Top 8 Eco-Friendly Toys for Birthdays

Our children deserve the best, especially on their birthday! Organic baby and children’s toys made with environmentally friendly, non-toxic materials are safe and durable for children to play with and lessen our wasteful impact on the environment. As you prepare for your child’s birthday, shopping for festive birthday party supplies and sending our party invitations, go green with your gift giving.

Whether you’re shopping for your grandson or niece, check out the following eco-friendly toys online:

Cookware and Dining Set (GreenToys.com, $44.99)

Your little one will love to play make-believe kitchen with these green plates, bowls and cups. As young chefs of the house, kids can pretend to cook and serve imaginary food just like mom and dad. Green Toys Inc. toys are authentic, safe, crafted with environmentally friendly materials and help reduce CO2 emissions.

Gardenopoly Board Game (EcoToyTown.com, $24.95)

Gardenopoloy is “an organic property trading game” that’s also a learning tool about the environment and planting. Players try to acquire greenhouses by buying, collecting and trading garden items. Players will have to watch out for dandelion outbreaks and aphid infestations though!

Guidecraft Shape and Color Sorter (ToysRUs.com, $24.99)

Guidecraft’s Shape and Color Sorter will help with children’s motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Winner of the Gold Seal and Snap Seal Award and Oppenhein Platinum Best Toy Award 2011, you can bet this colorful, eco-friendly toy will be a birthday hit! Find it at Toys ‘R’ Us.

Beka Wooden Blocks Deluxe Set (GrowingTreeToys.com, $135.95)

Your special birthday gal or boy will love to break into Beka Woooden Blocks and construct huge towers and cool structures with a variety of durable blocks. The collection of blocks are crafted with natural northern hard maple, which means the wood is carefully “harvested tree by tree,” as described by Beka’s website. Beka toys are not only environmentally safe, but help inspire creativity and improve motor and critical thinking skills.

Baby Lauren and Theodore (HealingTreeArts.com, $9.95)

Writer and humanitarian Deborah Sherrell’s children’s book “Baby Lauren and Theodore” is a heartwarming story that teaches children about “friendship, love, loss, and renewed hope.” “Baby Lauren and Theodore” is published by Healing Tree Arts and made of recycled, alternative paper materials.

Wool-Stuffed Animals (HazelnutKids.com, $28 $78)

Babies and children will love snuggling up with a Cate Levi wool stuffed animal because they’re cute and friendly. The handmade Wool Pillow Pals elephant is made of reclaimed wool and consists of new, dye-free wool stuffing from a Canadian sheep farm. Does your little babe like to monkey around? Bright and striped, the wool-stuffed monkey will be your kid’s stylish, new best friend.

Organic Hoot! Rattles Organic Animal Stick Rattles (Oompa.com, $26.53)

Attending a birthday party for a newborn? Yellow Label Kids’ organic hoot! and animal stick rattles are hand-knitted, easy to hold and playful. Handcrafted with organic bamboo yarn, Hoot! rattles are soft and comforting. Yellow Label Kids is committed to the Fair Trade Federation, and artisans are paid in fair living wages.

First Banjo (FlyingPeas.com, $25)

Plan Toys’ bright red First Banjo is non-toxic and made of plantation rubber wood that’s free of chemicals. The wood is also kiln-dried, which helps prevent pests and bacteria. Any kid will loves to make music by strumming along these nylon strings; playing the banjo helps with the development of hand-eye coordination and discovery of new sounds.

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Babyminding: The Natural, Organic Child Care Resource for Health-minded ParentsCategory: Living Green