Green Toys
At first, one may not realize that certain toys are more environmentally-friendly than others, but upon further consideration, it is easy to tell that it is possible to make green choices for just about any purchase, including toys! When shopping for toys, keep your eyes out for the following:
Wood – It might seem contradictory to encourage the purchase of wooden toys for the sake of the environment. However, wooden toys are not toxic to the environment like their plastic counterparts. Besides, wooden toys are always classy and can be passed on through generations.
Long-lasting – If you have to go for plastic, think about the endurance of the toy. Will it be headed for the landfill in a year, or will it be able to stand the test of hundreds of uses and then some more?
No batteries – Aside from avoiding the obnoxious noises and flashing lights that are concomitant with battery-powered toys, there’s another reason to stay away from them. Used batteries are waste products. If your child absolutely needs the electric power, make sure to use rechargeable batteries.
- PVC-free – PVC is commonly found in plastic toys like rubber duckies because it makes them more flexible, but PVC also makes the toys more dangerous. It has been connected, in some cases, with cancer and hormonal disruptions. So, in addition to avoiding a product that is toxic to the environment, you might be protecting your child from potentially-harmful elements.
- Non-toxic art supplies – One might start to see the pattern here, and it makes an awful lot of sense, that products that are toxic for children are also toxic for the environment. Feel free to add “to be green” to the list of reasons why spending the extra few cents for non-toxic paint or glue is worth it.
On top of all that, there are even more options that can keep you entirely out of a store. Yard sales often have toys that were never even used, and neighbors often have old toys that they would love to see leave their homes. Or, entirely skip the toy-searching step and use the great outdoors as your playground!
