What: Nimble Nester Stacking Arches

Features: From Little Sapling Toys, a lovely set of stacking arches that are simple in appearance, yet perfect for young, developing minds. Kids can hone their balancing, fine motor and pattern-making skills with this timeless wooden set that can be passed on for generations because hello? NOT made from junky plastic.

Green Factor: Made out of maple, cherry and walnut; the arches are finished with a light beeswax and organic jojoba oil.

Bonus: For every toy sold, Little Sapling Toys plants a tree.

Find It Here: Little Sapling Toys

Non-Toxic Kids: Eco-Friendly Back to School 2010: Green Backpacks, Lunches, and Gear!

The Daily Green: Back to School Green Shopping Guide

Blisstree: Ten Green Back-to-School Supplies

Care2: Green Lunchboxes

The Center for Health, Environment and Justice: The 2010 Back to School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies

Inhabitots: Organic Nap Mats for Toddlers

Know of any other helpful posts about greening back-to-school time? Share them in the comments!

PS: Check back for a fabulous non-toxic back-to-school giveaway on Friday 8/20!!!

I snapped this photo while I was out getting the last of our school supplies. We did pretty good at getting most items in a green or at least green-ish capacity but this? Really triggered my greenwashing radar [more…] Read the rest of this entry »

What: Whoops Bunny Natural Makeup Sticks

Features: Five twist-up tubes of brightly colored makeup for your little bunnies to play with, worry free!

Green Factor: Unlike most kids’ play makeup that’s loaded with nasty and sometimes toxic chemicals, Whoops Bunny is made from all natural, biodegradable ingredients such as raspberry extract—and the plastic tubes are recyclable, as well.

Bonus: Whoops Bunny makeup sticks are made right in the USA and manufactured with wind power.

Find It Here: Whoops Bunny

What: Little Bites Storage Jars

Features: Packing a lunch ain’t what it used to be—on top of providing a nutritional meal, today’s parents also have to make sure that what they’re packing those lunches in isn’t full of harmful toxins or chemicals. These brightly colored Little Bites storage jars from Kinderville are the perfect solution—you can pack them in lunches or stack them in your freezer, worry-free.

Green Factor: The containers (and their lids) are made from a high-grade silicone, making them freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe. Like the rest of Kinderville’s wares, they’re BPA, phthalate and lead-free and bacteria resistant, too.

Bonus: The price is right—a set of four is less than $20!

Find It Here: Kinderville on Amazon

What: Wooden trike

Features: I’ve always been a sucker for a red and white trike, but I’m head over heels for the fresh, modern look of this wooden one from Plan Toys! Constructed and designed with the toddler set in mind, this trike is fun, functional and built to last.

Green Factor: Made from all-natural, organic recycled rubber wood; decorated with non-toxic paints and finishes.

Bonus: Plan Toys was won over thirty awards for their innovative, eco-friendly, imagination-stimulating toys.

Find It Here: Amazon

What: LiceLogic

Features: If you’ve got kids, there’s a fair chance you will eventually have a run in with head lice (if you haven’t already) and the only thing worse than having a case of it in your household are the conventional treatments used to get rid of it. I mean, who wants to dump a bunch of nasty chemicals on their child’s head? Enter LiceLogic and their line of non-toxic products, designed to not only treat head lice, but prevent it as well.

Green Factor: LiceLogic products are enzyme and plant-based, non-toxic and pesticide-free. They’re biodegradable, safe for infants and meet all FDA guidelines

Bonus: Ingredients such as peppermint and lemon mean no nasty chemical smell! And? LiceLogic makes house calls! Check their web site for details

Find It Here: LiceLogic

What: Think Baby Feeding System

Features: We love these products from Think Baby–colorful, durable cups, bottles and feeding sets for kids of all ages!

Green Factor: Interiors are made of food-grade stainless steel and are free of BPA, melamine, PVC, lead, phthalates and nitrosamines

Bonus: The set comes complete with a spoon and fork and the food containers come with lids; all items are dishwasher safe and the polypropylene shell helps insulate contents.

Find It Here: Think Baby

Win It: We’ve partnered with Think Baby to give away one of their BPA-free feeding sets! Click here to fill out our simple entry form. Just enter TB04 as the giveaway name and answer the following: What are three other Think Baby products besides the Feeding System? Enter by 04/23/10. $40 value. Open to US residents only; winner to be notified by email. Official Rules.

Also Check Out: Manny & Simon Wheelie Toy giveaway (ends April 14)

What: Manny & Simon wooden wheelie toy

Features: These brightly colored, battery-free, wooden wheelie toys are sure to provide hours of imaginative play. A welcome addition to any toy box!

Green Factor: Made of 100% post-recycled wood residuals; painted with non-toxic, ultra low odor paint

Bonus: $6 flat-rate shipping on all ground orders!

Find It Here: Kelly Green Way

Win It: We’ve partnered with Kelly Green Way to give away a Manny & Simon wheelie toy of your choice! Click here to fill out our simple entry form. Just enter MS04 as the giveaway name and name four of the eight Manny & Simon wheelie toys up for grabs on their web site. Enter by 04/14/10. $32 value. Open to US residents only. Winner to be notified by email. Giveaway has ended.

What: Ol’ Macs Story Building Barnyard

Features: Imagination rules with this 95-piece barnyard building set from Sprig Toys! Kids will have a blast building their own farm, and creating a fun storyline to go with it

Green Factor: Made out of recycled Sprigwood, a bio-composite material comprised of reclaimed wood bits and recycled plastic. Sprigwood is free of paint, soluble heavy metals, phthalates and endocrine disruptors

Bonus: This toy is 100% battery-free!

Find It Here: Sprig Toys

What: Bamboo E-Plane

Features: Up, up and away! This wooden toy airplane from Hape is stylish, modern and built to last.

Green Factor: The environmentally-friendly E-Plane is made out of sustainable bamboo and is decorated with non-toxic, water-based dyes

Bonus: All of Hape’s products meet international safety and quality standards

Find It Here: Amazon.com

What: Wheely Bug

Features: The Wheely Bug is unisex, durable, lightweight and small – perfect for indoor play. Available in two sizes for children up to fifty pounds.

Green Factor: Made with non-toxic materials and is PVC-free. Each bug’s plywood base is made from renewable plantation timber

Bonus: Winner of numerous toy awards, encourages gross motor skills. Also, choose from a ladybug, a cow, a bumblebee or a gray mouse (complete with big pink ears and a tail!)

Find It Here: Prince Lionheart