Pre-holiday toy shake down

Before the holiday season hits, make sure you do some winter cleaning. Take a look at all the toys in your child’s room and chuck out any containing toxic chemicals or lead.

The NRDC, among others notes that toxins found in toys related to plastics can interfere with normal sexual development, and may even lead to early onset of puberty.

Collect up any soft plastic toys, toys with older paint (could be lead based), and drop them off at the recycling center. Make sure that friends and family know that your goal is safe holiday toys. Tell them to limit the amount of toys they buy your kids, and also look for toys made with sustainable materials. Instead of plastics, look for wooden toys, toys made from recycled plastics, wool, organic cotton, and other eco-friendly materials.

Additionally encourage friends and family to offer other gifts – i.e. not toys but an outing, or experience, like a play, vs. a toys that may get tossed aside.

Also see…

• Nine Affordable Green Toys for the Holidays
• Well-priced organic toys for baby
• 2008 “10 Worst Toys” List

[image via stock.xchng]