Eco-friendly Toys

Every little boy and girl enjoys a good toy, so this is one area where you could teach the children how to go green. Eco-friendly toys and games are designed to be lots of fun, but with minimal damage to the environment.

Eco-friendly Materials

An excellent way to be certain that a toy is eco-friendly is to ensure that it is painted with water-based dyes. Water based paint is not only good for health reasons, but it also reduces the CO2 emissions and chemical waste pollution that results from the use of fossil fuels.

Another good health tip is to avoid toys that contain lead or formaldehyde because if eaten, these ingredients are poisonous.

Also avoid imported toys because the process of packaging and delivering these products to the United States results in harmful emissions and pollution.

Rubber wood is a recommended alternative to regular wood for products such as wooden blocks, dolls, or game pieces. Rubber wood is environmentally-friendly and sustainable because it is a replenishable source.

Any recycled materials are strongly suggested because recycling is a well-known way to go green and decrease the amount of waste that exists in this world. Recycled materials can be used anywhere from doll clothing to the box packaging of a game.

Organic wool and cotton are fibers that have been grown from plants that haven't been exposed to genetic altering or pesticide use. Furthermore, the manufacturing process of organic wool and cotton produces a lower amount of the chemical pollution that leads to global warming and the greenhouse effect. Choose Ecologically, Healthy and Organic for you and your planet!

Eco-friendly Toys for Boys

Truck set. Boys love love love their trucks, so why not make sure one of their favorites is not harming the environment. Truck sets made from sustainable wood are an excellent choice because aside from being fun, they can help the youth learn ways to save the planet.

Shape and size learning toy. These are made from wooden blocks which are arranged in order by size, color, and shape. This is an excellent educational item because it teaches sequence and matching.

Wooden puzzle. This is another educational product, that can be used by all children. Aside from helping with shape recognition, it also teaches the kids how to share since more than likely, a good puzzle will require more than one brain to solve.

Train set. This is one of those classic favorites that can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone, despite their age. A wooden train set is sure to provide hours, days, even decades of fun.

Girls Can Go Green, Too!

Wooden doll. A nice doll is essential for every young girl's childhood, so it's a good idea to buy one made from sustainable wood. The clothing can be made from organic cotton, and painted with natural dyes.

Dollhouse. Well, you obviously cannot have a doll without a dollhouse, so try and find one made from earth-safe products. This means that it's important avoid plastics because plastic production is responsible for an untold amount of pollution and emissions.

Rocking horse. A rocking horse is another one of those products that seems to last forever. An environmentally safe wooden rocking horse can be passed on from generation to generation.

Tea set. A tea set can be eco-friendly if it is stitched with organic wool or cotton, and naturally dyed.

Stuffed animal. This is another way to purchase something that can be handed down for generations. A stuffed animal made and stuffed with organic cotton and/or wool is timeless.

Toddlers and Babies Go Green

Key rattle. This is an excellent product for tots because as long as it is created from sustainable wood and natural dyes, it will not harm the planet, and a baby can safely chew on it.

Teething toy. Every parent knows the importance of a quality teething toy because the baby will use it for all that it is worth. Teethers made from organic materials are a good idea because such materials were not exposed to pesticides, so that makes them much safer.

High chair. A high chair is more of a necessity than a toy, but you can still buy an earth-friendly one by making sure that it was made from sustainable wood and/or organic products.

If you happen to be shopping for a high-tech child, electronics can still be made green and earth-friendly. Americans purchase 5 billion batteries a year, and those batteries are responsible for 146,000 tons of waste. By using rechargeable batteries, we can alleviate this issue. We could take it one step further by saying no to batteries altogether and instead using alternative energy forms such as solar power and wind power.