Toys For Tykes

With a seemingly limitless range of children's toys on the market, choosing greener, healthier alternatives can be a daunting task. Petrochemical dyes and finishes, insecticides used in producing non-organic cotton and wool, lead-based paints, mercury batteries (sometimes in toy "bonuses" in children's cereal) and formaldehyde-emitting glues in composite wood all pose hazards, as do hormone-disrupting phthalates used to soften plastic playthings. In July 2005, the European Union voted to ban three phthalates from use in toys and child-care products and restricted three others. While the U.S. has not taken similar actions, some toy manufacturers are phasing out phthalates in response to consumer pressure.

Here are children's gifts that come phthalate-free, produced with organic materials, non-toxic finishes and/or wood from well-managed forests. Many are traditional toys that help to develop a child's imagination, creativity and motor skills.

Product Picks: The Wooden Rocky Color Cone from Holgate Toy Company ($15.95; www.holgatetoy.com, 800-499-1929). The Making Faces puzzle from Tumbleweed Woodworks for ages 3 to 8 ($20; www.tumbleweedwoodworks.com, 800-497-3116). Stuffed veggie dolls, free of heavy-metal dyes, in a crate from Organic Gift Shop ($25.99; www.organicgiftshop.com, 800-895-6045). The Pushing Car ($134.95) and alligator pull toy ($14.95) from Rosie Hippo's Toys (www.rosiehippo.com, 800-385-2620). The 72-piece Big Farm from Lego for ages 2 and up ($39.99; www.shop.lego.com, 800-453-4652). Little Rollie Animals and Vehicles from North Star Toys make good stocking stuffers ($4 each; www.waldorfresources.net/nstoys, 800-737-0112). The Beka Starter 30-piece Block Set made from Minnesota- and Wisconsin-grown maple ($49.95). Also from Beka, the Beautiful Place cooperative ecology board game for ages 4 and up ($15; www.peapods.com, 866-WOOD-TOY). This August, the Center for Environmental Health found that 17 soft-vinyl lunchboxes had high levels of brain-damaging lead on their surfaces. Replace vinyl lunchboxes with AsianaWest's sleek stainless-steel containers ($12.95, www.asianawest.com) and the stainless-steel Dome lunchbox with thermos ($22.50, www.lunchboxes.com).

Resources: See "Non-Toxic Toys" (GG #105) and the Toys Product Report at thegreenguide.com/reports.