Is “pinkwashing” the new greenwashing? Marketers certainly aren’t shy about using breast-cancer awareness to hawk their cause-related wares each October. We’ve rounded up 10 ridiculous pink-ribbon tie-ins that not only have little to do with breast cancer but could actually heighten your risk of getting the disease. Cluck for the Cure, anyone?
If you can’t hack your own bespoke Vespa rocking chair, this wooden scooter by Present Time is probably the next best thing. Made from solid wood, the ersatz rocking horse lends a cool, retro vibe to any nursery. It’s also available in baby blue and powder pink, with clean, sophisticated lines that are just as scrumptious as the real thing.
+ J.I.P. Wooden Rocking Scooter Chair $99
Who needs Barbie’s Dream House when you can bring your own architectural masterpiece to life? For the aspiring archi-tot in your life, there’s the dollhouse kit from Makedo, an Australian company that makes connector systems for turning trash into works of art. Designed for kids from ages 5 and up, the dollhouse kit includes 57 pins, hinges, and clips for punching and clamping materials (such as cardboard, plastic and fabric ) together.
We’re positively wild about miYim’s new collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute. What self-respecting animal lover wouldn’t be? Based on the renowned British primatologist’s ethos that people, animals, and the environment are all connected, the Jane Goodall Wild Animal Collection offers three stately if tragically endangered beasts: a gorilla, a hippo, and a lion. Only plant- and mineral-based dyes were used to make the toys, and part of the proceeds will go towards furthering the Institute’s research and advocacy work.
+ Jane Goodall Wild Animal Collection
There’s nothing grannyish or prissy about Monte’s rocking chair, which was formally unveiled at the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas this week. One cool, collected customer—everything you want to be when you’re soothing a recalcitrant newborn for the umpteenth time—the fully upholstered Joya Rocker sits on a solid …
We frequently extoll the green virtues of small-space living over at Inhabitat, but figuring out how to make limited real estate work for a family can be challenging. EspaceLoggia, a French company founded in the 1970s by actress Brigitte Bardot’s sister, makes modest dwellings work by maximizing the use of vertical space. The modular nature of the company’s furnishing systems also means that they can be adapted over time to respond to changing needs—evolving as your own child grows.
Forget the essential minerals and vitamins; the real magic happens when the Cheerios are downed and you’re left with an empty cereal box to bend to your will. The crafty dad at Made by Joel transformed one erstwhile breakfast receptacle into a series of ramps for rolling marbles. All it took was …
For new mom Gisele Bundchen, breast isn’t just best, it should be mandated by international law. “Some people here think they don’t have to breastfeed,” the Brazilian supermodel tells the September issue of British Harper’s Bazaar. And I think ‘Are you going to give chemical food to your child when they are so little?’” Bundchen, who credits breastfeeding for helping her maintain her famous figure, thinks that mothers should be required to nurse their babies for at least six months. “I think there should be a worldwide law, in my opinion,” she adds.
Photo by anaulin
Take that candy away from that baby—or that child or teenager, for that matter. Junk food, including sweets, highly processed snacks, and fried and takeaway grub, could be causing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents, according to a new study by Australia’s Telethon Institute for Child Health and Research. Researchers, who examined the diets of 1,800 teens, found that “western-style” diets more than doubled the risk of an ADHD diagnosis, compared with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, even after adjusting for social and family factors.
Oh, the places you’ll go with miYim’s brand-new Dr. Seuss Eco-Plush Collection. The whole gang’s here: the Cat in the Hat, Horton, and the Lorax, all sprung from the good doctor’s beloved children’s books. Beautifully rendered in untreated, unbleached cotton and chemical-free dyes, the certified-nontoxic range includes rattles, teething blankets, and plush toys. All that’s missing is …
Your kids aren’t the only ones who need to get outside and play. For an activity the whole family can enjoy, check out V:King, an old-fashioned game that you can play on the lawn, beach, park, or anywhere with a flat space. Inspired by an ancient Swedish pastime of “shields” and “axes,” V:King is a …
Rub-a-dub-dub, what’s floating in your tub? Perhaps one of FriendlyFairies’ handmade wooden boats, which are sea-worthy enough to weather the high seas of your bathwater. Carved in Oregon from solid wood, then wood-burned to create the effect of planks and nails, each one-of-a-kind clipper is hand-embellished with nontoxic paint and triple-finished with a nontoxic sealant.
We admit, we’re just a bunch of design and typography nerds masquerading as parents. So you can imagine how our little geeky hearts soared when we spied Veer’s Typographic Mobile, which the company laser-cut from a combination of recycled card and repurposed press sheets from its marketing department. The typeface? Clarendon modified with Baskerville ornamentation. Because inquiring minds need to know.
Toddlers may barely grasp the concept of cleanup time, but designer Tzung-Yu Lu’s “monster on wheels” could go a long way to making it seem more play than work. Although his Toy Guardian is only a concept at this point (alas!), it’s already received an IDEA Award from the Industrial Designers Society of America for its ingenuity.
When it comes to simple outdoor pleasures, the swing’s most definitely the thing. This elegant swing by Design Within Reach is made for all-ages oscillations, with a hardy seat crafted from 30- to 50-year-old plantation-grown teak trees. Teak’s natural oils help it weather the elements, but the wood is also kiln-dried for up to a …
Come spring, vegan toddlers will have even more eco-friendly shoe options to hop, skip, and jump in. Simple Shoes has just unveiled its new product line for Spring 2011, including its first cruelty-free toddler shoes for the season. Girls can choose between the Doogie, a star-print Mary Jane in organic cotton and recycled PET (made from used plastic bottles), and the Poodle, a T-strap shoe that features synthetic nubuck uppers.
If Fourth of July celebrations are stirring the patriot within you, there’s more than one way to school your tot in our nation’s rich history—without drawing yawns. Uncle Goose has a set of building blocks that are positively presidential, revealing key facts about our fearless leaders past and present in a fun, playful manner.
We’ve seen plenty of recycled crayons in our time, but these three-dimensional cupcakes take the cake. Made from melted-down crayons, these calorie-free treats even come topped with perfectly swirled frosting. And considering what cupcakes are going for these days, $6 for half a dozen is a steal!
Michelle Obama is one classy lady—and don’t people know it. Not since Jackie O has a First Lady’s wardrobe been so scrutinized, pulled apart, and obsessed over. If your child loves playing dress-up with dolls, consider introducing her (or him!) to the thinking woman’s fashion icon. Made from recycled paper, this cut-and-color kit by illustrator Jen Hewett comes with …
Droog is one design studio whose concepts have always been more whimsical than practical. Not that it’s a bad thing, of course—life is too short not to take the mickey out of it now and then. This highchair, designed by Maartje Steenkamp, is a prime example of the Dutch collective’s shared sense of humor. Made from white birch, the one-size-fits-all seater doesn’t so much grow …
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