are stuffed with recycled PET stuffing. We got a blue one, promptly named Cloud by my daughter. The bear is soft (huggable, even), and the arms and legs are articulated, so it can be posed. The bear is also just the right size to fit baby clothes, so it was recruited as a ‘baby’ right away.

Woolen Bear

The Woolen Bear’s fur is made from all natural wool, with no dyes used to color it, and also stuffed with 100% recycled PET stuffing. Ours is brown, and received the name Brownie from our youngest. According to the company, wool is naturally flame resistant (we didn’t try to verify that with a flame test…) as well as being hypo-allergenic (making it a choice for children with allergies).

Vermont Teddy Bears are handmade in Vermont (where else?) and are shipped in cardboard box with a Vermont Wicked Good game printed on the inside, and the company says that the packaging is Sustainable Forestry Initiative Certified. The bears are guaranteed for life – if damaged, you can send them to the teddy bear hospital to be repaired or replaced for free!

Would I buy this product? Yes, I would gladly buy or recommend the Go Green and Woolen Vermont Teddy Bears to friends looking for a natural toy as a gift. I think they’re a quality toy, and because they are handmade in the U.S., they get bonus points from me.

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Natural Toy Review: Vermont Teddy Bear Go Green and Woolen Bear is a post from: Eco Child's Play