The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) recently tested about 250 toys and children’s accessories from local Bay Area and San Diego retailers, including Target, WalMart, TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning, Sears, Walgreens and other stores this fall and then had said toys tested for lead (pdf). Although lead has been banned from toys here in the US, seven of the toys were found to contain high levels of lead including a seemingly innocent, Mattel Barbie bicycle accessory set and a Disney “Tinker Bell” necklace set.

While the bike accessories and necklace contained the most lead, the CHE also found levels of lead …read more

It can be tough to choose the best and safest green toys each season. You’ve got to read labels, check reviews, and spend a ton of time looking around if you’re a green parent. OR you could say “Um, no to that” and just make a stop at Jade’s Toy Box. Jade’s ToyBox is a newer online retailer that offers easy and unique answers for parents looking for safer green products without the fuss. Jade’s Toy Box offers “Concept Boxes” that combine learning, fun and safety in one nice little package.

Each Concept Box is filled with eco-friendly toys, books and …read more

If you want to inspire some gardening love in your child; pint-sized gardening gear will make a fab gift this holiday season. Luckily, there’s a wide range of gardening supplies out there that’s made just for kids. Below are 5 cool garden-minded toys, kits and tools for budding future gardeners.

Green Toys Indoor Gardening Kit – made eco-friendly with recycled milk jugs, this great little toy set comes with a pea pod shaped garden tray, three wee pots, a garden trowel, organic seeds, and soil. The whole set is packaged in recyclable materials.
Alex My Wooden Flower Press – this award winning …read more

Green toys tend to cost more than traditional conventional toys, which isn’t a huge deal, because what you pay (if you’re getting real green goods) translates into safer, less toxic products for your child. However, for parents looking to go green, especially around the holidays, it can cost more than it should.

On the flip side, Toys “R” Us actually has some decent green toys now that cost less than green toys from specialty green toy shops. However, when looking for green toys, at Toys “R” Us or any other toy shop read the fine print. Make sure the toy is …read more

Seasons Natural Toys is just about the most adorable toy store on the planet, and they’re lined up with the planet as well. Their toys are safe, non-toxic, made with natural materials, Waldorf friendly, and they support creative active play. If you’re living green, your kids can be too with these summer-friendly toys.

Season’s Original Treehouse – BEST toy ever. So darn cute and way fun, this amazing treehouse comes with access from all six sides through windows and doors, trap door, skylights and tower ledges. Kids can pretend to excess with cool extras like the look out tower, swings, rope …read more

This summer make it a goal to skip the plastic, overly packaged toys and grab something for the kiddos that’s a lot more eco-friendly. If you haven’t heard of green king of toys, Plan Toys, it’s time to check them out.

Eco Home
Plan Toys makes all their toys with natural fertilizer-free rubberwood recycled from rubber trees that are no longer able to produce latex. Plan Toys are assembled with a proprietary non-formaldehyde glue and contain no formaldehyde emission (E-Zero). Their toys are painted with non-toxic, water based dyes free from lead and mercury. Even their shipping is eco-friendly; all Plan Toys …read more

Kids always seem to need new gear and if you can’t find said summer gear second hand (a very green choice) you can go green with your buying choices. Following are some cool summer picks for hot green kids…

Simple Shoes: Simple has a great line of eco-friendly kid shoes (and adults if you’re so inclined). They’ve got shoes made with recycled car tires, certified organic cotton, plastic bottles, recycled bike tires, and hemp, among other materials. They’ve even got baby eco shoes and vegan kid shoes to choose from. Simples are not only green but they last and last. I …read more

You can go green yet still find great kid storage solutions. Such as…
Baby Bronti Small Shelf Unit – made with earth-easy birch panels and child safe powder coated panels. From Glosto.

There’s storage and fun with the ducduc – parker Playtable – Paper Roll – this cool art table with a removable rolling drawer for storage is 100% hardwood, and created with non-toxic lacquered paint. From 2modern.

Jax Organic Storage Tower: Orange from Nest comes in other colors, but my son likes orange so there you go. This is storage made with organic cotton and a sturdy frame so it’ll last for …read more