Inhabitots

Handmande, Eco-friendly Kaleidoscope by Zilvinas Stankevicius

No toy serves up an instamagic escape faster than a kaleidoscope can. And Lithuanian sculptor Zilvinas Stankevicius’ eco-friendly version, made from responsibly sourced, fast-growing hazel branches and natural Baltic amber (not the unfriendly plastic or cheap metals that are use to make standard versions) is simply dreamy. A simple peek into the tubular scope transports kids to …

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How to Grow Plants Indoors with Your Toddler

Spark an interest in nature and homegrown, fresh and healthy foods for your little ones by growing your own plants and mini-garden indoors. Most fruits and vegetables in your pantry can provide an educational and fun experiment for young children. It’s easy to green the thumbs of your toddlers — if they can hold a seed in their hand and can poke a hole in dirt, help them plant the seed and watch it grow together! Follow our easy guide to get your indoor garden growing after the jump!

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Reusable Silicone Travel Place Mats by Zoli Baby

Families on the move will appreciate Zoli’s new reusable place mats, which are an environmentally preferable yet travel-friendly alternative to disposable ones. Made from 100% phthalate- and VOC-free silicone, the Matties are lightweight, water- and odor-resistant, and a cinch to clean (the third puts the “bon” in “bon voyage”). They come in sets of two in …

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Smart Kid: A Multifunctional Bedroom Set That Grows With Your Child

Think of Andensen Furniture’s “Smart Kid” as a child’s bedroom-in-a-box, except that in this instance, the box also happens to be the crib. Made from solid birch and plywood, the multifunctional kit starts out as a crib/changing table/dresser combo, but it can easily be taken apart and reassembled as a playpen, a desk, a chalkboard and book rack, or a junior bed for tykes up to 10 years of age.

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Hand-Knit, Classic Irish Aran Sweater for Green Kids

Your little Irish rose, or strapping young lad, will look adorable in this authentic hand-knit cardigan, crafted in the traditional Aran style by an Irish knitter in Ireland who boasts 40 years of knitting experience! Also dubbed a “fisherman” sweater, the classic Aran …

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5 Green Etsy Finds for a Kid and Eco-Friendly St. Patrick’s Day

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Eco-Friendly “Fava” Bean-Shaped Rocker by Knoend

Part of Knoend’s Bean Rocker Series, the Fava is more than a low, kid-friendly rocker lounging in. The multitasking recliner can also serve as a meditation zafu, a back-bracing support, or an exercise balance board for the rest of the family. Made in the United States from Forestry Stewardship Council-certified maple …

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Fair-Trade Felt Animal Puppets by Noted

If you need a reason why we never tire of the classics, look no further than these charming hand puppets by Noted. Handmade by a collective of Nepalese artisans, the colorful menagerie consists of 100% all-natural wool felt, which means you don’t have to worry about fiddly metal or plastic embellishments that might pose choking hazards. Each …

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Enchanted Tree Stand by Cocoon Couture

“Enchanted” is right! This multifunctional hanging rack, shaped like a three-foot-tall tree, looks like it sprang straight out of a storybook. Made from Forestry Stewardship Council-certified plywood from managed forests and finished with non-toxic inks and varnishes, the Enchanted Tree Stand by Cocoon Couture includes silkscreened wooden leaves, screw-in acorn pegs, and two feathered friends nesting …

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“A” is for Animal Notebooks by Product Superior

Doodles, secret messages, and plans for world domination all have a place in these sleekly designed notebooks by Product Superior. From “C” is for creepy cat to “K” is for kicking kangaroo, each 40-page, 100% post-consumer recycled notebook is printed locally in Brooklyn using soy inks and wind-generated electricity. Can we get an “S” is for super-spectacular?

+ Kids Notebook …

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Modern Hand Painted Nesting Dolls by Joel Henriques

Designer and crafting dad extraordinaire Joel Henriques was commissioned to paint a blank set of nesting dolls — and we love the way his colorful, modern version stacks up with style and flair next to its traditional counterpart. Each doll in the fifteen piece set, ranging in …

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1,2,3 Soleil Convertible Baby Bed by Castor & Chouca

Talk about a triple threat! The 1,2,3 Soleil Convertible Baby Bed by Cator & Chouca only looks like a regular crib. With a couple of tweaks here and there, however, you can convert it into a reclining cradle (good for reflux babies) or a toddler desk once your bambino graduates to a big-kid bed.

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METI School in Bangladesh, Sustainably Hand-Built by Locals

They say it takes a village to raise a child; and when the whole village (and a team of skilled architects) chips in, the result can benefit the community’s entire population via a hand-built school designed with ‘earth architecture.’ The METI ‘hand-built’ primary school in Rudrapur Dinajpu, Bangladesh, “uses traditional methods and materials of construction but adapts them in new ways.” Austrian architect Anna Heringer and Eike Roswag from Germany led a team of local craftsmen, pupils, parents and teachers in the execution of the project, which took just four months to complete using local materials: bamboo, straw, jute rope, and an earthen mixture for the walls and foundation.

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Cate & Levi Wall Art Made from Reclaimed Wool

From Cate & Levi, the same eco-dad designer that creates sweet plush toys, zoo cubes and puppets from reclaimed wool, comes a collection of framed animal wall art that’s perfect for baby’s nursery. Like the fab finds we told …

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Handmade Headbands & Hairclips for Little Girls by Lou and Lee

Warm hats and ear muffs will soon be out with the winter season, which means sweet hair accessories are in — and what better way to welcome spring than to add some blossoms …

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Inhabitots Link Roundup of the Week

Kenziepoo loves the new Marionette collection of cushions from Darling Clementine seen above — and we love that these soft, sweet pillows are made with 100% organic cotton.

Growing up Green gives us a leg up on Tightology organic kids …

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Basurama Converts Electric Train Ruins in Lima into a Green Amusement Park

Spanish group Basurama literally had a green ‘train of thought’ when they converted an abandoned project to build an electric train in Lima, Peru into a green amusement park for kids and adults alike. Ever since the train ruins were forsaken in 1986, the construction has been left as-is, and concrete columns have stood without purpose… until this month, when the Ghost Train park opened free of charge to jubilant attendees who indulged in merriment via park equipment made from recycled materials.

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‘Hand Made’ Eco-Friendly Wallpaper for Kids from Paperboy

The ancient art of shadow puppetry gets a modern day spin with Paperboy’s ‘Hand Made’ wallpaper. An enchanting herd of cleverly crafted hand animals come to life on this FSC accredited sustainable forest paper, available in berry purple ink with hand screen printed animal shapes in shiny silver, or in shadowy …

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Eco-Punk Lego ‘Crawler Town’ by Dave DeGobbi

Brick-loving kids will be bowled over by designer Dave DeGobbi’s new Lego concept, Crawler Town. The story of Crawler Town begins with an end… the inhabitants of this steam-punk world have exploited the earth’s natural resources and can only find life’s simple luxuries “like pizza, fresh vegetables and beer” while vacationing at moving structures like Crawler Town. Yes, the environmental lesson this toy teaches is a pretty dark one (it’s best suited for older kids) but in all of this, forced by necessity, the townspeople have figured out a more energy efficient means of survival.

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NEW! Good Growing: A Kid’s Guide to Green Gardening

Looking for an engaging and educational way to get your kids into digging, planting and watering? Try Good Growing: A Kid’s Guide to Green Gardening from activity-book publisher Klutz. The pages are packed with kid-tested projects that are universal to all climates and gardens — from suburban backyards …

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Color-Yourself “Sunflower in a Bag” by Potting Shed Creations

Old Man Winter may be on his last legs, but a little hint couldn’t hurt. Try Potting Shed Creations’ certified-organic sunflower-in-a-bag, which contains everything you need to sprout a wee version of the cheery spring herald. The flowers, which blossom 60 to 70 days after germination, last up to five weeks …

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Eco-Friendly, Modern Emerson Dollhouse by Brinca Dada

Brinca Dada believes that toys don’t need to be flashy or noisy to be utterly exciting, and their newly listed Emerson House proves their point perfectly. Emerson House is an amazing modern home for your child’s eco-friendly doll family. Featuring six spacious rooms, the scale 1:18 home boasts a living room, kitchen, library/office, master bedroom, bathroom and child’s bedroom. With a large, open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling windows, the Emerson House uses the power of sunshine to provide year-round lighting; but that’s just the beginning of this sweet abode’s eco-friendly features.

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Kids Dream Up ‘Animal Table,’ Designer Quentin de Coster Brings it to Life

When Belgian designer Quentin de Coster set out to create a table for children, he cleverly collaborated with a team of 5 year olds to determine the aesthetic that would be most appealing and relatable. He asked each of the children to draw tables and dogs, and he used their interpretations as the basis for …

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SUMICA: Multifunctional Furniture for Green Kids

When he’s not designing furniture modeled after pizzly bears, Masahiro Minami, finds the time to teach a design seminar at the University of Shiga Prefecture. A byproduct of his latest seminar, which just wrapped up last month, was SUMICA, designed by 22-year old Michiko Eguchi. Eguchi designed SUMICA to teach children the value of personal belongings, as well as the significance of the furniture that houses our treasured possessions.

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Handmade Zoo Cubes from Cate & Levi

Cate & Levi Zoo Cubes are both cuddly like a stuffed animal and stackable like a block. Each colorful character is handmade in Toronto, Canada by Josh Title, eco-conscious dad, and team, using reclaimed wool on the outside and non-dyed wool stuffing inside. Since the fabric is reclaimed, no two Zoo Cubes …

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Wooden Birthday Party Set from Soopsori

We all know that the excitement of turning another year older fades away all too quickly — so let kids indulge their birthday party mania while they’re still young enough to believe in their wish for a unicorn while blowing out their cake candles. Soopsori’s Birthday Party set lets kids celebrate the passage of time till their heart’s …

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Makedo Kit Encourages DIY Craft & Toy Making via Creative Recycling

Australian company Makedo recently made their US debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. Their kits up the ante on “making do” with what you have around the house to whip up original crafts and toys. The concept is simple — inside the recycled cardboard tube you’ll find a bunch of recyclable plastic pins, hinges, clips, a kid-safe cutting tool and an inspiration poster. Kids are instructed to scavenge around the house to find boxes, egg cartons, fabric scraps, construction paper, jar lids, bubble wrap and more. Then, using what’s inside the Makedo tube, they turn what would otherwise be trash into cool art projects — from the simple to the elaborate to the grandiose. Watch the video after the jump to see the Makedo kit in action.

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Eco-Friendly Giraffe Rocking Chair from Recycle Studio

If you’ve yet to pony up for a rocking horse for your tot, opt for this hip Giraffe Rocking Chair from Recycle Studio, which is neck-deep in green design. Handcrafted in a limited run with over 90% salvaged materials — in this case, 1/2″ furniture grade 7 ply apple core plywood leftover …

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WIN IT WEDNESDAY! Win a HYmini Wind + Solar Gadget Charger!

Why should kids get to have all the fun? Parents will also enjoy reaping the rewards of this week’s giveaway, which puts renewable wind energy in the palm of one lucky winner’s hand! We’re giving away a HYmini Portable Wind and Solar Charger, (worth $50!) which offers a revolutionary way of capturing renewable energy for your iPod, mobile phone, PDA, mp3, or digital camera on the go! The HYmini is a hybrid, tiny green power station that you can easily tote on your daily travels to recharge nearly all of your electronic gadgets via its built in mini wind turbine and miniSOLAR panels. The HYmini may also be charged in a wall plug, USB outlet or with a hand crank generator on days you’re stuck indoors. Enter to win after the jump!

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Ecotronic’s Wind-Up Mr. Robot Head & Battery Free Green Toy Collection

Fact #1: “Only 2% of batteries 
are currently recycled — 
the rest end up in
 landfills and are 
poisoning our planet.” Fact #2: “Kids love electronic toys.” Add these two facts together and you get the starting point from which Ecotronic has launched a line of wind-up, shake-up, pump-up powered toys. The quirkiest is an …

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NEW! ‘Bean Appetit’ Cookbook Serves Up Healthy, Creative Meals for Kids

If your child is a picky eater (and seriously, whose isn’t?), why not make healthy food fun to eat? That’s the mission behind the clever cookbook Bean Appetit: Hip & Healthy Ways to Have Fun With Food. Inside its pages you’ll find oodles of creative, good-for-you recipes that are easy enough for kids to make with little or no adult assistance. We love how many of the foods are vegetarian-friendly focusing on veggies, grains, beans and fruits — though the fact that everything is a visually enticing masterpiece doesn’t hurt either!

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