If you ask your child to name her favorite stuffed toy, she’ll probably pick one that has that ‘worn’ look of having been loved and treasured. Katkaland Creatures handmade animal plushies have that same charm from the beginning, because they’re all one-of-a-kind and made from recycled fabric. Montreal-designer Katka Hubacek’s latest quirky character, Beast-Tee is made from a super soft preloved T-shirt. You’ll also find adorable options made from recycled cotton, acrylic knit, corduroy, velvet, sweaters and polar fleece.

+ Eco-Friendly Animal Plushies $30-$65

+ Katkaland Creatures

As you’re getting ready to fill Easter baskets this holiday, consider adding a Cottontail Rabbit Needle Felting Kit from Fancy Tiger. Inside the box you’ll find everything you need to make two adorable bunnies — including wool roving, a barbed felting needle and step-by-step instructions. The kits are put together by hand in Denver, CO crafting store Fancy Tiger Boutique, which specializes in eco-friendly and socially conscious yarns. For even more fun, Fancy Tiger offers kits to make bulbous chicks, sheep, robins and other springtime animals too!

+ Cotton Tail Rabbit Needle Felting Kit $12 each

+ Fancy Tiger on Etsy

+ Fancy Tiger Crafting Boutique

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 a Technicolor, multifaceted alter dimension, where friends multiply, colors shift and new galaxies appear just beyond reach — all without every leaving (or harming) the planet.

+ Amber Kaleidoscope $18

+ ONA

When it comes to toys that kids will love, who better to design them than other kids? That’s who Bholu enlisted for the launch of their line of whimsical stuffed animals, which are based on the drawings of underprivileged children in India. Brought into the third dimension by Indian artisans, the wool-felt huggables help keep traditional crafting techniques alive, while providing a sustainable income for the people who make them.

+ Animal Creatures $48-$56 at Design Public

+ Bholu

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!

Giddy up little doggies with these rootin’ tootin costumes for kids, hand-knit in London from 100% gen-noo-ine lambswool. Fitted for tiny varmints up to 9 months (feel free to inquire about custom sizes), each make-believe romper comes saddled with details aplenty for added realism: knitted guns for cowboys and girls, “bearskin” hats for little Buckingham Palace Guards, and braided headdresses for Native American princesses. Parents who have no time to horse around, however, will appreciate the snap fasteners at the business end of things, just in case you need to lend a quick hand before your intrepid explorers head back out west.

+ Hand-Knit Baby Costumes $82-$110

+ The Miniature Knit Shop

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 plywood and finished with linseed oil, each rocker is padded with an organic cotton cushion in your choice of orange, chocolate, or green. We’re positive your toddler won’t mind sharing — just as long as you remember to ask nicely.

+ Fava Rocker $270

+ Knoend

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 10-inch-tall puppet fits snugly onto a grownup’s hand and comes with a zippered opening, so you can use a monkey, pig, or a panda as ad-hoc storage (a popped button, perhaps?) in a pinch.

+ Felt Animal Puppet $19.95

+ Noted

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 size from a medium size egg (the largest) to a peppercorn (the smallest) is a work of art in its own right. Feeling inspired? Pick up a set of your own blank nesting dolls for you and your kids to paint, and open up the possibilities.

+ Joel Henriques

+ Made by Joel