How to green your child’s toy box
By Whitney
By Whitney
Sometimes, I don’t think the world has changed that much since my own childhood. Then, I’ll watch my children dutifully take the junk mail directly to our recycling container without prompting. At preschool, my son puts his food scraps and paper towel into the compost bin before putting his spoon in the sink. And I must confess, around these parts, if it’s yellow, we let it mellow. So, I guess I’m far more eco-conscious in my habits now than when I was younger.
As my kids outgrow toys, I feel terrible about the large amount of plastics we are consuming via their playthings, so I am pleased to share these tips regarding a greener approach to your child’s toys. Consider them as you do your holiday shopping.
- Go organic. Look for organic cotton, natural fiber filling, and plant and mineral dyes in stuffed animals and other fabric toys. Organic cotton is grown without pesticides or herbicides. Polyester plush is made from plastic fibers with synthetic dyes that can release harmful chemicals into the environment. Check tags and packaging of fabric toys for the words “certified organic” or “certified non-toxic” to be sure products are safe and natural.
- Look for recycled or reused materials. Demonstrate how your child’s recycling efforts can result in something tangible and meaningful by choosing toys made from recycled materials such as milk jugs, water bottles or cardboard. Re-using materials keeps items out of landfills, saves energy and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Save the forest. Not all wood products are eco-friendly. Look for toys made from a plantation-grown wood such as rubberwood that does not deplete forests. At the end of their latex-producing years, rubber trees are harvested and new ones planted. Their splinter-free hardwood is perfect for safe, earth-friendly toys.
- Reduce battery consumption. Let your kids provide the power for their play by selecting toys that do not require batteries. Toys that require active play inspire imagination and get kids off the couch. More than 14 billion toxic batteries enter our landfills each year—enough to reach the moon and back.
- Find toys in every day objects. We all know a baby can enjoy a bowl and a spoon as much as a toy. Encourage your kids to be creative and make their own toys using items found around your home and neighborhood. Two toilet paper rolls and a pair of rubber bands converted into a pair of binoculars that my son carried around with him for several hours.
Looking for more? Check out these creative ideas to use everyday objects for play. Hopefully some of these tips will help us save money, too!
3 Responses to “How to green your child’s toy box”
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Hi –
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This is good info..thanks