Toys make up a huge part of your children’s lives, from the first rattle they shake to their first video game. But toys aren’t merely there to entertain. They help small children learn fine motor skills and how to use their hands, and as they grow, to develop art skills and unleash their imaginations. BrightMinds is dedicated to offering educational and environmentally friendly toys so the whole family can be eco-friendly.
Much of what you spend on your kids each year is on toys. Parents in the UK spend more on their children’s toys than any other country in Europe — more than £365 in the first two years alone. But toys and their packaging create a lot of waste, so eco-friendly parents are looking to alternatives. There are many classic, environmentally friendly options for your kids, and now toy companies are making sustainable toys from recycled materials to help the planet. Today, we share a few of the best eco-friendly toys for those eco-conscious families trying to tread lightly on the earth.
Books & Puzzles Never Go out of Style
Childhood favourites that never go out of style are books and puzzles. Whether early learning books or young adult novels, books are environmentally friendly if passed on from child to child. Good old-fashioned colouring books are a great option if you use eco-friendly crayons. Many companies are making crayons that are non-toxic and have natural dyes. Then you have wonderful activity books that not only entertain but teach your children a wealth of knowledge. Puzzles are a classic activity that keeps your kids entertained for hours. They are also a great family activity, and as long as you don’t lose any pieces, can be used time and time again.
This Peter Pan classic tale is beautifully presented in a cloth-bound cover that your children will fall in love with.
This Brain Trainer Puzzle not only entertains, but it also helps your kids with memory, matching, observation and sorting activities.
Toys Made from Recycled Materials
Parents who want to have the convenience of plastic toys without causing harm to the planet can choose from the many companies making toys from recycled materials at affordable prices. We already talked about why toy companies are considering alternatives to plastic toys. Both the packaging and the toys themselves end up in oceans and never break down in landfills.
You might choose plastic toys for their lower cost, but many toys made from green alternatives are competitively priced. So if the price is a concern for you, consider buying fewer toys for your children and choose one or two items you know they will love. Green Toys makes their toys from recycled plastic milk bottles, and you can’t even tell the difference. They are committed to providing safe, earth-friendly and long-lasting toys that are BPA-free and supplied in fully recyclable packaging.
Take bath time to the next level with this submarine made 100% recycled materials.
This car carrier is non-toxic, contains no BPA, PVC, phthalates or external coatings.
For ages six and above, take along this matching game set on your next holiday and keep them entertained for hours.
Don’t Forget about Wooden Toys
The classic, timeless plastic-free toy is a wooden one. Wood is an excellent material that rarely breaks, is durable and long-lasting, so it can be passed through the generations from child to child, making it a great environmentally-friendly choice. Simple wooden toys help small children learn fine motor skills and develop their hand-eye coordination, while bigger kids will grow their knowledge with number puzzles and counting sets.
Many companies making wooden toys use sustainable practices for their manufacturing. Since we know wooden toys are long-lasting, they are by default better for the environment than their plastic and electronic alternatives. And we promise wooden toys aren’t boring! The ones below are great for children of all ages so consider some of these as gifts.
If your child is starting to walk, introduce them to this adorable Peter Rabbit push along.
When your children start to learn their ABCs and to count, they will love this wooden activity centre with five sides of activities.
Consider Buying Less
Polls show parents admit to throwing away perfectly good toys or overbuying toys their kids never touch. If you want to be environmentally-friendly, then use Christmas to buy less. Think about the eco-friendly toys for eco-conscious families we’ve shared with you today, and enjoy the holiday with toys that make the whole family feel great.
BrightMinds has a world-class range of educational toys, games, gifts & wooden toys that inspire and entertain your children. Our extraordinary customer service backs each purchase. Check out our selection of eco-friendly toys today.
