Eco-Friendly Toys For Kids - And Dogs?

With an increased awareness about the state of the environment, more and more families are choosing to "go green". Making choices that are eco-friendly is an easy process; there are now lines of environmentally-friendly foods, bedding, and cleaners, to name a few. However, many people fail to realize that in addition to teaching children to reuse and recycle, they can also fill their toy boxes with eco-friendly items.

Elmo Live Toy
Cheap Toys

Environmentally-friendly wood products are becoming increasingly common in the toy world. Wooden toys, a hit item of the past, are making a comeback. Everything from toy boxes to easel are being constructed of natural wood that will biodegrade over time. Many eco-friendly toy manufacturers also opt to use wood that is plentiful in supply, as opposed to scarce hardwoods. Wood is often used to replace certain types of plastic, which some manufacturers fear poses a health risk to children because of the chemicals it contains.

Stuffed animals, a popular addition to any child's toy collection, are constructed of organic cotton in the eco-friendly world. Organic cotton causes as little harm to the Earth as possible, eliminating overuse of pesticides and fertilizers. This type of cotton has gained popularity over the past few years, with a production increase of more than fifty per cent in 2005. In addition to stuffed toys, organic cotton is also used in infants' and children's clothing and bedding.

It is important to be aware of the increased costs associated with environmentally-friendly toys. Often somewhat more expensive than other toys, organic toys are well worth the money. They offer safe alternatives to potentially hazardous chemicals, often last much longer than regular toys, and will not harm the environment in the long run.

Eco-friendly manufacturers are even producing organic pet toys. Like children's toys, environmentally-friendly pet toys avoid the use of chemical-based plastics, instead using biodegradable materials. Many dog toys are made of hemp, best used for a game of fetch than as a regular chew toy.

Even stuffed animals made for dogs are created using organic cotton, like eco-friendly child toys. They do not contain bleach and may also be stuffed with a combination of cotton and hemp. In addition, the materials used in these products are usually hypoallergenic.

Some organic pet toy producers have even gone so far as to create their own materials. These new compounds offer alternatives to plastic and rubber without any toxic additives. According to dog owner reviews, pets appear to enjoy the new products just as much as the old, tried-and-true versions.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls at these sites for eco-friendly toys, stuffed animals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

The Wonderful World of Toy Breed Dogs

Small toy dogs teach us more about the mystery and magic of canines than the larger dog breeds. Sharing your life with a toy dog can be one of the most enjoyable and intimate experiences you will have with a pet. These little guys will follow you from room to room. In fact, they can be quite nosey. The little guys just love to know exactly what you are doing at all times. He will hop on your lap suddenly while you are reading or watching T.V. You will just routinely start to take him with you on all your errands. Just be sure you have chosen the right type of dog carrier for all your expeditions with these little guys, or better yet, with the choices we have today in dog carriers and dog accessories you will want to have a different dog carrier for each type of journey.

There is a pocket-sized toy breed dog for every kind of dog lover, teeny tiny Terriers, Poodles and Yorkies, Japanese Chin, Pomeranian, Miniature Pinschers, teacup and imperial size Shih Tzu, and Chihuahuas. The little guys look so sweet and adorable dressed up in the latest of dog fashions and accessories.

The little guys can do almost anything their larger canine cousins can do, but they do it in less space. Humans don’t have to be top athletes to keep up with them. The little guys have a spirit that is every bit as big as the dogs 10 times his size. He just comes in a much handier package to haul around.

The little guys fit into our lives in a way big dogs just can’t. As we live closely with each other, we breathe the same air; we experience the same places and hear each other’s heartbeats. This connection with your little guy may be the most profound bond you’ll have with any animal in a lifetime. Registration for larger dogs has decreased while registration for the little guys continues to increase.

Although it can be very rewarding to share you life with these little guys it can also be quite frustrating. There are always negatives to everything in life we encounter. The toy breeds seem to be notoriously harder to housetrain. If they decide not to come to you when you call for them, well then that is just the way it is. You have a pocket-sized rocket racing between your feet that you can’t catch no matter how hard you try.

There is hope, however, and with all that said, you can still live peaceably with the little guys. It just takes a little more patience and time with all things you want him to learn.

And after all is said and done with the little guys, when you dress up your little guy or gal in the latest from the dog fashion world for your Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, you will still be glad you gave your heart and home to that cute, adorable little bundle of fur.

Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She offers Designer Dog Clothes at: http://www.littleguysdogclothesshop.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Connie_Limon

German Toys for Kids - Make the Right Gift Decision

Do you have a difficult time figuring out what to get your kids for birthday this year? Well, here is an idea selection of german toys for you to keep handy that might avoid that last gasp rush to the shops. All of the following are ideas for quality German made gifts, which for sure will be treasured and enjoyed. For the sake of simplicity here, we have arranged the German toys in age ranges.

For babies up to 1 year

In the first few months, it is important to give the baby lots of colorful things to see and feel or to listen to soft music. Items such as activity quilts, or little stuffed animals - but be sure they do not have button noses and eyes - soft dolls, toys for the bath, baby swings or books made completely from cloth.

"Sterntaler" is a successful German manufacturer of good quality clothes, toys and pieces both for babies and for young children. You will find that they produce a wide range of stimulating and appropriate gifts even for the youngest baby.

"Haba", a company long associated with high caliber wooden toys made from germ-free European maple and beech wood, offers toys which will captivate and enchant the children whilst, simultaneously, building their confidence. Take a particular look at their delightful pull along toys, or their specially produced soft building blocks.

For children aged from 1 to 3 years

By now, the baby will be a toddler and constantly wants to run, jump, climb, explore and generally discover the surrounding world. Try to find a toy that will fit in with these activities or, perhaps, some of the basic building toys to develop their hand-to-eye coordination skills.

More than seven million "Big" Bobby Cars have been sold worldwide and it is easy to see why this push-powered vehicle has developed into one of the world's leading toys. Little kids love the 'grown-up' feeling they get steering their "Big" Bobby cars around the room or the garden.

Then there is the specially designed walking bike, the "LikeaBike" - a confidence-developing wooden toy that kids love. It develops the kids balance and motor skills, whilst preparing them safely for their first bike a little while later.

For children aged from 3 to 5

Children now start to be much more imaginative and creative. They can also learn to play with others in small groups. It is possible now to get them gifts that they can share with their friends.

One of the most justifiably famous German brands of toys of excellence is the "Playmobil" range, providing the child with lots of opportunity to use their own imagination and create 'a world of their own'. The most popular items in this range include the "Playmobil" Airport, the farm, the zoo - even the "Playmobil" Pirates. A "Playmobil" gift will ensure the children remain entranced for hours, developing their scenarios, either alone or with a playmate.

The German "Spiegelburg" company produces a host of items in the Princess Lily range - originally known as "Prinzessin Lillifee". Many little girls have their Princess Lily collection - full of dolls, books, bags, stickers, and all the paraphernalia of a princess' life. If you know that your 'little princess' already collects these things, then you know that a Princess Lily gift will result in squeals of delight. Moreover, if she does not already have any Princess Lily - then you can start her off and make gift buying so much easier the next time around! Some girls keep these collections for years.

For children aged from 5 to 7

Now that children are at school and their bodies and minds are developing rapidly, you can usually find gifts for them which coincide with the interests they have already developed - in sports, music, art or whatever specific area they have become interested in.

If you are unaware of any particular interest, though, then "Ravensburger" can provide you with a wide range of distinctive toys and craft items. For instance, "Ravensburger" have a particular claim to fame for the excellence of their puzzles and craft kits, which really will delight kids of all ages and help develop their dexterity, concentration and spatial awareness. They even have a puzzle containing, unbelievably 18,240 pieces, for the complete puzzle aficionado.

German Toys - will be valued and played for a long time

Whatever german toy you decide upon, you can be reassured by the knowledge that, by selecting a quality made German gift, you are giving something, which will be valued, and played with, for a long time.

Gabriela Rupp is a successful webmaster and publisher of the Best German Gifts Guide. She is born in Germany, lives there for more than 4 decades and provides expert advice and reviews of all the major brands and hidden gems from Germany.

More valuable information on german toys you find at German Toys.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gabriela_Rupp

Toy Telephones And The Art Of Mimicry

It's always fascinating to watch small children pretend to be doing the same thing we adults do. A young child will happily pick up the television remote, hold it to their ear and hold a happy, but meaningless, conversation with some imaginary voice. Similarly, if given a cloth, most young children will happily start cleaning, as again, it - what they see us adults do. In fact, watching the way children mimic us can be quite revealing about our habits.

Children are programmed to mimic. From the day they are born, or even before, a child's brain is wired with a range of instructions and basic patterns of behaviour, the vast majority of which are to encourage the child to watch, observe, learn and copy. This is how they learn about the world around them, the myriad range of objects within the world with which they will be required to interact, and their own part in the world as an individual. Even as adults, most of us learn better by being shown how to do something, and then copying it as closely as we can - it's a human way of developing and improving.

For this reason it is important for a child to have access to the sorts of toys which give them the opportunities to do exactly this. Toy telephones, toy cleaning or cooking sets, their own steering wheel. All these allow the child to mimic what they have seen adults doing. They may well not understand, at least to begin with, what they are actually supposed to be doing. A young toddler will lift a rectangular shaped object to its head in order to talk, not because they understand the scientific methods by which voice signals can be transmitted across distances using copper cables or networks of satellites, but because they see adults doing it. They don't even realise to begin with that the adults are talking to someone. Even when they are old enough to listen to a real telephone and hear a voice speaking to them, they are highly unlikely to appreciate that the voice really does belong to someone they know, and that it is that same person. How could they? It - a very advanced concept, that a voice can be disestablished from a person.

If you have ever read the book 'Lord of the Flies' you will remember the rule that the boys developed of being allowed to speak only when in possession of the conch. To a toddler this idea is very much the same. In order to talk, sometimes it is necessary to hold something to your ear. One day, they suspect they may understand why, but to them, it makes as much sense as stopping the car in the middle of the road just because you have seen a pretty red light.

Children need rules, and rules help them understand the world. Toys that allow and encourage the mimicry of the world of adults are essential for a child to develop their understanding of the world, and of the rules and methods by which everyday life can be survived.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, dolls, and video games. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, dolls, and used video games at these sites for kids toys, telephones, household toys, dolls, and used video games.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand