When you are shopping for your kiddo this holiday season, here are a few things to keep in mind while strolling the toy aisle:
- Try and seek out natural, wooden and green toys --they are good for kids and for the planet. Not only do they promote positive childhood development but they are made under sustainable practices.
- Buy toys that are made of reclaimed or recycled plastic using environmentally-sound practices--toys that are finished with vegetable or other natural dyes, polished with beeswax, painted with water-based and non-toxic paints, or retain their natural, unfinished beauty.
- Avoid toys overloaded with sounds, gadgets, etc. Natural, simple toys promote positive childhood development through play. They encourage children to think and use their imagination -- thereby stimulating their intelligence and natural curiosity.
Here are a few sites that has made finding beautiful natural toys on the internet a whole lot easier:
- Enfant Terrible: Incredibly French and oh-so-hip
- Oompa Toys: huge selection of green and wood toys, as well as, free shipping over $65.00
- Wild Dill: achingly cute organic and fair trade dolls and animals and a large selection of toys that encourage imaginative play
- Child Trek: large selection of wooden Haba and Plan toys
- The Little Seed: a local Los Angeles haunt of mine that has a great online selection too--and it's owned and operated by none other than Punky Brewster herself
- Plan Toys: a Thai-based company with incredibly made wooden toy instruments--the drum and xylophone are household favorites
- The Playstore: great selection of Waldorf toys
- MiYim: great for your littlest one--beautiful plush animals
- Camden Rose: incredible hand carved wooden toys--Noah has a rattle that remains a favorite teether
- Little Wonderland: large selection of wooden toys made in the USA
- Etsy: don't forget about this little gem--it's an internet marketplace for all things (not just toys) handmade right here in the USA by crafty people just like you and me
1 comment:
I'm so excited by this list! My nephew is 3 months old and his parents are all natural, green, cloth diapers, no Toyz R Us kind of people and I've had trouble finding things I know they would like for him. Yeah! And have a great holiday.
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