Yippeeee! It’s summer vacation! Now that my kids are home from school, they have had more time to play. No matter their age, the traditional wooden building block toys are the ones that sustain play for hours and days. Given their enthusiasm for building drum sets, houses, airplanes, spaceships, etc., I was inspired to write this list of the most popular wooden building block toys in our home that inspire open-ended, creative play.
Contina blocks are similar to Kapla blocks, in that they are more like planks than standard unit blocks; however, Contina blocks are made from sustainable bamboo. These planks come in eight different natural colored finishes and can be combined to build many structures, given that you get 100 blocks in a set. You can stack them or line them up, and I am not sure if Eco Dad or my children had more fun when we first opened our Contina blocks.
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by Jennifer Lance on November 1, 2009 · 1 comment
Any parent knows that children love cardboard boxes. Often, the box a present comes in encourages more creative play than the toy it once contained. Imagination Box Co. was born out of this cardboard creativity.
After raising three kids and seeing how much waste there was in the toy industry, we said, “NO MORE,” and began making many of our children’s toys. An old box became a way to stimulate their creativity and recycle at the same time. They loved them and so did the neighborhood kids. It took about 17 years, but…voila…Imagination Box Co was born!
Made in the USA, Imagination Box Co. toys are completely recyclable and made from 45% post consumer materials. Each set comes with watercolors, so that your child may decorate and assemble their own toy. For my eight-year-old daughter, it has provided hours of entertainment and excitement. [read the full article...]
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 full article...]
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.
by Jennifer Lance on October 16, 2007 · 1 comment
Any toy that can encourage a child to help with household chores is a good toy in my opinion. Add quality wooden construction, and I am sold! Magic Cabin offers a Child’s Cleaning Set that contains real cleaning tools. The set includes a metal dustpan and broom, string mop, and a broom; all child-sized!
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by Jennifer Lance on September 28, 2007 · 1 comment
With the approach of October, Halloween is on my children’s minds. One costume I adore is Magic Cabin’s Silk Mermaid Costume, which my daughter got for her birthday. By adding a long sleeve shirt underneath the silk top, the Silk Mermaid Costume would make a beautiful, natural Halloween costume. (Caution: this product is made in China).
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by Jennifer Lance on September 26, 2007 · 2 comments
Another great toy by Plan Toys, the wooden Pirate Ship is made of natural rubber wood and comes with a multitude of accessories. Offered by Magic Cabin, the Pirate Ship is made in Thailand and comes with:
A wooden pirate figure
Four crew members
Two ladders
Two cannons
Anchor
Barrel
Treasure chest
Small rowboat
Plank
Crow’s nest
Felt sail
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With the 
