As I discussed here , Toy Fair, the annual event where manufacturers introduce new toys for the year, just wrapped up in New York City . What happens in New York for a few days in February influences the types of decisions that parents will be making when purchasing toys later in the year.
One of the big themes for this year was environmentally friendly and eco toys. A number of manufacturer have jumped on the bandwagon with eco offerings which…may end up being confusing for parents.
I s a toy environmentally friendly just because it comes in recycled packaging – even if it’s obviously over packaged?
Is a battery operated toy eco if it’s fair trade – even though batteries are notoriously bad for the environment?
Just because it’s made from recycled materials is it really good for my child – even if it has a violent/sexist/unhealthy theme?
Watch out for absurdity this year as manufacturers do their best to jump on the eco bandwagon. It’s good that everyone is getting a bit more aware of the environment and making incremental changes for its benefit but, just because it’s eco doesn’t mean you should buy it for your child.
Here’s a list of a few of the eco friendly toys shown at Toy Fair. Should you buy them? What do you think?
1. See Toys from Zen Design Group - a line of motorized toys that each uses a hand crank for power
2. The Sprig Adventure Series - features interchangeable, LED-lit figurine characters and vehicles that engage preschoolers children with audio adventures
3. Enviro-Blox from Cadaco - a biodegradable building line made from corn starch
4. ImagiPlay toddler and preschool wooden toys - made of sustainable rubberwood and hand painted
5. Eco-Angels infant discovery toys from Tomy - created from a new type of corn-based plastic.
6. Alex's Little Hands games - uses soy inks, recycled paperboard and water-based varnishes.
7. My Bag & Me! Book From Penton - comes with a resuable Tyvek shopping bag for kids to use when going to the grocery store.
8. Planet Toys - plush toys made from recycled bottles
9. Monopoly Planet Earth edition - made from recycled material that lets players buy, sell and trade natural resources.
10. Barbie girls accessories - made from re-used fabric
11. Corgi environmentally friendly toy cars - powered by fuel cell, which combine hydrogen with oxygen from water.
12. Xeko trading card game - teaches kids about the earth and it's inhabitants. The Xeko trading card game has themes like Mission Costa Rica, Indonesia and Madagascar and features recycled packaging.
13. ImagiPlay wooden toys - made from renewable, plantation grown, chemically-free rubberwood.
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As I discussed here , Toy Fair, the annual event where manufacturers introduce new toys for the year, just wrapped up in New York City . What happens in New York for a few days in February influences the types of decisions that parents will be making when purchasing toys later in the year.
One of the big themes for this year was environmentally friendly and eco toys. A number of manufacturer have jumped on the bandwagon with eco offerings which…may end up being confusing for parents.
I s a toy environmentally friendly just because it comes in recycled packaging – even if it’s obviously over packaged?
Is a battery operated toy eco if it’s fair trade – even though batteries are notoriously bad for the environment?
Just because it’s made from recycled materials is it really good for my child – even if it has a violent/sexist/unhealthy theme?
Watch out for absurdity this year as manufacturers do their best to jump on the eco bandwagon. It’s good that everyone is getting a bit more aware of the environment and making incremental changes for its benefit but, just because it’s eco doesn’t mean you should buy it for your child.
Here’s a list of a few of the eco friendly toys shown at Toy Fair. Should you buy them? What do you think?
More Thursday ThirteenLike This post? Want To Share it?
Submit it to one of the newer social bookmarking sites geared for women and/or the green lifestyle.
Even if you don't submit this post...check them out for posts on topics that interest not-quite-crunchy parents! Click on the icons below.
Or share this post on traditional social book marking sites.