Every year I update my Ultimate Eco-Friendly Play Kitchen Guide for the holidays. This year readers have noted that they aren’t interested in seeing any kitchens containing ply-wood, even if the outer wood is solid. That said, the offerings are more limited this year. This is for a few reasons:

• Companies lie (or exaggerate) and say their kitchen is made of “real wood” but when I dig a little deeper, I find out that their definition of real wood is plywood. It’s not a total lie I suppose, but since readers don’t want that, I deleted every conventional-plywood containing kitchen from the list.

• Secondly, many companies I’ve contacted haven’t gotten back to me. I’m guessing they don’t make real wood kitchens or they just have lousy customer service. Either way, if I’m not assured by the company that a kitchen is made of real wood or at least eco-ply, I deleted it from the list.

• Overall, what I’ve found is that VERY few companies make actual, full on wood play kitchens.

Then I thought, hey, maybe I should look on Etsy. I’m fairly Etsy obsessed anyhow, and I was hoping they might have some crafters selling real wood kitchens. Here’s what I found.

• Kulu Wooden Toys play kitchen

   

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• Heartwood Natural Toys play kitchen

   

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• Rewood Toys Mini Wooden Play Kitchen Set

   

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• Hammer & Nails play kitchen

   

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• Sweetie Pies and Monkeys folding fabric kitchen

   

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• Mama Made Them table top play kitchen

   

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Kulu Wooden Toys – My favorite kitchen was the surreal Kulu toy kitchen made with solid Oak with Cherry and Maple highlights and a beeswax finish. Not only is this imaginative kitchen beautifully, and uniquely designed, but it’s affordable and packed with awesome features, such as folding leaf and pull out drawer. I LOVE this kitchen so much – great curvy lines. Also see their cute compact play kitchen.

Heartwood Natural Toys – This adorable little chef’s dream kitchen is heirloom-quality, made from solid pine with paduak burners. The faucet shown is made from beautiful black walnut; also available in poplar. All kitchens are available with the option of a blue enamel or stainless sink. According to the seller, “All of my items are entirely non-toxic, including the glue and finish. I counter sink every screw and plug all screw holes with pine buttons or oak plugs. All corners are rounded over and sanded. All knobs and faucet turn & move for realistic play and are attached with bolts and lock nuts so they will not come loose. NO paint, NO MDF, NO plastic, NO plywood.”

Rewood Toys – I think their Mini Wooden Play Kitchen Set is 100% adorable. Plus, for once it’s a kitchen made for younger tots. Perfect for little babies and or small spaces. All knobs and faucet are moveable and function like a real stove and sink. Made with Canadian woods (mostly pine, cherry and maple). The bowl is made of stainless steel. Bonus – it comes fully assembled and ready to use.

Hammer & Nails – sadly, this shop isn’t taking any more holiday orders, but you could get this kitchen set in the new year. Handmade from solid, local Oregon pine with rounded, child-safe corners. All items are sanded and finished with a non toxic, all natural beeswax wood finish.

Sweetie Pies and Monkeys – this unique fabric kitchen isn’t wood, but it comes in pattern form, so you can make it out of sustainable organic cotton if you like, or reuse fabric. It’s a cute folding fabric kitchen that won’t take up all your space. The completed kitchen measures approximately 50 inches tall and 25 inches wide when all set up, but can be collapsed down and stored because it folds to approximately 25 x 14 x 2 1/2 inches. Perfect for sliding under the bed or placed in a box with all the play kitchen pots and pans and food.

Mama Made Them – the Little Kitchen is simply adorable and handmade with solid real wood and beeswax finish. It also comes with features galore for such a little thing. Such as rare oven, not usually found in a table top kitchen, four burners, made from solid red oak, a stainless steel, removable sink bowl and a handle for easy portability.

I try to update both my Ultimate Green Dollhouse Guide and my Ultimate Eco-Friendly Play Kitchen Guide annually. This year though, I’m trying to cover all the safety issues parents are concerned about – read how to choose a safe and eco-friendly play kitchen set or dollhouse for more info.

One of the common materials used in play kitchens and dollhouses is plywood, or particleboard or MDF (names vary).

What’s the deal with plywood?:

Pressed wood products, such as hardwood plywood wall paneling, particleboard and fiberboard are used to make all sorts of product, such as home furnishings and toys like play kitchens and dollhouses. The problem with plywood is that it’s almost never ethically sourced and it contains formaldehyde. In plywood formaldehyde is present because it’s a main component of glues and adhesives used to hold these “wood” products together. According to the EPA, the worst sort of plywood is medium density fiberboard (MDF), because it contains a higher resin-to-wood ratio than any other pressed wood product. Most recognize MDF as being the highest formaldehyde-emitting pressed wood product.

Formaldehyde is linked to numerous health problems, such as watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and breathing difficulty. Research also shows that formaldehyde absolutely causes cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans. In higher concentrations and via long-term exposure, formaldehyde is thought to be deadly according to some research.

Concentrations of formaldehyde are typically found to be several times greater indoors than outdoors because when you gather formaldehyde-emitting materials in a confined space they offgas in said space, allowing formaldehyde levels to become more concentrated.

Is plywood getting safer?:

On July 7, 2010, President Obama signed into law Senate Bill 1660, which established the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act (the “Act”). This Act amends the federal Toxic Substance Control Act and requires the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) to develop a new federal regulation by January 1, 2013, to implement provisions of the Act. So maybe plywood is getting safer. We’ll have to wait and see.

Is there any safer plywood now?:

According to the California Air Resources Board, there are safer and less safe plywood choices. They recommend that if you buy pressed wood products, you purchase the low-emitting products possible.

• Pressed wood products made with phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin or methylene diisocyanate (MDI) resin, emit much less formaldehyde than UF products.
• Choose UF pressed wood products that are sealed with non-toxic finishes that reduce formaldehyde emissions, such as eco-friendly paints or other water-resistant coating.
• If you purchase UF pressed wood products, look for the Composite Panel Association (CPA) or Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association (HPVA) stamps. These products meet certain safer formaldehyde emission standards.

Tricky plywood:

Other safer plywood tips:

Each year, around the winter holiday season, I try to update both my Ultimate Green Dollhouse Guide and my Ultimate Eco-Friendly Play Kitchen Guide.

Also each year I get a ton of questions regarding which dollhouses and play kitchens are actually 100% plywood-free, lead-free and overall non-toxic. That said, this year I’m going to attempt to update these gift guides so that they only include safe products, made without plywood or with greener formaldehyde-free MDF or other eco-materials.

One safe play kitchen option

Before I get started, I figured I’d offer some information on what the problems are with some of the most commonly used materials in play kitchens and dollhouses.

Materials to be aware of in play kitchens and dollhouses:

*NOTE – I’ll be adding links below asap – you may want to bookmark this post so you can come back to it later as I add more material info.

• Plywood and other fake wood products
• Lead
• Paint
• Plastic
• Ethically sourced wood

What I’ll be looking for this year – safe dollhouse and play kitchen criteria:

Real wood: I suggest you look for real wood play kitchens and dollhouses over plastic or composite woods.

The chain of best woods: In my opinion, eco-sourced wood is best, but I also think that a real wood play kitchen or dollhouse made locally (even if the wood is not from a sustainable source) is still seriously better than a plastic or composite wood dollhouse or kitchen set.

Finishes: This year I’ll be looking for play kitchens and dollhouses that are made with child-safe less-toxic, low-voc finishes.

Lead: I’ll be choosing only lead-free or low-lead products that meet the newer lower CPSIA lead levels.

My little disclaimer – Obviously I’m not perfect. I research a lot, but sometimes companies give me the run-around. Plus, if you buy a dollhouse or play kitchen for your child, it’s your responsibility to also research the product to make sure it’s safe and fits your own green criteria.

Camden Rose is a collective of designers, artists, teachers, musicians, craftspeople and parents who design and sell awesome products for children. From non-toxic rattles to wooden musical instruments to old-fashioned games and blocks, Camden Rose has almost everything you need to outfit a super playroom, including some 100% amazing play kitchen sets.

Camden Rose kitchen play sets cost more than other play kitchens, but it’s because these are high-quality, creatively designed, non-toxic toys that will last for generations. Plus, this company has many green and ethical practices in place.

Currently, Camden Rose sells three different play kitchen products:

Camden’s Play Kitchen – Flat Pack Kitchen: This wonderful eco-friendly play kitchen is crafted from solid ash wood, collected from the thousands of trees infected with the Emerald Ash Borer. Instead of burning or chipping this wood into mulch, Camden Rose saved it and created toys that will last generations.

This kitchen is made in the USA without any plywood, press board, or soft pine. It includes creative accessories such as functional knobs and doors, a swivel faucet and removable high-gage stainless steel sink. Parents will adore the flat-packed shipping to save on space and packaging, along with easy 5-minute snap together assembly.

• $249.99 Camden’s Play Kitchen – Flat Pack Kitchen

A Simple Hearth Play Kitchen with Hutch: This non-toxic play kitchen is recommended for children ages 3 and up and is made entirely of real cherry and walnut wood in the USA.  Designed for multi-generational play, A Simple Hearth is made with zero plywood, particleboard/press board or soft pine. The stove, burner and faucet knobs work flawlessly and smoothly without the use of any metal hardware. The brushed metal sink bowl is made from real heavy gage stainless steel and can be removed for easy cleaning.

Everything about this play kitchen is made for realistic imaginative play. There’s a sliding cutting board that really pulls out 12 inches to allow access for more children. Oven and sink doors operate on self-closing hinges and a partition divides the oven from the sink compartment. The back of the kitchen hutch is open, meaning, this play kitchen may be positioned against a wall or in the middle of a room.

The kitchen is shipped partially assembled so it’s easy for parents. Builders simply slide on the hutch and screw on the walnut handles and assemble the hutch (8 screws and 8 hole plugs) then it’s all ready for your child to cook.

This kitchen is also available as A Beautiful Hearth - same kitchen, minus the top hutch.

• $349.99 A Simple Hearth Play Kitchen with Hutch
• $289.99 A Beautiful Hearth play kitchen without hutch

A Simple Fridge – Play Refrigerator: This fridge is hand-made in the USA with real Cherry, Ash and Walnut wood. Ventilation openings are built in the back of the Simple Fridge and slow self-closing metal hinges are featured on the doors. The fridge arrive at your home fully assembled right out of the box. All parents need do is attach the door handles with the four provided screws (instructions included). This is a perfect add-on to either of the kitchens above.

• $299.00 A Simple Fridge – Play Refrigerator

Camden Rose eco-friendly and ethical standards:

• All Camden Rose products are meticulously hand-constructed by craftspeople, not mass-produced.
• High quality materials, all certified non-toxic, such as stainless steel, wood, pure wool, silk and more are used.
• Almost all Camden Rose products are made in the United States. They also employ Fair Trade workers from a women-owned cooporative near Lima, Peru.
• Products are finished in natural, non-toxic beeswax.
• Each item produced is self-tested for lead content and other harmful chemicals. All products contain levels of lead content far lower or non-existent than the minimum allowed. Also, each and every product is free from materials known to produce phthalates, namely PVC (found in soft plastic or vinyl).
• Camden Rose uses red recyclable plastic netting for many of their retail products.
• All products meet CPSIA requirements.

In a move based on customer feedback about Bisphenol A (BPA) safety concerns, Cincinnati-based Kroger announced this month that they’re going to make sure that all baby products sold in their store are BPA-free. Additionally, Kroger stores will also be eliminating BPA from Kroger store brand canned foods and purchasing BPA-free paper for store receipts.

No official timeline for the switch to BPA-free products has been noted, just that Kroger plans to be using all BPA-free register paper by the end of the year and to replace canned food lining asap.

Kind of like the Kroger bag banning shenanigans, they’re not doing this to be eco-friendly or healthy, they’re working the PR angle.

Kroger spokesman Keith Dailey told the The Columbus Dispatch:

“While there is no conclusive scientific evidence that minimal exposure to BPA in can linings poses any risks to consumers, Kroger has begun a process that we believe will result in the removal of BPA in the linings of canned goods in all of our corporate brand items. Customers are interested in the issue and what the company is doing on the issue.”

Kroger apparently, officially, feels that BPA is fine and dandy, but they’re trying to ease customer concerns. Do I care that Kroger is patronizing other consumers and myself? Not terribly. Fred Meyers is the closest grocery store to my home, so I tend to shop there. I’m down with any healthy decisions Kroger may make – I don’t much care why.

Additionally, the Kroger co. currently owns 2,458 grocery retail stores in 31 states, along with 786 convenience stores ad a bunch of jewelry stores, food processing and manufacturing facilities, supermarket fuel centers and pharmacies. They also employ about 334,000 individuals. There’s probably a Kroger something near you.

Any positive changes Kroger makes (no matter the reason) is sure to impact many people plus make other grocers stand up and take notice.

Now, if only Kroger would solve their factory farmed organic milk issues…

+ Source

You very rarely can go wrong when you give crafty gifts for the holidays. Most kiddos love arts and crafts of all sorts, and nowadays there’s a fairly amazing array of eco-friendly art products out there. Here are some excellent green arts and crafts gifts for inspiring creativity this holiday season.

If you’re looking for some all-inclusive, themed art kits, my family likes Artterro Arts & Crafts Kits – Arrterro makes art kits for all sorts of crafty fun, but my family first recommends the Paint With Wool Portrait first.

Speaking of felted wool ideas; you can always build a sweet crafty gift that focuses on needle felting. Kids ages 8 or so (depending on the kid) will be able to try their hand at wool felt projects. First snag a nice book about wool felt crafts, such as Felt Wee Folk: Enchanting Projects.

To complete the crafts in this book, you’ll mainly need stuff you likely already have around the house. If you don’t have these items, most are inexpensive additions, you can add to this book. Items needed include stuff such as; paint or markers, scissors, a basic sewing needle, embroidery floss, non-toxic glue, pipe cleaners, yarn bits and if your child will want to make fairy dolls, you’ll need fake silk or cotton flowers, little wooden beads for heads and collected acorns for fairy hats. This is all very easy to find at a local craft store or even a thrift store. You’ll also need wool felt.

If you’re too busy to build a little wool felting kit for your child, consider a needle and wet felting starter set kit.

A unique art gift for a child is this Hand Crafted Art Box. The box itself is made of solid Douglas Fir wood, with a magnetic drawing board on one side and chalkboard on the other. The chalkboard slides open to reveal crafty storage inside. Each Art Box comes with a special muslin pouch packed with 3 pieces of chalk, a dry erase marker, and soft felt wiping cloth. Personalized Art Boxs come with hand-cut wool felt embellishments. I would have loved this when I was little.

Other crafty art-minded gifts…

• Handmade Organic Eco-Dough
• Make Your Own Memory Game
• Wooden Plant Press

• Ecotots Surfin Kids Easel
• Green Crafts for Children: 35 Step-by-Step Projects Using Natural, Recycled, And Found Materials
• Mary’s Natural Softdough Set – Scented Set of 9

• Biodegradable 100% Recycled Sketchbooks
• Clementine Art Natural Paint – 6 Color Pack

• Good Earth Art: Environmental Art for Kids (Bright Ideas for Learning)
• Non-Toxic Kitty Crayons
• Organic Powder Paint Kit, Gluten Free

• Paper Making Kit

• Artemis Plant Dyed Color Pencils
• Cadaco Enviro-BLOX X-Treme Builder Set – 440 Piece – (see our review)
• P’kolino Colorful Markers (12 colors)

• Cityscape Natural Stamp Set

• Artemis Plant Dyed Color Crayons
• Recycled Crafts Box
• P’kolino Non-Toxic Playful Art Set

• Stockmar – Watercolor Paint Set
• Modeling Beeswax
• 100% Recycled (and scented) Smencils Colored Pencils

Most kids I’ve known adore whipping up meals, snacks or baked goods in the kitchen. Translation – the kitchen is one of the best place to introduce eco-friendly skills to your kiddos because they’re already hanging around with interest.

Introducing your kids to green living and cooking skills usually starts outside of the kitchen. The planning and thinking stages are very much part of being a good green chef (or eco-friendly person in general). Tips 1-4 below cover the planning stages and tips 5-10 launch into actual cooking adventures.

1. Read (think) about it:

You don’t just have to read eco-friendly cookbooks, although that is a nice place to start. It’s not the recipes my kiddos like first, but the pictures. With that in mind, when looking for good cookbooks for kids, check out bright and glossy cookbooks first to jog their interest.

You and the kids can also take a look at cooking websites, watch cooking shows or even take an easy cooking class together. Part of successful cooking with kids is spiking their interest, then keeping them interested.

2. Discuss organics:

Kids don’t always understand why we should choose organic vs. conventional foods. I’ve been discussing organics with my son forever at this point and at age nine, Cedar has totally caught on. He’s very organic conscious at this point and will go out of his way to search out organics. Now, does it always pay off? Nope, he’s mad that there are no organic Skittles; he’s not so mad that he won’t eat the conventional ones though. However, he will ask for organic apples and milk.

To discuss organic choices with a younger child, my best advice is to keep it simple. Stay away from pesticides until your child is a little older – pesticides, which you can’t see, are a tad abstract to a child. Say something like, “Organic means healthier for your body” or “Organic foods are a smart choice for the planet, like turning off the lights.” These are things that worked with my son when he was young. Now I do explain terms like chemicals and pesticides in more detail but I waited until I thought he could grasp that concept.

3. Let them shop:

Kids can smartly shop if you let them. Help them make a list for whatever they’d like to cook. Choose a time when you have extra time and allow your child to measure out bulk food, choose new and interesting fruits and make decisions about which juice to buy.

Give your tot his own basket and sometimes some money so he can pay on his own. Take your kids to the Farmers’ Market. Teach your child how to save money on organics too. All of this allows a child to take ownership of what he’s cooking and eating.

4. Start young:

Even little kids can help make a healthy and inventive school lunch or snack. It’s smart to baby-proof the kitchen so that your kids can be in there with you from a young age. Kitchen safety should start early and so should food choices. At my house, Cedar has his own spaces in the cupboard and fridge, with food choices he can make on his own.

When he was younger he’d complain that he couldn’t cook alone so we made a visual list of foods he COULD make and some he wanted to learn. For example, Cedar drew pictures of cereal, toast, apples, carrots, yogurt and other easy foods that he could fix himself, and when he’d whine about being hungry (between meals) I’d refer him to the list. He eventually added stuff he wanted to learn how to make to the list as well.

5. Use green cooking tools:

Using eco-friendly cooking gear like silicone muffin cups, stainless steel cookie cutter, real vs. paper towels to dry fruit, recycled bowls, reusable ice pop molds and food storage containers over plastic wrap provides you with plenty of conversation topics. For example, my son used to fight against homemade ice pops. He REALLY wanted those shiny boxes of pre-wrapped store treats. But, I just kept telling him the pros of homemade, and now it’s not an issue.

Green living is sometimes about making hard choices and with my son, homemade ice pops were a harder choice when he wanted the store pops so bad. So far he’s survived without store bought pops and it’s a good lesson in green choices and living.

If you can, try to score some green cooking and baking tools made especially for kids. Kid tools tend to be smaller, so they’re easier for little hands and often come in fun colors too.

6. Try cooking with nature:

Incorporate nature with your cooking. For example…

• Make some fun organic candied flowers.
• Grow wheatgrass and make smoothies.
• Gather non-toxic leaves, spread melted organic chocolate on them, freeze. Later carefully peel the chocolate off and you’ll have awesome homemade organic chocolate leaves.
• Build a solar cooker and bake with the sun.
• Grow your own salad mix or even grow edible flowers.

7. Encourage meatless meals:

Kids who are given veggies from a young age really do love them. Meatless meals are healthy and better for the environment. Cedar was raised vegetarian and he’d rather eat a bowl full of broccoli, a red pepper or sliced apples than cookies. I’m not kidding. Lately his deal is peas. He ate an entire bag of them this week.

Tofu is an very easy ingredient to work with, and kids like to squish it around with their hands. Try some tofu recipes for kids.

8. Set a green example:

Recycle packaging, compost old food, use food up, turn the oven off early, turn the water off and get invested in other basic green kitchen habits. Your child is watching you carefully, make sure he’s seeing that you’re engaged in basic eco-friendly activities.

9. Stay chill:

In my opinion, chill parents have happier kids in general, but being calm really pays off in the kitchen. I was at someone’s house once and the family was making cookies. The mom freaked when one of the kids cracked an egg badly (it spilled) and took over if she thought a kid was messing up. She even directed the kids on how to decorate the finished cookies. Her kids didn’t look like they were having much fun.

Kids need to make mistakes. Kids need to feel safe, like you won’t yell over something little like spilled milk. Yes, for sure teach kitchen safety, but mostly chill out. Kids can handle more than we think. If you push and freak, your kids won’t want to hang out with you.

10. Host a little party:

After you get your kid cooking, let him show off his mad skills by hosting a little party. It can be as small as grandma over for dinner or as big as five little friends over for lunch. You can even plan a special event like a pizza party, a tea party or a cupcake party.

Whatever you plan make sure your child puts his green skills into action too. No paper plates, use organics and so on.

Extra: Some fun recipes to try with kids…

• Organic Caramel Apples
• Organic Black Raspberry Chocolate Frozen Yogurt
• Easy Homemade Bread – Homemade Organic Honey Oat Bread
• Healthy Organic & Fair Trade Hot Chocolate
• Organic sugar cookies
• Homemade Organic Raspberry Bars
• 50 Amazing Homemade Popsicle Recipes & Ideas
• Homemade organic applesauce

Have any other great green cooking with kids tips? Let everyone know about them in the comments.

[images: Slicing ©qwrrty; Cedar Cooking ©Jennifer Chait; Sous Chef ©eyeliam]

Play cooking is super fun for kids, but it doesn’t usually beat the real deal. Most kids love to cook with their parents and cooking is an excellent way to teach green living skills. If you’re looking for long-lasting and useful gifts for the holiday season, cooking and baking gifts can’t be beat.

I love the Children’s Play Baking Set shown above. It’s a perfect kid cooking starter set, complete with a stainless steel bowl, measuring cups, cherry platter, rolling pin, loaf pan, a cherry kitchen Spoon and a cherry Kitchen Paddle. All natural and non-toxic materials.

To see more cool eco-friendly, non-toxic and fun cooking gifts for kids jump to the next page.

• Bean Appetit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food
• Fiesta Head Chefs Silicone Pastry Brush, Blue
• Ateco Stainless Steel Cookie Cutter Sets
• Animal House Monkey Peeler (stainless steel blade)
• Mimi the Sardine Coated Organic Cotton Child’s Apron – Hybrid Cars or Jungle OR bugs or flora / airplane.
• Pops!: Icy Treats for Everyone
• 100% recycled, BPA-free, Preserve Measuring Cups Dry
• What’s New, Cupcake?: Ingeniously Simple Designs for Every Occasion
• Fiesta Head Chefs Silicone Whisk, Green
• Tovolo Farmyard Ice Cream Sandwich Molds
• Fred Hot Heads Silicone Insulating Mitt, Dog or you could go with a frog or Pac Man style mitt.
• Wilton Silly- Feet Silicone Baking Cups

This week, some lovely, but really not shocking developments on the BPA front. On Thursday, the Senate was supposed to vote on the food-safety bill. Not only did Senate fail to vote, but they withdrew an included amendment that would have banned BPA from baby bottles and sippy cups.

Oh, USA Senators – you’re so awesome. Sigh.

Months ago I noted that I was leery of BPA being banned here in the USA due to strong opposition from some major organizations. This is one of those cases where I really wished I’d been wrong. Sadly, many companies, and now I guess, the government wants your baby to have BPA. Even though study after flipping study shows that this chemical isn’t safe.

In any case, I wrote a longer post about this yesterday. I don’t want to re-write all this stuff, so if you like, you can read it at Inhabitots. If you don’t want to read that post, you could just contact your Senators and tell them that they’re being idiotic. Tell them that our children deserve toxic-free products.

Contact your Senators via Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (202) 224-3121      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

I don’t know if you remember the DIY doctor’s kit post, but I just found a super sweet felt box that would be perfect if you’re considering making this for your child.

This wonderful First Aid Basket, made of eco-friendly wool felt is made by the always amazing En Gry og Sif, a company started by two sisters who in Copenhagen, Denmark. All their toys are handmade and lovely. This box would be perfect for medical pretend play.