Inhabitots

Turned Wood Works of Art: Kokeshi Dolls from Pen Pencil Stencil

Artist Mark Giglio gives vibrant new life to scrap wood with these turned wood Kokeshi Dolls made in his Pen Pencil Stencil studio in Oakland, California. A delightful intersection between works of art and toys, Kokeshi Dolls would be right at home on the shelf or in the playroom of a green family who appreciates sustainable design. …

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“Letterbox” Typography Blocks Teach Kids to Become Font Designers

Tired of old-school building blocks? This toy prototype helps hipster tots learn not only their ABCs but also the basics of font design. (Here’s hoping future generations will never know the horror of Comic Sans.) Instead of 26 distinct letters, the oversize, 4-inch recycled-cardboard cubes (known as “Letterboxes”) divvy up the alphabet into combining geometric parts, not unlike a …

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Cubebots: Eco-Friendly Wooden Robots by David Weeks

Robot toys are typically made of plastic and require batteries — but with designer David Weeks’ latest toy, Cubebots, you can indulge your child with a robot pal while maintaining your green sensibility. Cubebots are an Areaware original debuting for the new season at the New York International Gift Fair. David Weeks creates his lovable and pliable Cubebots with sustainably harvested …

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Become Smitten’s Endangered Animals Are Lovable Green Valentines

Who would have thought a Water Buffalo could be such a cute and lovable Valentine gift? Become Smitten thinks the water buffalo is worthy of some cuddling, along with a range of other endangered animals in plush form including frogs, owls, wolves, rhinos, marmots, bunnies, and more. Each unique stuffie is individually handmade with organic or recycled fabrics exclusively — and each boasts his own sweet personality!

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Pecanpals Plush Toys by Noferin

The Pecanpals started as sustainably designed wooden figurines — now, their personable charm has been translated into a colorful, cuddly collection of 13-inch plush toys, which are both ASTM and CE certified. This latest creation from the artistic duo behind Noferin boasts the same adorable character and wit that makes all of their limited edition wooden collections sell out fast. From Periwinkle the Wildlife Rescuer to …

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Hand Knit Monkey Rattle from Zubels

This charming, smiling Monkey Rattle from Zubels is perfect for newborns and toddlers alike. At 7.5 inches tall it’s a great addition to an eco-friendly plush collection — and the soft, tinkling rattle inside makes it a sweet gift for babies too. The monkey is hand knit by Peruvian artisans under Fair Trade practices. To double the fun, go for both the …

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Caboodle: A Cardboard Cat Condo Your Kid Can Decorate

If children and cats have anything in common, it’s their shared love of cardboard boxes. Keep the peace between the two species with the Caboodle, a corrugated cardboard kitty condo that acts as a blank canvas for pint-size Picassos of the less-furry kind. Made in the United States from 40% post-consumer recycled cardboard, the Caboodle features peek-a-boo holes and contoured “grooming edges” for rubbing …

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Upcycled Plush Owls Deliver Special Valentine Messages

If you have a Valentine who shares our affection for owls, the adorable parliament of Tiny Wee Hoot Owls from Etsy shop Buttercupbloom make wise, eco-friendly gifts with heart. Each colorful, snuggly plush owl is handmade from a variety of upcycled fabrics from wool sweaters to the faux bois …

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WIN IT WEDNESDAY! Win an Exclusive Collection of Mama K’s Aromatic Play Clay Valued at $105!

Mama K has partnered with Inhabitots to offer an exclusive collection of her amazing Mama K’s Aromatic Play Clay worth $105 to one lucky winner! Mama K’s Aromatic Play Clay offers endless fun for both kids and parents. The perfect indoor activity during the winter or any season, this kid-safe, 100% natural, gluten free, biodegradable clay is made with gluten free flours, extra virgin olive oil, vegetable colorants — and is infused with subtle aromatherapy organic essential oils to soothe the mind during playtime. Handmade in Seattle, Washington, and packaged in reusable/recyclable containers, Mama K’s play clay is suitable for children with Celiac and Autism Spectrum disorders. See the collection of amazing Mama K’s goodies you could win in this exclusive giveaway after the jump!

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Handmade, Eco-Friendly Lucha Libre Fighters from Caribbean Puzzles

My son loves luchadores. He also loves puzzles and has a great appreciation for the environment. So there’s nothing about Caribbean Puzzles’ line of eco-friendly fighters that this kid wouldn’t adore. Like every jigsaw in the company’s varied offerings, these masked muscle men are “earth friendly, child safe and people kind.” They accomplish this by utilizing formaldehyde-free MDF (recycled wood fibers are compressed to form a sturdy wood-derived material), and employing Fair Trade practices in their factory in Mexico.

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Uncle Goose Sustainable Wooden Nursery Rhyme Blocks

We’ve introduced you to eco-friendly Uncle Goose classic alphabet blocks, but once your toddlers know their ABCs you can move on to a set of these charming Uncle Goose Nursery Rhyme Blocks. Available in sets of 9 or 28, the blocks have images and text from timeless Mother Goose stories like Hey Diddle Diddle and Hickory Dickory Dock — printed with non-toxic inks, of course. The blocks …

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Mini Taj Mahal Kids’ Palaces Recycled from Old Water Tanks

If you’ve ever given a present to a little girl or boy only to have them ignore it and play for hours with the box it came in, you’ll understand why these fantastical kids palaces are the perfect plaything in the eyes of a child. They’re the brainchild of one very resourceful designer, Katell Gelebart, who realized that the water tanks discarded while constructing the Dune eco resort near Pondicherry, India were just the right size and shape for fun and fanciful dwellings for little guests. Painted with palm fronds and colorful flowers and topped with ornate mini-gazebos, it’s hard to believe that these beautiful little houses started out as boring old water tanks!

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Glob Botanical Paints: Eco-friendly Color Blends for Green Kids

Just add water to Glob Natural Color Blends and voila, you have safe, non-toxic, biodegradable paint! Each pigment is botanically crafted from natural colors found in vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, roots and spices — for example, basil makes green and pomegranate makes reddish orange — and you won’t find any petrochemicals, …

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Handmade Love Gnomes by SewnNatural

Show your little one some love on Valentine’s Day with an adorable little Love Gnome by SewnNatural. Each 3.5 inch-tall eco-friendly character is needle felted by hand from 100% wool in Ottawa, Canada. The gnomes, with heart in hands, are much more fun than a throwaway paper card. With 12 different styles to choose from — 6 boys and 6 girls — you’re sure to find the perfect Love Gnome for your child.

+ Love Gnomes …

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NEW! Bo Buro Cardboard Writing Desk Set by Kidsonroof

The Bo Buro by Kidsonroof, built for two, isn’t your typical todder-sized desk-and-stool combo. For starters, it’s made of recycled cardboard, which the Dutch design company has printed with a litany of contrasting animal silhouettes. It also comes riddled with holes of different sizes, perfect for hiding tiny treasures and engaging growing imaginations. And don’t make the mistake of equating “cardboard” with “flimsy” …

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Jump Rope with Flashlight in Handle Recycles Kinetic Energy Into Light

Ever wished you could tap into your tot’s seemingly boundless energy? If designers Hyun Joo Lee and Eu Tteum Lee’s concept jump-rope-flashlight comes to life, you could be looking at your new sustainable power source.

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Huggable Stuffed “Aminals” Bring Kids’ Drawings to Life

Kids don’t see the world quite the way we do — colors are more intense, proportions are exaggerated, details devolve into rudimentary shapes. It’s this unique perspective that permeates Aminals, a ragtag band of dolls inspired by children’s drawings. Made with certified-organic cotton and low-impact vegetable-based dyes, the quirky characters celebrate childhood at its most creative. Each Aminal, from the scaly Dinasor to the not-so-ferocious …

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Juba Wooden Caterpillar Toy from Naef

Little ones always seem delighted by the creepy crawlies they see outside, and it’s easy to bring some of that buggy fun inside with Juba Wooden Caterpillars from Naef. Luckily, Juba caterpillars are less slimy than the real thing, but their squirmy movements will still enchant your tot. A flexible rubber thread tucked safely inside the Juba allows these little …

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Daily Shelter: A Kitchen Table That Transforms Into a Playhouse!

As far as transforming furniture goes, this table-turned-playhouse by Ingrid Brandth is nothing short of spectacular. (Watch the video below the fold if you don’t believe us.) An ordinary-looking kitchen table at first glance, the Daily Shelter can be converted into a tiny house in seconds by pulling down hidden panels to form walls and then raising the roof (literally!) by pushing up the table surface. Camped inside, a child can “hide from scary sounds, ghosts, or family members,” says Brandth, who adds that the playhouse imparts the same sense of security that a snail feels in its own shell. Cozy!

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WIN IT WEDNESDAY! Win a Gorgeous Set of Eco-Friendly Uncle Goose Alphabet Blocks in a Pull Toy Wagon!

Alphabet blocks are beloved childhood toys which help tots learn their ABC’s and develop their motor skills. Gummy Lump Toys is sponsoring our giveaway of a 28 piece set of the best alphabet blocks on the market — eco-friendly Uncle Goose Alphabet blocks valued at $50! These blocks come neatly arranged in a wooden wagon, so kids get two toys in one, and they can tote the educational fun all over the house! Read our rave review of Uncle Goose blocks here on Inhabitots to see why we agree that they were voted one of the ‘best 100 toys.’ Made in the USA, Uncle Goose alphabet blocks are crafted from local basswood sustainably grown around the Great Lakes. Each Uncle Goose Alphabet block features four letters (two of which are embossed), a unique animal picture, and a number or math symbol. Beveled edges, classic styling and the use of non-toxic inks on the letter embossing make these blocks the quintessential addition to your child’s green playroom. Enter to win after the jump!

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5 Green Toys You Can Make Yourself Out Of Ordinary Household Items

Think that “Going green” with your kid’s toys means shopping for expensive and hard-to-find wooden toys? Think again! Some of the most fun, and GREENEST toys are the ones you can make yourself out of common household products and a little ingenuity. If you are the parent of a small child, you probably already know that pots and pans and cardboard boxes are often more captivating to your child than anything store-bought or pre-packaged. The following five DIY toy ideas take the idea of pots and pans to the next level, and were provided to us by uber-creative supermoms Ofrit Peres and Natalie Cronin, the lovely ladies behind the traveling green play event called Unplugged On A Rug.

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PREVIEW! Green Toys’ New Eco-Friendly Collection for Infants!

Green Toys Inc., a favorite award-winning green toy company here at Inhabitots, recently announced a brand new eco-friendly collection of seven toys and feeding gear accouterments for tots as young as six months. Dubbed My First Green Toys, the line was designed with the smallest tree huggers in mind, and will officially debut at the Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany February 4-9, 2010 — but we are unveiling a preview of the My First Green Toys collection here and now!

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Handmade Crochet Chess Set

You don’t need plastic knights and bishops to teach your kids how to play chess. This handmade Crochet Chess Set from Anthropologie is a sweeter way to show them special moves and secret strategies. With hand-crocheted pieces and a blue felted chessboard, it looks like something Grandma would make, and it’s destined to become a …

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P’kolino Non-Toxic Art Supplies for Kids

P’kolino, designer of fun and safe furniture and toys for kids, including the delightful Klick Puzzle Chair, recently teamed up with Spain based Jovi, a world leader in art supplies, to bring a new line of non-toxic art materials to the U.S. market. All of these P’kolino Art Supplies have been made especially with kids in mind — featuring playful and unique larger shapes that are easier for small hands to hold. These art supplies also clean up in a snap, are long-lasting and affordable. See the bright collection of P’kolino Art Supplies after the jump!

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GREAT GREEN PLAYDATE in NYC!

The Great Green Playdate for a Cause is eco-play company Unplugged on a Rug’s traveling playdate that caters to families with young children from 0-5 years. Inhabitots editor Jill Fehrenbacher will be on the scene with her own Inhabitot, Petey, so join us for some green play and musical surprises! All proceeds …

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Beetle Blocks Turn Wood Waste Into Wonder for All Ages

Beetle Blocks are not your typical building blocks. Handcrafted from Ponderosa Pine in Western Canada, their naturally-stained geometric blue pieces are the dye work of a local species of bark beetle that kills and tints the grain of the Ponderosa tree rings. Thankfully, this ‘dead wood’ has found new life in Beetle Block …

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TOP 5 GREEN BABY PRODUCTS OF 2009 – Vote For Your Fave!

During the past year we have witnessed the trend that green baby products are becoming more of a necessity than an alternative. As eco and health conscious parents seek every way possible to preserve both their baby’s precious purity and the earth’s resources, more and more companies are answering this call to action by making sustainably designed products for enthusiastic green families. Here are our top 5 favorite green baby products from 2009. Which one is your favorite? Vote after the jump!

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VOTE NOW! Top 5 Green Toys of 2009

2009 was a landmark year for green toys. After the ban on phthalates in toys, BPA scandals, and Mattel’s fine of 2.9 million dollars over the lead paint found in Barbie dolls, parents are naturally becoming more and more concerned with the safety and quality of the toys they give to their children. The silver lining has been the growing support for small businesses and brands that produce responsible, safe, high-quality, eco-friendly toys for children. Here are five of our favorite green kids toys from 2009:

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Flor Panichelli’s Paper Mache Finger Puppets

Finger puppets are conventionally kitschy craft-paper of woven wool affairs that bear very little resemblance to the characters they are meant to portray. But Flor Panichelli’s beautifully crafted paper mache creations for her Pelpa collection put an end to that notion. More modern art sculptures in miniature than tools for dramatic play, each handmade piece comes with a …

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Hape International Bamboo Airplane Toy

Green kids can prepare to land in 2010 with this hot rod airplane toy from Hape International’s bamboo collection. Ready to take flight and zoom around the room powered by your child’s energy, each propeller plane is made from sustainable bamboo and finished with non-toxic water-based paints — making it an eco-conscious option for playtime. Now, if only your child could buy carbon credits for every flight…

+ …

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Alexander Girard Puzzle by House Industries

Looking for additional ways to introduce the work of Alexander Girard into your tot’s life? This wooden puzzle by House Industries is based on a never-used Girard carpet design from the project archive of architect Eero Saarinen’s iconic Miller House. Rather than let the folksy animals molder in obscurity, House Industries used child-safe inks to print the artwork on Michigan-grown basswood, …

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