Can the kids of the future be happy with low-toxic toys in plain paper packaging? Visiting any toy superstore you sure wouldn't believe it, as excessive packaging and bad plastics are the clear and present norm. But if kids could grasp the enormity of the consequences of our plastic addiction (and see for themselves the
Great Pacific Garbage Patch) perhaps their ardor for
Lego plastic bricks and Wii sets would be slightly dimmed. OK, maybe not.
Swedish designers at
Playsam are hoping that parents (adults are the biggest market for their sleek and irresistible wooden cars) will be concerned enough by the continuing reports of lead paint and other toxics in hastily built toys from China to look into
alternatives such as their newly repackaged (100% recycled fiber), unpainted Streamliner wooden cars. Though Playsam can't say that the German beechwood used in the new Streamliner "miljöbil" is sustainably harvested, the car's finished is a non-toxic lacquer, according to designer Carl Zedig.
"We did this because we thought people needed to see that underneath the paint is a very safe toy."
Playsam's Green Line Organic will be available in an extremely plain brown paper box in April at upscale toy stores. Via
::Form designtidskriften (Swedish)...
There is something so anti-fashion about these hand-made baby clothes. They are irresistible because of their refusal to show off a child's clothing as a reflection of the parent's taste and success. They are so retro. Each one is unique. All of the clothes are made in the U.K., crocheted by hand by a group of women.They are made of high quality
natural fibres--cotton, silk or cashmere and dyed with natural colours so they are soft on a baby's skin.
Their German creator started as a clothing designer, worked with luxury brands and then decided to give it up and focus her creativity on her first love--children's wear. She is too young to even remember the hippy days but somehow the look has been reborn in her crotchet needles. The colours are wild---nothing matches anything. Little girls dresses and jumpers, over-alls, sweet little shoes and scarves are a riotous mis-match of fun. With all the patches, stripes, and bright colours the dirt couldn't possibly show. Not for your chic yummy-mummy, but perfect for the next
green fair. ::
Teenytini...
New parents will tell you that the rate at which their youngsters grow is both a blessing and a curse: great that there aren't more
diapers to change (unless they've gone
diaper-free); not so great that they outgrow all their stuff, faster than flipping the desk calendar, it seems. Designers Frank & Stanimira Rafaschieri have a solution for the latter: design that grows with your child.
We've seen this kind of thing before, with the
Stokke Tripp Trapp chair and
Nest high chair; the "Evolutionary Chair and Low Table" adds the extra bonus of a chair to the mix. The pieces stack to create any number of seating needs, including four chair heights and two tables, providing a place for kids aged 6 months to 5 or 6 years to put their feet up. The one-two punch of versatile growth and multi-tasking make this a pretty sleek, ultra-useful design. About the only thing it can't do is change all those diapers. Hit the jump to see all the possible iterations of the slick setup. ::Frank & Stanimira Rafaschieri via
::Yanko Design...
When you send the milk jug in your fridge on to the recycler, it’s often the last you’ll think of it. But Green Toys, Inc. is busy recycling them for profit into their line of classic children’s toys. And as they point out on their website, every pound of milk jugs recycled means an energy savings equivalent to 3,000 AAA batteries, three weeks worth of the electricity needed to power a TV or enough to run your laptop for the entire month ahead.
Not to mention the fact that they’ll also provide a great way to teach your kids about the positive benefits of recycling waste products into something fun.
...
Argington's modern furniture, designed for youngsters, is also designed with the planet in mind; its solid wood is FSC-certified, constructed with non-toxic, low-VOC glues and topped with non-toxic finishes. Each piece from the Wonders collection -- individually named for one of the wonders of the world -- is designed with usability in mind, whether its the
Delphi changing table's ability to "grow up" into a dresser, or the
Sahara crib's convertibility to a toddler bed (both are pictured above; Sahara on top).
Other pieces in the Wonders collection include the
Babylon toddler highchair (pictured after the jump) that adjusts and grows with your youngster and the slick, stackable
Picchu dresser; all are available from their
selected brick 'n mortar and online retailers.
::Argington...
Trees are the longest living and largest living organisms on earth. One acre of forest absorbs six tones of carbon dioxide and puts out four tones of oxygen. Trees are good noise barriers, making a city and neighborhood quieter. This is just the tip of the iceberg of information you and your kids can explore at the new exhibit 'Exploring Trees Inside and Out' at the
Seattle Pacific Science Center.
We are a bit tongue and cheek about the treehugger name, but sponsors of the exhibit Doubletree Hotels and The Arbor Day Foundation are serious about getting kids to appreciate the outside world, even if it means going inside....
The latest toy from the Dutch designers of
Kidsonroof, Totem ($34.95) can be anything your kids want it to be, whether it's an airplane, cathedral, sailing boat, or any fanciful construction their imagination comes up with.
Composed of more than 120 building cards imprinted with myriad signs, symbols, textures, and imagery, Totem comes with a manual that provides directions for four different models you can build: Katar, Yak, Barca, and Buran (see photo below). Plus, it's made from recycled laminated cardboard. In addition, Kidsonroof donates 5 percent of its profits to
UNICEF projects.
::Kidsonroof; distributed in the United States by
::Hip From Holland ...
A little expectant mother bird sent us this website yesterday for
The Safe Sippy by Kid Basix. This is a great new and greener approach for kids that are starting to drink on their own. It keeps contact between water and plastic to a minimum and all their plastics are certified free of Bisphenol A, phthalates and DEHA. The bottle itself is stainless steel and pretty sleek looking.
The straw shaped spout is said to be better for little growing mouths and speech development while also being spill safe. The wee handle has nubs on it for little hands and can be taken off when no longer needed. This feature also extends the life cycle of the product and subsequently helps reduce its overall impacts. This sippy cup looks like it was made with lots of heart and a green conscience. ...
With the Arctic warming and polar bears in peril, it’s no surprise that children’s mega-publisher Scholastic would find the story compelling enough to do a cover. And I don’t blame them a bit. But while they’ve been putting out quality materials for as long as I can remember, the truth is that few would call their operations environmentally sustainable.
And that’s why there’s a movement afoot within Scholastic to change all that…
...
Last week we received a courier package from Tel Aviv based children's clothier,
B nature.
We opened it up, and nuzzled their tiny organic cotton jacket, fit for a toddler, into our face.
At that moment, the unexpected happened: our otherwise quiet maternal clock started ticking. It said (or screamed rather),
MAKE BABIES.
If it was the touch, smell, quality of the jacket - we couldn't say exactly.
We think it was the design of the clothes: the sturdy stitching, and the surprising little bumblebee buzzing around on the back.
...
Although we discussed
numerous times before that materialism doesn’t buy happiness, most of these studies have been looking at adults. This one observed kids. It found raising a kid’s self esteem reduced their longing for the perceived security of possessions.
Lan Nguyen Chaplin and Deborah Roedder John, in a work published in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of Consumer Research, found that “between the ages of eight to 13, a child's level of self-esteem drops, in part because of physical changes. The self-conscious tweens turn to material goods to make themselves feel better. Then, surprisingly, as self-esteem rebounds by the end of high school, roughly between the ages of 16 and 18, the need for consumer goods goes down.”
Chaplin and John suggest, “Our results indicate that simple actions to raise self-esteem among young consumers can have a dramatic impact on expressions of materialism.” In the study this was achieved simply by given the kids paper plates with positives comments on them. In an article reporting on the study it says raising a child's self-esteem can be accomplished by locking in on an interest like drawing, music, sports, fantasy play, debating and then providing positive, supportive messages. But they caution about overdoing the plaudits.
“If a child has a stronger sense of self during these down-swings, the researchers believe, they're less likely to see material goods as the key to happiness and popularity.”
::Journal of Consumer Research (article not free online) via
Sydney Morning Herald...
Within the same week, not one, but two organic baby clothing suppliers entered our radar over here in the Holy Land. The first, who we will feature today, is Tinok Yarok, Hebrew for "green baby." Sophie Ohana, the company's founder dropped us a line about a month ago, calling herself a big fan of TreeHugger.
She now supplies a range of organic cloth nappies, baby clothes, cleaning products and eco-tips for greening your life, in Israel. And here is the story behind Tinok Yarok: Sophie immigrated to Israel in 1997 from England where she grew up all natural and healthy-like on an organic farm and, "in a very ecologically minded household," she writes. The topic of conversation around the dinner table focused on issues, such as CFCs and the environment.
...
With all the
excitement this year over lead in toys and the leaching of BPA from plastic cups and bottles, I thought it might be time to give some alternative, non-leaching sippy cups a review here on TH.
To pull it off properly I handed my requested samples over to a couple of local experts, my nephew Nick and niece Cailey. They gave models by both Sigg and Klean Kanteen the once over along with their mom Jodi without me around, and reported back with a kids-eye view.
...
We previously wrote about how
design can improve life for those affected by diabetes, a life threatening disease that is responsible for almost 3 million yearly deaths worldwide, according to
WHO. And the numbers are growing. WHO estimates that by 2030, 366.000.000 people will be affected by diabetes, compared to 171.000.000 in 2000.
The sci-fi action and adventure video game
Escape from Diab should help prevent kids from becoming obese and developing diabetes and other related illnesses.
In the game, the player fights along Deejab and Delinda against evil King Etes to turn the city of Diab back into the Golden City. The King has gotten rid of any exercise opportunity in the city and instead is feeding the population unlimited amounts of free junk food. The only way to win the fight is by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating right and exercising, in order to defeat King Etes and his guards. ...
And in the end, holidays are about children and the joy of seeing their faces light up with the happiness and excitement of the occasion. When looking for gifts, it's hard to succeed with all the
commercialism and advertisements for hideous toys and the raised expectations that go with them. That's why buying for the small ones is so rewarding...
Little babies, and their mothers, will love these tee-shirts, made from stretchy organic cotton, with a
hedgehog and eco tag-line (teach them young).
For little boys (our favourite), there is something about trucks...so these
book ends in the shape of backhoes are sure to please, plus they are handmade from wood from managed forests. Or a bright green spotted dinosaur
scooter made from sustainable forest wood should delight.
For the girls, what about a sweet red
hat with white snowflakes and matching mittens, made of fairly traded alpaca, and soft as can be. Or a
rucksack with a big butterfly or lion on the back.
For all the young ones: a Muji
globe, made out of blackboard to write messages or create a new world. ::
Guardian...
Awww…we got all mushy when we saw this tiny tee ($22) broadcasting one big environmental message. The graphic is a polar bear on a melting block of ice, and the tag line says "start global cooling." Five other graphics--including a sea turtle with the message "live gently,"--are available from Bozeman, Montana-based
Darwin Design Clothing Company. Tees for kids and adults can be purchased too, and 10 percent of the proceeds helps support non-profits fighting global warming, such as
the Earth Island Institute.
The firm was founded by Otto Pohl and his wife Anne Sherwood, both journalists, to spread a positive message about the environment. "There's so much negativity out there that we wanted to send out a more can-do message," says Pohl....
It seems there's a great little book out for the holidays titled "When Santa Turned Green" by Victoria Perla that tackles global warming for kids in a fun way. Santa, beset by a leak in the roof of his North Pole factory steps outside to give it a look and comes to the realization that it's connected to a far bigger problem, global warming.
Now I haven't had a chance to read it through yet myself, but there's not a lot of time left before the holiday and the
3 reader reviews on F.A.O. Schwarz website raved about it. Apparently, Santa is determined to turn things around and sets about doing just that by helping kids see everyday actions they can take to make a difference.
I bet it could make a wonderful gift for kids from 5-11yrs, and it's priced at $15.95.
See also::
The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming ,
Rockefeller Center's Christmas Tree Lights Up Holiday Season with LEDs!
via::
FAO Schwarz...
Infants put everything in their mouth so mommies and daddies want to
make sure that the toys that go in are well made in a good, safe and trustworthy factory. Sounds like fair trade and certified and environmentally friendly are the key words to look for... This
teddy bear is made of recycled materials and you can send in your own fabric to have it made for your child from a favourite dress or curtains. They will even add a personalised message or name on the foot. So sweet.
The vegetable
rattle is hand-knit out of cotton in the shape of a carrot, corn, or a radish. It just might get the little one to love veggies at an early age. The same Bangladeshi women also make a crocheted
cat doll that is striped and whiskered. Wood toys have to be made from sustainable wood and with non-toxic paint and varnish and secure fastenings. A jolly wooden
bear, hanging over the crib, with a striped tee-shirt and red ball hands, will cheer up tired children and parents. ::
The Guardian...
As Bobbie Steinhauer, a member of the schools Green Team puts it, “we’ve only just begun with our recycling efforts,” and the school kicked it off with a project called "Geneseo Goes Green" in September.
That meant each grade created a banner that proudly heralded the benefits of recycling for everyone else to see, and displaying them in the auditorium during the kick-off celebration. Which, to be honest, is really a great way to get elementary kids excited about recycling and aware of the program at the same time…
...
Ring the bells! Pop the (organic) champagne! TreeHugger’s 2007 Gift Guide is here!
We've made this guide the most comprehensive yet, with 180+ gift ideas in three shades of green, making it a perfect reference while shopping for everyone on your gift list. In addition, we'll be adding organizations to support and useful tips for making your holidays more efficient.
Go to Part II here and
Part III here.
For more great ideas, don’t forget to visit our past guides from 2006 and 2005.
...
We'll be working on better category archives soon. In the meantime, take a look at the
if you really want to dig around, or use the search box at the top of the page.
It's always inspiring to see younger adults and children who are passionate about making a difference by exploring and caring for the environment, and even more so to read a book that is written especially for them. Land of Curiosities, the first book out of the 
Baby clothes have branched out from pink for girls and blue for boys--these baby grows ( called onezees) come in 24 vivid and glorious colours. This is a nice success story of a small Canadian company, Zee Spot, started up by two friends who had young children and found a niche in the market. Discovering that there was very little in the way of organic cotton one-piece baby grows for their daughters, they decided to jump in and try to do something fun, well-designed and environmental plus give something back to the community. Social 
We're not big fans of forcing people to do things. It usually doesn't work very well, has unintended consequences, and can create backlash. Better to inform and convince. But it's generally accepted that kids will have homework assignments, so why not something that teaches them about reducing energy costs, which are high in Japan, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions?
