80% of cheap children’s toys selling in the USA are ‘Made in China.’ Remember the multi-million recall of Chinese made products? Still wonder “What can you buy that won’t hurt your child and keep him/her safe, healthy and develop his intellect?” The answer is natural, eco-friendly toys.

                                                                  

                                          Last month I researched several American and European companies making eco-friendly toys. I know from my childhood (growing up in southeastern Europe) that the European toymakers carefully select natural materials and design many healthy and safe toys for children.    

                                                        

I prepared for you a list of the companies making their products for children with a thought and understanding that the toys are the leading activity and play helping your children to develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially.

Say No to junk, unsafe toys once and for all! Good toys (you see on the picture) made of natural materials and innovative design are much better for children; develop intellect and positive emotions, and keep an environment and your house clean and green. 

Here are the toy companies I like.

American-Made Toys Companies:

  • Vermont Teddy Bear, the famous teddy bear company
  • Roy Toy, log cabins and other wood toys made in Maine with materials from sustainable forests
  • K’Nex, construction set pieces with factory in Pennsylvania
  • Stack and Stick, company in Indiana makes solid educational toys, www.stackandstick.com
  • Camden Rose, beautiful wood toy kitchen for young hostesses handmade in USA
  • Elves and Angels, toys-kitchens and accessories, handcrafted on Maine

European-Made Toys Companies:

               


Haba, the manufacturer with factories in Bad Rodach, Germany that makes its creative, quality toys for children. I like this toy company because her people take pride in the fact that they would never make a toy that they will not give to their own grandchildren and grandchildren to play.

                              

  • Debresk, company in Sweden. Its old fashioned toys designed and made of solid, natural wooden pieces and classic sense of style and craftmanship that remind us of our grandfathers playing many years ago near fireplace.
  • Bajo, company in Poland, making funny wooden toys for babies, cars, furniture that are hand-finished in a small village near the Carpathian Mountains. These beautiful toys made of locally grown alder, maple, beech, birch, walnut, cherry and apple wood and finished with child-safe, non-toxic lacquers.

Selecta Spielzeug, the German company making quality small wooden toys, especially for infants. The designers at Selecta design their toys using selected, best quality wood because they believe that it stimulates all of child’s senses and inspires creative play. Water-based color and the beeswax finishes on Selecta toys makes them safe for playing and ‘tasting’ or taking into the mouth.

These are companies making wooden baby toys that our children deserve to have and to play.

Check the sites where child’s play is a magical adventure and natural toys are an important part of a beautiful childhoood treasure: www.besttoysquide.com for the best toys 2008; www.haba.de; www.ape2zebra.ca; www.oompa.com; www.blueberryforest.com; http://ecochildsplay.com; www.buyamericanmart.com; www.threesistertoys.com; www.thewoodenwagon.com; www.barclaywoods.com; www.blueforesttoys.com

Copyright 2008. All rights reserved