The gift giving season is here and this year the buzz is all about going green. For all of the toddlers and children on your Christmas list, give conscientiously, save money and get creative with a green gift that inspires fun memories.
Infants, toddlers and pre-school aged children are sabotaged by synthetic fabrics, plastic products and electronics. From chemical -aden plastics that are harmful to young lungs and the environment to bright blinking gadgets that will certainly be linked to Attention Deficit Disorder one day, children’s toys have got seriously out of hand. Although it may be true that car DVD players have a place in society it is time to put more thought into gifts because as the saying goes it is the thought that counts.
Activity Gifts are Quality GiftsLook for activity gifts that allow you to spend quality time with your smallest friends and family members. Books are great for any gift recipient, and a treasured classic like Dr. Suess’s The Lorax has a message that will transcend childhood. Going green does not have to mean purchasing the most expensive “organic” product on the market. But it should reflect that you consciously picked out a gift that sends a message of sustainability while presenting several years, possibly several generations, of positive and productive use.
Wooden Toys Last A Lifetime
Infants benefit from books that have big bold pictures in contrasting colors. Babies also love to see pictures of people, so how about giving them a photo album filled with pictures of loved ones (be sure that the album is baby-proof and the photos do not come out easily). And every toddler loves stacking toys and puzzles. These gifts are great because there are several reputable makers of wooden toys.
Melissa and Doug is one reputable brand that offers a great variety of wooden toys, puzzles and staples such as train sets. These gifts represent toys that will last for more than one generation. They can take abuse and still provide learning fun. Bonus for the fact that most of the gifts sold at Melissa and Doug are under $25. Melissa and Doug is a popular brand that can be found at almost every local toy store. Therefore you can avoid shipping, a green advantage in more ways than one.
Eco Friendly Toys for the Older SetFor the older children on your Christmas list, look for gifts that incorporate learning and quality time. There are plenty of websites dedicated to eco-friendly toys that offer some sort of stimulation. www.nubiusorganics.com is especially beneficial to green newbies.
One gift that is especially interesting is the Green Toys Recycled Indoor Garden Kit. This kit contains pea-pod-shaped planting trays, flower pots, trowel, soil and seeds. All of the plastics used in this kit are made from recycled milk and detergent containers and at $29.75 it is a good investment. This gift is great for toddlers and pre-school children who can learn about plants while spending quality time with the gift giver.
Craft gifts are another excellent idea for kids. The Recycled Craft Box by Laura Martin teaches kids how to make bottle cap bugs, cardboard castles and many more neat projects. The book is less than $10 and will provide kids with hours of craft fun and sends out the message that trash is more than trash.
No matter what gift you choice this year for the wee ones, remember that plastic toys with bright lights lose their appeal fast and character-endorsed goodies will be outdated with the next big marketing campaign of the Disney Channel.
Think long-term and find gifts that will endure the test of time. Plastic products are not environmentally friendly, nor are they healthy. This holiday season, don’t be seduced by the pretty packaging and blinking lights. Its time to teach our children to get real, because Elmo and Dora will not last forever, but a wooden train set might.
