Healthy Holiday Gift Guide 2010

Growing Up Green

 

 

Watching a child unwrap a toy can be a joy indeed: wide eyed anticipation, gap-toothed grins and squeals of delight. A thoughtfully chosen toy will provide hours of fun without worry about harmful chemicals. 

 

For the safest toys avoid vinyl, commonly used to make dolls, action figures and bath toys, because it may contain lead and phthalates. Higher levels of lead and other heavy metals have also been found in toy jewelry, cars and trucks with metal parts and painted wooden toys. Current federal regulations, under the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), now restrict overall lead content and have reduced the amount allowed in surface coatings such as paint. 

 

Our friends at healthystuff.org have tested hundreds of toys. Their website is a great first stop for checking out specific toys, browsing toy categories, or finding brands that consistently test free of toxics.

 

We love Rosie Hippo (www.rosiehippo.com) and Planet Happy Toys (www.planethappytoys.com).

 

There is one gift that is both healthy and loved by children everywhere—time doing something fun with you.  Possibilities abound:  an afternoon in the garage building something, a tea party, floating the Skagit River to watch bald eagles, riding Amtrak to Tacoma to take in the model train show, sporting events, children’s theater and musical performances. 

 

 

Check out some of our favorite picks.

This is only a partial list of safer products available and does not constitute an endorsement.

 

	Mom Seattle “Mompreneurs” - https://www.earthentree.com   Wooden rattles, pull toys and small musical toys made with sustainably harvested Hale wood and vegetable dyes.
	Max's Mud -  http://www.maxsmud.com  Sculpting dough made from rice flour, jojoba oil and vegetable dyes.
	For  the Tea Party with the Dolls-   http://www.dandelionforbaby.com Dandelion for baby has toys made with organic cotton, corn fiber filling and low impact dyes.
	Groovy Girls boy and girl dolls are great fabric dolls that have been tested by healthystuff.org. http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/toys/product.details.php?getrecno=14726 http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/toys/product.details.php?getrecno=14758
	This tea set is made in US with recycled milk jugs and has been tested by healthystuff.org. http://shop.greentoys.com/products/productdetail/ Green+Toys+Tea+Set/part_number=TEA01R/3130.0.1.1. 69410.0.0.0.0?pp=20&
	For the Vroom Vroom Set - http://greentoys.com/recycling.htm Check out these trucks made in US with recycled milk jugs and tested by healthystuff.org.
	These vehicles have also been tested by healthystuff.org: Chicco Turbo Touch car http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/toys/product.details.php?getrecno=14936
	Tonka Bulldozer http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/toys/product.details.php?getrecno=14759
	Build It Up Plan toys makes wooden blocks from sustainably harvested trees, non-formaldehyde glue, and water based dyes. http://www.plantoysusa.com/catalog/products_detail.php?id=1549
	Lego Bionicle and Lego Star Wars have been tested by healthystuff.org. http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/toys/product.details.php?getrecno=14761
	http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/toys/product.details.php?getrecno=14723
	Stuffed & Snuggly - Maggie’s Organics animals are made with organic cotton sock remnants and polyester fill.  http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/toys/product.details.php?getrecno=12563
	Cute & Comfy - Fair Indigo makes adorable organic cotton toys and kid clothes. http://www.fairindigo.com/index.php/fair_trade/Baby-and-Kids_Joobles
	For the Tweens and Teens - Give an experience: try a gift certificate for a wolf tracking expedition (http://wildernessawareness.org/), an afternoon of bouldering and rock climbing (http://www.stonegardens.com/), or tickets to an all-ages show (http://www.theveraproject.org).
	Or pamper your tween/teen with healthy personal care products. http://www.teensturninggreen.org/products/teens-turning-green-collection.html
	http://www.goodforyougirls.com/

 

 

Learn More:

www.healthytoys.org a searchable database of XRF tested toys.

www.uspirg.org 25th annual Trouble in Toyland report.