| Educational Toys home >
Educational Toys News Center > Green tips: Switch from plastic to natural toys
Green tips: Switch from plastic to natural toys
Problem: Plastic children's toys can be toxic. The outgassing of
plastics is a contributor to indoor air pollution.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is assessing the risk of
many plastic toys to children, but in the meantime, companies continue
to make plastic toys. A few have been banned.
Safe solution: Look for wooden toys or stuffed toys made from natural
fibers at your local toy store, in catalogs and online.
Some other reasons for buying natural toys include:
• Babies like to suck on toys so wood and natural fibers are
best.
• Plastic toys tend to break faster than wood toys.
• The feel and sound of wood, cotton and wool is much more
pleasant than plastic, acrylic and vinyl.
• Simple basic toys tend to spark more creativity and fantasy
play as opposed to noisy, plastic toys with gimmicks and gadgets.
Source: From the book "Home Safe Home" by Debra Lynn Dadd
(Penguin Books Ltd.)
Compiled by digs editor Colleen McBrinn. Green Tips is a weekly
feature on environmentally friendly ways of living.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2003143352_greentips22.html
|
