So you can choose educational toys ECOFRIENDLY for your little
Children use play to learn, develop characters and skills, and take on roles. Today, it is more important than ever that children learn from a very young age the value of sustainability and recycling, the importance of reducing our ecological footprint and avoiding the use of non-biodegradable plastic. Therefore, what better way to teach them the importance of nature than by introducing sustainable toys into their lives?
It has been a slow process, but sustainable habits have been introduced into our lives little by little. From our way of dressing to consumption, passing through food, what is bought is increasingly taken care of, avoiding plastics and products that may be harmful to the environment in general.
This change towards eco -friendly also goes through the habits of our children. In the future, they will have to take over and continue taking care of the planet, so it will be important to teach them from the outset the value of recycled and recyclable products. In the past, most toys were made with non-polluting materials, such as wood, brass, rope or cloth. However, for a few years, toy store shelves have been full of plastics and synthetic fabrics that are harmful to the environment.
A first step towards a more sustainable life will be to educate our little ones in the use of ecofriendly materials in such a simple way, such as changing those plastic toys for others made of less aggressive materials, such as wood, cardboard or cork. But how can you know which toy to choose when the shelves are full of plastic?
Why choose educational and ecofriendly toys?
First of all, many plastic toys contain chemicals that can be toxic. These plastics are chemical derivatives of petroleum and may contain phthalates or bisphenol A, two toxic and dangerous elements. Children, especially younger ones, tend to put toys in their mouths, which can cause serious health problems.
Many of these plastics are not even recyclable, so they will end up in the garbage and, later, in landfills and garbage treatment plants that do not care to separate the plastics. These non-recycled plastics usually end up in natural environments, such as forests or seas, where they degrade very slowly, releasing particles and microparticles that are highly polluting.
Choosing the best educational toy (you can find here some options to compare) and ecofriendly goes beyond nature conservation. Giving your little one sustainable toys made with cork, cotton and natural woods allows you to teach them the importance of responsible consumption, which will allow them to develop a healthier relationship with nature through all these natural elements.
As we have said, the oldest toys, those that today are considered collectibles and that can be seen in museums around the world, were already made of this type of material, so we are dealing with something more than a passing fad.. Wooden or cloth toys are much more durable than plastic ones, due to the simplicity of their construction they are made to last and to stimulate their imagination, since it will not be enough to press a button for the toy to do things, but they will have to be the ones to imagine everything they can do.
Also, contrary to popular belief, these toys are not more expensive. As we have just explained, they are toys made to last for years and years, so in the long run they will save money, since they will stay with your little one for a long time.
How do I choose the best ecofriendly toy for my child?
It is not enough to make the decision, you also have to know how to choose the best recyclable and sustainable toy for your little one. You have to know what to look for, so as not to end up making a bad choice. For example, if you are going to buy a wooden toy for your child, you must make sure that it has the FSC (Forest Steward Council) certificate, that is, that it is made with wood from sustainable and controlled felling.
For wooden toys, the ideal is to bet on those made with bamboo wood. These woods regenerate naturally and very quickly, so they do not require the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. The biggest drawback of this wood is that the plantations are not usually found here, but are Asian.
Other plant materials that you should bet on are cork and rubber. In the case of rubber, which is often used in teethers and baby toys, it is especially important that you choose only natural rubber without any additives and, if possible, from controlled plantations and not farms. The cork comes from the cork oak, a common tree in Spain and throughout the Mediterranean, so it will always be a better alternative.
Nor can you forget the products with which the toys have been treated. If they have paint, you should make sure that they are non-toxic water-based paints, some sustainable toy brands are beginning to use natural paints made from food dyes. For multi-piece toys, which contain some type of glue, you should only choose those that are made with natural glues, with vegetable bases and never chemical or animal ones.
In the same way, you should look at the treatments that many of these toys incorporate. Lacquers and varnishes must also be vegetable. In this sense, many companies only use natural or vegetable waxes and oils.
As for cloth toys, choose only those with a GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certificate and that have been made with natural fabrics such as cotton, wool or linen, that do not use toxic pigments and that come from organic plantations.
Although the best decision you can make to teach your child to take care of the planet is not to throw away toys. Make them last. Teach him that before throwing something in the trash, it is best to try to fix it.
