Hey all. I’ve got a wedding to attend this week plus I caught some icky old stomach bug so don’t expect another post until Friday or Saturday. What I will leave you with is a quick round-up of outdoor summer-ready, eco-friendly toys that are all under $40. Soon we’ll look at some cool green summer toys under $10 as well, including many you can make yourself.

Toys that push for outside nature play are a great idea for encouraging kids to get outside and here are some of my favorites…

Naturebag with English activity booklet: comes with a all season activity booklet, soy-based crayons, 2 leaf viewers, hemp twine, 8 color cards, organic cotton blindfold, recycled notepad, rubberwood magnifying glass and recycled pencil all packed nicely into a shoulder bag with an adjustable strap made from Fair Trade certified organic cotton. Allows your child to go on a nature scavenger hunt, walk with bugs, make dough imprints, look closely at the patterns in a leaf, try wild weaving and so much more! A very cool kit.

Green Toys Sand Play Set – made, like all Green Toys, with recycled milk cartons and packaged in recycled materials.

Skittles – Skittles is a way fun game. We used to play it with pals in New Mexico. It’s especially fun as an ice-breaker game at a kids/parent party or get-together. This set is so beautiful it’s hard to believe it’s so inexpensive.  Made by Camden Rose with high quality, sustainably sourced materials and certified non-toxic finishes this toy is constructed to last through multiple generations. Learn how to play Skittles.

Wham-o Re-Flyer – Wham-O recently bought Sprig Toys which was a little disappointing actually, because Sprig is hyper eco-friendly, and Wham-O, well, not so much. However, because of the buy-out, Wham-O is now producing some better quality gear. Like this Flyer, for example made with post consumer recycled plastic and packaged in recycled content materials. According to reports, Wham-O will use Sprig’s “green” Sprigwood material in Frisbees, Hula Hoops and other products. Personally, I’ll be excited to see the recycled hula hoop – which I’ve been looking for. Wham-O’s is not out yet.

Honeycomb Wooden Sailboat – this sweet wooden sailboat has a honeycomb printed cotton sail in beautiful greens and blues and is sturdy enough for a small child and can be used in the tub, or any body of water. A safe and non-toxic alternative to plastic bath toys and for outings to the puddle filled park. The sails are tied with a waxed cotton string, and the wood is finished with a non-toxic coating. Wood is finished with natural Tung and Orange oils. Of course I hope I don’t have to tell you that adult supervision near water is 100% necessary.

Egg Race from Haba – this active and fun German made game is made of beech wood and finished with completely non-toxic, child friendly substances. Children get to race against each other while holding frogs, clown heads or eggs with balancing sticks. Whoever reaches the finish line or goes the farthest without dropping anything wins!

I like all Sprig Toys, but two excellent outdoor sets include Sprig Toys Adventures Dino Adventure Rig or Sprig Toys Adventures Dolphin Adventure Playset – all Sprig Toys are made with a child-safe bio composite material made from recycled wood and reclaimed plastic. Sprig Toys rock because they’re not only 100% kid powered but are completely a-ok for both inside and outside play plus both land and water. Getting these toys wet won’t harm them.

Stone Soup Garden – have you ever seen a more adorable kids’ garden set!? Comes with a recycled steel case, seed tins, certified organic seeds (Bean, Cabbage, Pea, Carrot, Tomato, and Onion), paper cards, wood stakes, pencil, magic stone and jute bag. Totally sweet toy inspired by the familiar story with the simple message about sharing, this vegetable garden kit is a great way for kids to create a fun-filled garden of their very own.

My favorite outdoor swing, the Classic Wooden Tree Swing – Each swing is handmade from local reclaimed Ash, Elm, or Maple. Once a seat is kiln dried and sanded a light coat of mineral oil is applied to bring out the natural beauty of the wood. The seat is then attached to 20 ft of the best 3/4″ natural fiber rope available (zero oil or chemicals; so it’s safe for children.)

Last up we’ve got the Plan Toys Croquet Set which features a contemporary design of this forgotten, but old time favorite family game. The set is made of recycled and preservative-free rubberwood and other natural materials. Only non-toxic water-based paint is used.

Traditional Toys is this amazing little online toy shop with a super vintage feel and plenty of deliciously creative products certain to enchant your little one. Right now Traditional Toys has some spring-minded toys that are perfect fun for the season, for example…

• Spring Lacing Cards – This set contains five Lacing Cards with matching faux-silk laces. Great cards for helping to develop fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination and the charming watercolor images of spring will delight your tot.
• Toddlers will adore the Spring Memories Match, a game with 48 watercolor spring-minded tiles (2 each of 24 different images of spring). Designed to encourage the development of children’s vocabulary, memory and concentration.
• Spring Nesting Blocks – these 10 blocks in graduated sizes teach stacking, nesting and image recognition. Additionally, they’ll look lovely in any nursery as an art object.

Learn about the sustainability efforts of Traditional Toys after the jump…

• The wood used to produce Traditional Toys’ wooden toys is farm-forested basswood, a renewable hardwood.
• Carded toys and games are made from recycled paper product exclusive of new surface (cover) papers. Traditional Toys is in compliance with both ASTM (American) and the more stringent EN (European) safety testing measurements.
• Stretch canvas products are made with only natural 100% cotton canvas and wood products.
• Traditional Toys work with only a limited number of companies and do not outsource.

To learn more visit Traditional Toys.

While you may have eco-friendly toys on the brain for this holiday season, your friends and family may not. Your kids may get scads of plastic, obnoxious packaging, and yes, even possibly toxic toys for the holidays. Additionally, it’s hard to know which toys are eco-friendly and non-toxic. There’s a lot of greenwashing out there. Luckily there’s a lot you can do to keep the holidays safe, fun, and green.

• First of all develop your own green criteria. I have extensive criteria I use when evaluating green products. You can look over my list and adapt it to your needs.
• Next head to HealthyStuff.org. Check out their list of toxic toys. HealthyStuff.org includes test results for over 5,000 products.That said, you can nominate a toy to be tested if you’re curious about it’s toxic (or not toxic) qualities.
• Join the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families campaign if you want healthy toys year round for your kids.
• Next try to get family and friends on board. Encourage them to buy safe green toys for your child. If you need help explaining why you want a meaningful, less commercial holiday take a look at I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas.
• Encourage family and friends to give the gift of time rather than material items.

Some family members can be a hard eco sell though. You can ask nicely and they’ll still get your child obnoxious possibly toxic toys. These toys may not be safe so it’s up to you to protect your children. Do the following…

• Always fill out the toy registration cards. If there’s a recall you’ll know. Also sign up to receive information about toy recalls.
• Read the label to make sure the toy is age appropriate and check for broken pieces. I can’t tell you how many time friends or family bought my son toys that were way too old for him. They mean well, but if people don’t have kids, they tend not to consider safety as much as parents.
• One report notes that 63% of thrift stores sell hazardous or recalled items. Used is good because it’s green, but be careful, and always check with cpsc or the manufacturer to make sure a thrift store toy hasn’t been recalled before you allow your child to use it.

Stay up to date with current toy news at:

• Leadsafe
• W.A.T.C.H
• Toy Industry Association
• Consumers Union