How to Buy Earth Friendly "Green" Toys for Children

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By Feather
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Toy train made from natural unfinished wood

In today's world we have to worry about lots of things that we didn't have to think about being a concern 20-40 years ago. Food often contains pesticides and even toxic materials that have caused death across the united states. Children's toys now contain toxic paint or the plastics can be harmful because of toxic fumes. Many have small parts that easily break off and pose a choking hazard. A common cause with a lot of the above problems is that these products are being imported from other countries like China, who have limited "quality control" or none in the plants where these products are produced. With Christmas and the holidays quickly approaching, I thought I would give a couple of tips as to selecting safe toys for children.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Knowledge
Common Sense

Step 1

Computer, photo by ronnieb

Your first step in preparing a shopping list for safe, organic or "green" toys is to do your homework. Get online. Find out which toys are recalled. Make a list or print out a copy of the offending toy.
Step 2

Plastic toy, photo by jusben

Keep an eye out for any toys made in China or other imported toys. They are usually made with cheaper ingredients, i.e. plastic. Many plastics contain harmful fumes that can harm your babies and children.
Step 3

Children's blocks, photo my mconnors

Another harm that is often found in or on children's toys is paint. Many paints contain lead, which can also lead to harmful effects for your children. Read the labels on all toys before buying. Again, doing your homework and knowing what can harm your child or children will be first step of precaution.
Step 4

Recycle symbol, photo by Karen Gros

As for plastics, it is sometimes hard to know what plastics are harmful. As a rule of thumb, if the plastic can be recycled, it is usually a safe material. Look for the "recycling" symbol on the boxes of toys when shopping. This will be another sign that the plastics should be safe for children.
Step 5

Avoid toys with lots of small pieces. Even if the toy is rated for the age appropriate for your child, it is better to err on the side of safety! Products made cheaply will not weather wear and tear and eventually break.