Healthy Holiday Gift Guide 2009
The holidays should bring fun and good cheer, not worries about whether toxic ingredients in toys or other products may harm our loved ones. While there are some definite “grinch-like” toys to avoid, great gifts abound. This gift guide can ease worries by helping parents, grandparents, and friends find the healthiest gifts for children and others this holiday season.
Growing Up Green
December 2009
The holidays should bring fun and good cheer, not worries about
whether toxic ingredients in toys or other products may harm our loved
ones. While there are some definite “grinch-like” toys to avoid, great
gifts abound. This gift guide can ease worries by helping parents,
grandparents, and friends find the healthiest gifts for children and
others this holiday season.
Avoid toys that list vinyl/PVC as ingredients.
Soft plastic toys such as bath toys, squeeze toys, and dolls are
commonly made of vinyl, which can contain lead, phthalates, or other
harmful chemicals. If you’re not sure if a toy contains vinyl/PVC, try
looking it up on www.HealthyToys.org.
Choose plastic-free toys made of wood, cloth, wool, or paper.
You can find plush toys, games or puzzles made of paper, dolls made
of cloth, wool or paper, and wooden vehicles, rattles, and figurines.
Avoid children's metal jewelry and toys with small pieces, particularly magnetic pieces.
Check out the online database at HealthyToys.org, which contains the results of chemicals tests on over 1400 toys.
Use or make recycled gift wrap.
You can make your own wrapping out of paper bags and decorate it with stamps, paints, or other art supplies. Find out more about safe art supplies at www.SafeStartForKids.org.
Buy from companies that specialize in safer toys.
Safer toys abound at stores such as Planet Happy Toys, www.planethappytoys.com.
Don’t buy stuff.
Instead of worrying about choosing a toy that your child may outgrow, loose or break in the next month, buy event or museum tickets. This is also a great way to avoid wasteful and toxic packaging. Below are some ideas for fun activities:
• Seattle Children’s Museum www.thechildrensmuseum.org
• Seattle Children’s Theatre www.sct.org
• Seattle Aquarium www.seattleaquarium.org
• Pacific Northwest Ballet Nutcracker www.pnb.org
• Experience Music Project www.empsfm.org
