Category Archives: Toys, Books and Gifts

Just in time for the holiday season, here is my top 25 list of eco-friendly toys and goodies for kids. The items listed here range in price from $5 to $3,000 with most in the $15-$25 range. Almost all items are gender neutral with toys for infants up to age 10. From sliding boards of corrugated cardboard to dolls that give birth, today’s green gifts go way beyond simple handmade crafts. Check out the products below and you’ll see that nowadays, giving green can be pretty darn cool! ECO-FRIENDLY HEIRLOOM STUFFED ANIMALS from Rope Swing Studio,* $5-$35. Creator Elizabeth Swing scours thrift shops for gently used fabrics that she repurposes into uniquely designed stuffed animals. 90% of her animals are made from recycled materials and she’s aiming for 100%. Materials range from muslin to yarn to cotton to recycled sweaters! Each adorable animal has its own name and story; Elizabeth will … Continue reading →

Combining my love of writing with my environmental passions, I’ve been working on some ideas for green-themed children’s fiction. While nonfiction books on this subject tend to hog the spotlight, there are fiction stories to be found that incorporate eco-issues from recycling and global warming to pollution and energy conservation. Here’s a random selection of some books I came across as the result of my research, listed alphabetically by title. I’m adding many to mine and Sofie’s “must-read” list. The Adventures of an Aluminum Can: A Story About Recycling by Alison Inches (2009) – Told in diary format from the point of view of an aluminum can, this picture book shows the journey of the can from bauxite rock to manufacturing plant to garbage can to new life as a baseball bat. The author has two other green-themed picture books, including The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle. Ages 4-8. The … Continue reading →

I have a confession. Yesterday, I bought my daughter a Barbie. Once upon a time, I swore there’d be no Barbies in our house so that Sofie would be free from cultural feminine stereotypes and negative messages about her body. But lately, with Barbie Fever running rampant through her peers, I’ve been rethinking my position. Perhaps I’m melting under pressure of her soulful, pleading face as she suggests to me that maybe one day, when she’s big enough, she can have her own Barbie. Or perhaps it’s due to a vision of my anorexic, fake-blond adult daughter one day informing her therapist that all her body image issues stem from having never been allowed to own the coveted doll. There is some truth to that. I know that the forbidden object only increases in its desirability and, therefore, its effect. And similar to the toy gun issue … even if … Continue reading →

My husband and I have decided it’s time to get our daughter a swing set. Swinging is her favorite thing to do. If Sofie were in charge, we’d never leave the playground. At school, she spends much of her day amusing herself on the wooden play structures, inside and out. Just imagine the free time having a structure in our yard might provide us! I grew up with one of those metal swing sets that are abundant on craigslist these days. However they are merely that — swings and a slide. No climbing structure for agility. No clubhouse for imaginative play. Mike and I provide Sofie with much mental and emotional stimulation. Our chosen swing set needs to provide a good physical outlet to maintain her interest outdoors. So the next decision then is wood or plastic? My instinct was to assume wood was the greener choice, however, that’s not … Continue reading →