If you’ve still got young kids on your Christmas shopping list, remember that every little girl (and boy) loves to cook in their own personal kitchen – check out these beautiful wooden kitchen playsets.  They’ll last for years and can be passed down to future generations. 

Maxim Enterprise Wooden Kitchen Center – Made of sturdy hardwood, paint is lead free and non toxic. Includes: Make-Believe oven, Microwave oven, Sink, Two burners, Storage space with curtain, Rack on side of unit to hold dish towels. Dimensions: 27 x 15 x 9  $140

 

 

 

 

Steffi Wood Heirloom Kitchen–  This Steffy Wood Heirloom 2-in-1 Kitchen Center features a sink with sprayer, a scalloped back splash, and toe kick. It includes four-burner range with oven and stove door with window.

 

 

 

 

Hape Toys Gourmet Kitchen – This child-sized gourmet kitchen will help young chefs fantasize and create as they check their cake through the oven window or turn the big knobs “on” or “off”. Built of quality birch wood and water-based paint, the kitchen includes a sink, oven, hutch, towel rack and cupboard. Cookware Set contains two knives, two forks, a pot with lid, a frying pan, a large ladle, a spatula, two dishes, a salt and pepper set and one dish towel. Assembly required. $130

 

 

 

Educo My Creative Cookery Club– The all-in-one wood unit has an oven with a see-through door, cupboard or refrigerator, cook top, sink and utensil rack. Velcro’d veggies and bread, pots and pans, and the essential salt and pepper are all included too! Educo My Creative Cookery Club is made of natural wood and child-safe, non-toxic paints. $120

We’ve spent the last three weeks enjoying the sunshine outdoors and I’ve realized that it’s time to get some new outdoor toys for my (almost!) 3 year old.  She keeps hijacking the neighbor’s toys and that can only last for so long!  Many of the outdoor toys on the market are made of plastic and contain PVC, which I’m trying to avoid, if possible.

GreenToys has a couple outdoor toys this year, the Ecosaucer Flying Disc ($6) and Sand Play Set ($15).  The Ecosaucer (a.k.a. Frisbee) is made in the USA with 100% recycled plastic milk containers.  Mass retailers such as Target and Toys ‘R’ Us carry GreenToys or you can order them online at Amazon.com

Who doesn’t have fond childhood memories of their Radio Flyer wagon?  Well Radio Flyer has not only metal and wood wagons but they have now have a ‘green’ Radio Flyer ( literally ), the Earth Flyer.  Made from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs, each wagon diverts 230 milk jugs from landfills. ($130)

Sprig Toys is dedicated to manufacturing toys using earth-friendly materials including recycled wood and reclaimed plastic.   Their Hollow Dunebug’s Sand Truck Playset is designed to be played with in the water, sand or dirt. ($15)

This brilliant mother designs clothesline tents out of felt (made from 100% recycled plastic bottles) for use outside on clotheslines.  Throw it over a clothesline and secure with 4 tent stakes.  After play, you can throw it in the wash if needed.  A large window on one side and three flower sky light windows on the other side provide great views for cloud watching and breezes blowing through. Large appliques add charm so your tent looks great in your yard or in your house. You can customize the house ( my favorite thing about products on Etsy! ).  I LOVE this idea so much that I’m already thinking about getting myself a clothesline!  Brilliant! ($70)

Now for the granddaddy of outdoor toys, a swingset.  I like CedarWorks because the wood used in their playsets is naturally splinter-free and naturally rot-resistant, so there is no need to add chemicals (like arsenic) by staining, painting or pressure-treating the wood.

KIDDIE POOLS – The best kiddie pool option that I stumbled upon is a hard one made from #2 plastic and sold at Toys ‘R’s Us – make sure to check the bottom of the pool when buying it, it should have a #2 on it.  For reasons NOT to buy a soft plastic pool, check Grist’s commentary.

If you can’t find a PVC free alternative to an item you really want, your next best bet is to buy used because the toy has already off-gassed.  Find a list of places to find used goods here.