Tis the season!  And, if you’re like me, you still have some gifts to cross off your list.  I feel like I’ve received 100s of emails over the past weeks, advertising every toy under the sun.  How do you choose?  Well, a lot depends on the age of your child and what his / her likes and dislikes are, your budget and your desire to choose green options.  I’m a huge fan of supporting the more alternative companies, those who not only use real materials to build toys (shocker), but also have a grander purpose to their business (thank you Patagonia for donating ALL revenue to environmental causes on Black Friday).

I know some of the green toys look like someone made it out back in the tool shed…but many of them are not like this, and in fact, are best-selling toys alongside the plastic rattles, chew toys and rubber blocks.  So, trust that these toys are not only better for you, your family and the environment, but also well accepted and good on your pocketbook.

For babies and toddlers, we are huge Hape toy fans.  This brand is generally made of all wood and provide a variety of sensory benefits (colors, shapes to move, toys to pull, tools to pound with, etc.).  A few of our favorites include the Hape Rainbow Wooden Rattle, Hape Early Melodies – Mighty Mini Band Wooden Percussion Instrument, Hape Walk-Along Puppy Wooden Pull Toy, Hape Scoot Around Wooden Ride on Bike and the Hape Early Explorer All-in-One Wooden Easel with Paper Roll (note – if you buy another paper roll from a craft shop, make sure the width works with this easel).  Check out all the Hape toys – there are a lot, they’re green and they are extremely sturdy.

For babies and toddlers, we have all heard how important it is to focus on fine motor skills – toys such as stackers, blocks, magnets and lacing / beads all fit the bill.   After trying endless options at home, friends, libraries, toy stores and almost everywhere toys are available, I would recommend Green Toys My First Stacker, Magformers, which are like Magna Tiles but cheaper (not necessarily green, but an unmatched product for your child to build with), Melissa & Doug Latches Wooden Activity Board and MegaBlocks Big Building Bag (not “green,” but I’ve found they are the best in terms of value and quality).  As with Hape, each of these brands has a wide variety of offerings – I encourage you to investigate and choose a few (or more).

I am also a huge fan of books.  Please see my post on Todd Parr books – I cannot recommend these highly enough for children of the toddler age.  For babies, Workman Publishing Indestructible books are amazing – as the company says, they are “100 percent baby-proof, chew-proof, rip-proof, and drool-proof. Printed on a unique nontoxic, paper like material that holds up to anything babies can throw at it.”  And it’s true – we have a least half a dozen of these books, and my child LOVED chewing on these, especially when she was teething (and you can actually throw them in the dishwasher or washing machine).  Amazing idea, and you can’t beat the price.

Don’t ever forget the old standbys – pots and wooden spoons, cardboard box forts, playing outside, music and singing – the cheapest alternatives, and many times the most enjoyable for both you and your child / children.

Peace and love,

The Almost Green Mom

Amy Smith is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com