We were so excited to read about the Safe Toy bill passing in Senate last week – the new bill bans 6 phthalates, eliminates lead in toys for kids under 12, requires unbiased pre-market testing, and doubles the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s budget by 2014, among other things. Despite industry lobbyists’ protests, the House voted 423 to 1 and the Senate voted 89 to 3 – a definite step towards corporate accountability that will hopefully become more widespread in other industries.

But until all of those safer toys hit stores’ shelves, companies like Plan Toys, which we’ve written about in the past, provide educational, fun playthings free of preservatives, additives, or harmful paints. Plan Toys’ Dancing Alligator is a great option for toddlers – the pull toy helps develop gross motor skills, and the bright colors stimulate active minds. Click here to read more

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You can only hear “are we there yet?” and “can we go home now?” so many
times before kids start to take a little of the relaxation out of your
vacation. As exciting as a summer trip can be for them, there are bound to
be moments of boredom — whether on the way there or at your destination.

Bringing a new toy along on your summer plans can help quiet cries of
discontent. We like the award-winning Plan Toys Pirate Ship, whose happy
sailors and detailed design should satisfy a range of ages. Also, though
we love the creativity of musical toys (like the Musical Band), the
Pirate Ship works well for close quarters play. Click here to read more

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Not much feels better than realizing others appreciate what you do - which is why we were so psyched that CoolMomPicks gave us a shout out the other day. Thanks, CMP!

Cool Mom Picks is one of the coolest mommy-geared sites we’ve seen - it’s no forum for helicopter parents. The moms behind the site, Liz and Kristen, have struck the perfect chord with women who see their role as mother as part of who they are rather than their entire selves. CMP’s writers shows moms that their own individuality and motherhood are perfectly compatible concepts, sharing always-cool product and service picks selected from non-mainstream, independent, often eco-friendly designers and companies.

From face cream for moms to organic cotton crib bedding for kids to safer anti-bacterial soap for the whole family, Cool Mom Picks always hits the nail right on the head. And they do it all without trying to convince real mothers they can’t live without that ridiculously overpriced stroller that Kate Hudson has, because none of their picks are paid for by advertisers. Click here to read more

Cool Mom Picks Shows Greenzer Some Love' title='Save to del.icio.us' onclick='target="_blank";' rel='nofollow'> Cool Mom Picks Shows Greenzer Some Love' title='Digg It!' onclick='target="_blank";' rel='nofollow'> Cool Mom Picks Shows Greenzer Some Love' title='Save to MySpace' onclick='target="_blank";' rel='nofollow'> Cool Mom Picks Shows Greenzer Some Love' title='Reddit' onclick='target="_blank";' rel='nofollow'> Cool Mom Picks Shows Greenzer Some Love' title='Sphere It' onclick='target="_blank";' rel='nofollow'> Cool Mom Picks Shows Greenzer Some Love' title='Stumble It!' onclick='target="_blank";' rel='nofollow'>

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Daily Greenz #133

Reminiscent of our childhoods, building blocks are the quintessential child’s toy, providing a safe and creative way for small children to develop mental agility and a sense of fun.  To that end, the Uncle Goose Alphabet Blocks have revamped the classic look of these toys with something a little chicer and greener.  Their blocks are crafted from domestic Basswood, meticulously embossed with numbers, letters, and animals for learning, and then lightly painted with non-toxic inks that meet strict U.S. and European safety guidelines.  Whether your child decides to stack them or chomp on them, there are no hidden dangers lurking in these eco-friendly toys.  Find out why Uncle Goose blocks have won numerous accolades, such as the Parent Choice Awards and Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Toys” award by buying a set for your little tyke.  Find a local retailer near you at www.lindenwoodinc.com.

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Daily Greenz #65

With all the buzz about toxic toys in the news, Santa’s helpers all around the
country are scrounging for safe gifts for kids this holiday. Fortunately, this
year there are a variety of toys on the market that are both safe for your
child and the environment. When shopping for toys, avoid toys that are made
from plastic, especially the dioxin–producing  PVC, which releases toxins
into the environment throughout it’s lifecycle.  Toys made from PVC’s may
also contain phthalates which studies link to hormone disruption and even
cancer. Also, try to buy toys that use water based and low–VOC or no–VOC
(volatile organic compounds) paints. Batteries are extremely toxic as they
break down in landfills, so try to find toys that don’t require batteries. To find
these wonderful green toys, shop local independent retailers who are more
likely to put more care into the products they carry. Look for toys made from
FSC–certified wood that will last for generations.

Here are some of my favorite toy picks for this holiday season:

1) Wooden Blocks Extra Large Starter Set from Haba. $89.00

What could be more timeless than a good set of wooden blocks? This set has 102
pieces of untreated, natural beech wood of varying shapes and sizes. They come
in a reusable fabric bag, practical for storing and transporting.Visit hazelnutkids.com to purchase.

2) Vegetable Garden from Plan Toys $14.95
This little gardening set comes with a watering can, wheelbarrow, spade, and 2
vegetable beds with removable lettuce, carrots, radishes, and turnips. It is
made from preservative-free rubberwood and non-toxic water-based paint. Check out stores.planethappytoys.com to find out more.

3) Crazy Crayons
Crazy Crayons are made from non-toxic recycled crayon stubs! Each crayon is
unique and come in 100’s of shapes and themes, and custom designs are even
available upon request. Visit crazycrayons.com for more info.

4) Madagascar - Starter Set from Xeko $19.95

Xeto is "an outrageously fun, new animal trading card game that’s driving
kids wild." It won the 2006 Toy of the Year Award from Creative Child
Magazine and the 2006 Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center. The
game is made from recycled paper and soy–based inks. As an added bonus, 4% of net
game sales are donated to Conservation International. Go to stores.planethappytoys.com to order.

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Daily Greenz #59   

With Natural Collection, you can avoid the requisite exchanging of bad gifts this year. The website offers a wide array of eco-friendly products from green gadgets to fairly traded jewelry and organic chocolates. Not only will you look good giving gifts that help the environment, but you can do it with a clear conscience, too! Check out gifts at naturalcollection.com.

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Daily Greenz #57

We’ve mentioned toys that are good for the environment, made of toxin-free materials and all that good stuff. Uncommon Goods does you one better by creating toys that are made from all recycled materials, so that they actually reduce waste in the world. Their collection of toys is fun, educational, and engaging, like the zippy Kimochi Emotion Dolls. Each doll is equipped with a unique personality and a full-ranging set of emotions. Kids can express what they’re feeling by popping an "emotion’ mouthpiece into their doll’s mouth, helping parents to better understand their kids. Buy one of these lovable rascals for $55 at uncommongoods.com.

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Daily Greenz #55

So you want to buy that little person in your life a little special something for the holidays, but the thought of shopping among the aisles of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), battery-devouring toys is downright dismaying. Don’t fret– you can still practice green during the holiday of gift-giving. Besides searching for toys that are PVC- and VOC- free (volatile organic compounds that are found in paint), keep in mind that wood is good. Toys made from FSC-certified wood are eco- and kid-friendly. Having been forested conscientiously, these toys are free from chemicals and are likely to last for years to come. Also, be sure to steer clear of toys that don’t have fair trade certification. If the factory workers didn’t have safe environments, the products probably won’t be safe for the environment. You can avoid risks like these and rest easy that your unique purchases didn’t have to globe-trot to reach your front step. Fat Brain Toys offers a wide range of green options for every age group, including a great set of building blocks for $62.70. Nab a set for the future architect in your family at fatbraintoys.com.

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