IF you are like me, finding meaningful gifts in the swarm of plastic, battery-operated toys of modern life is challenging. As a graduate student in early childhood education, I value the importance of imaginative play. However, many of the toys on the market today are limiting and provide a disservice to our youth. The purpose of this blog is to share my familiy’s experiences with finding quality, ecofriendly toys and communicating these desires to my children and our extended family. With the holiday season behind us, I will review toys of past and present in terms of their play value and impact on the Earth.