1 million tons of garbage across the country—according to the U.S. Envi- ronmental Protection Agency. Holiday craft projects can trans-
form much of this “waste” by making the most of its decorative potential. Shellie Wilson, the founder of Craftbits. com, a site that provides thousands of free, do-it-yourself craft ideas, says she and her mother Rita are craft hoard- ers. “We never throw anything out that we think can be turned into something wonderful,” comments Wilson. Her favorites include a T-shirt pillow that maintains the shirt’s shape and a no-
sew baby overalls purse, using glue in place of thread.
Instructables.com is the kind of
user-submitted, DIY, bake it, fix it and tweak it website that invites hours of surfing. Developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it has become a massive platform for idea sharing, including a page called “Have a DIY Christmas!” that organizes ideas by category. Options range from origami ball decorations and a homemade book clock to gift boxes and tags made from cereal boxes and junk mail. “With the state of the economy lately, people are
ECO-TOY JOYS
Spotting Earth-Friendly Gift Ideas for kids by brita belli
If we resist the urge to charge over to the nearest big-box store to load up on the latest plastic marketing ploys, we’ll likely find more satisfaction in picking toys that will create less of an environ- mental impact—and more of a personal one. It’s easy to look for the following five eco-friendly attributes.
SOLAR POWERED. Nearly any toy with batteries and a motor can operate with simple sun power instead. Solar versions of traditional toys range from racing cars and quivering grasshoppers to bullet trains that kids build from snap-together parts (Google by type of toy). Solar- powered toys teach kids the benefits of renewable energy, which unlike those with batteries, require no additional cost and produce no battery waste.
BUILT TO LAST. Many toys today are flimsy, cheaply made and even down- right toxic. The organization behind
HealthyStuff.org tests thousands of products each year to help families steer clear of the worst toxins in many common toys—including lead, cad- mium, arsenic and mercury. High-quality toys don’t have to
come from a toy store. Check out yard and tag sales, as well as local craft fairs, for well-constructed toys, from
rocking horses and toy chests to bikes, dollhouses and kid collectibles. Or look for new toys made from sustainable materials, like the handmade hardwood sleds, toboggans and wagons made by Mountain Boy Sledworks.
DO-IT-YOURSELF. Craft kits allow a child to make a toy that incorporates his or her own creative vision, all the better when the parts are made of sustainable materials. Artterro offers a collection of eco-friendly craft kits, from jewelry and dolls to garden art and bubble wands. Materials include post-consumer waste paper from India; hand-dyed fabrics, wool felt and glass and wooden beads. The San Francisco Museum of Craft & Design sells a bird cafe that encourages kids to explore na- ture in their backyards once the craft is complete. Any of these is easily found online, searching by name. Of course, making our own craft kits can be as easy as cutting spare fabric, adding buttons, beads and other found mementos. Assemble all the pieces in a fun container and let kids’ imaginations fly.
ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC. Plas- tic toys are everywhere, and when it comes to softer plastic toys like rubber
looking for more ways to stretch their budgets and repurpose used objects,” remarks Sarah James, editor of Instruc- tables’ Living and Food website sections. Along with the benefits of mini-
mizing waste, spending less money and reclaiming quality time with loved ones, making our own gifts and decora- tions is also fun. The process of discov- ering, attempting and creating can help unlock our inner artist at any age.
Brita Belli is the editor of E – The Environmental Magazine.
duckies, teethers and bath books, they may actually pose a health hazard to growing kids. Such toys often contain phthalates, chemicals that studies like those from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Environmental Working Group have linked to behav- ioral problems, aggression and autism. Look for wooden versions of classic toys instead—from stacking blocks and puzzles to push toys. If they are paint- ed, verify that it was with nontoxic, water-based paint.
Etsy.com represents several design-
ers who specialize in heirloom-quality wooden toys, like Woodmouse animal figures, Just Hatched fruits and veggies and Stump Pond Woodworks creations that spin, dance and tumble through the playroom.
RECYCLED CONTENT. One of the best ways to ensure we’re choosing a “green” gift is to find out if it’s made from re- cycled content. For the teen set, recycled options help them make a statement, whether it’s a belt accessorized with bot- tle caps, a purse made of license plates or a bag made from former billboards. TerraCycle even makes mini-boom box- es and speakers out of former M&M’s, Skittles and Starburst candy wrappers (
DwellSmart.com). Light, portable and super-colorful, they supply a natural complement to any iPod or MP3-player gift this holiday season.
For more ideas, visit
Education.com and search Green Toys.
natural awakenings December 2010 51
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