Saving Christmas! 13 Alternatives to toxic toys
No, you don’t have to give all the kiddies on your list coal for Christmas this year. But you will have to do some research to find something safe. Here’s a list to help you get your own creative juices flowing and give you some hints.
- Etsyis a great place to find home-made toys and crafts on the Internet.
This little birdie is by Allilson - Buy American-made toys. This is a great list, but still, it doesn’t hurt to double check what you see. Toys from Back to Basic Toys are a safe bet. And Simply Green Living has also compiled a list. Any book from China Berry, or Barefoot Books.
- Spend time with your child, and help him/her make something this cute. This one was made by Hop Skip Jumpand loved ones.
- Make a poster of your child.
Pottery Barn Teen is selling large sports posters for kids rooms. Take this one step further, and have a photo of your child blown up poster size for his own room.
- Who can resist Sock monkeys? Hand-made of course. You don’t want your little loved one getting poked by stray needles.
- Give great memories
Picture Frames filled with photos of your child with his best friends, playing his favorite sport, or with Mom and Dad.
- Whip up a batch of home-made marshmallows.
- Magazine Rack.
You’re constantly telling her to clean her room, so give her the tools to do it. This magazine rack came from Pottery Barn Teen.
- Bulletin Board
A Bulletin Board
already loaded with their favorite memories.
- Magnets/Thumbtacks
Turn your child’s small wooden blocks, match box cars, starfish, or hair barrett’s into thumbtacks with epoxy glue and a package of magnets. You could also buy a small package of wooden letters at a craft store to use for magnets.
- A Scapbook
Kids love to hear about themselves. Put together a simple Scrapbook
of their life so far. One for them to keep, in their own room.
- Turn a paper bag into a book.
Here’s how.
- Yarn Dolls
Very fast and simple to make.
41 Comments
Mark Caldwell
How about a nice piece of fruit or a pack of cards and a book of card games. I think I’m showing my age. I just did a double take on the piece of fruit – I never understood why santa left fruit when I was a kid but for some reason I still remember it when many of the other presents are long forgotten 🙂
Tink
Etsy is a great tip! I love to explore all the little shops.
My TT lists 13 facts about the black panther.
Chelle Y.
Those are some great ideas. My son wanted Aqua Dots for Christmas. That was the only gift I had for awhile, now I have to take it back. Oh, well…..
SandyCarlson
Books. Lots of books. One of these is about making things from kitchen supplies. No imports!
WorksForMom
Awesome! Excellent list for this time of year given the toxicity warnings. 🙁
The Gal Herself
Great list! And an important one, too. Thanks for sharing. (Thanks for stopping by my TT)
Crimson Wife
Great list! We have a fairly small house so I tend to give experiences as presents. Things like our family’s membership to the zoo & science museum, lessons, tickets to cultural events, etc. Hopefully these will be the things they’ll remember long after any toy would be broken or given away.
nicholas
I’m very glad I don’t know any children of toy-playing ages to give presents to right now, with these scares going round. Some of those ideas are wonderful. I would have loved a poster of myself when I was a boy!
Janet
I love Etsy; I’m trying to buy all my gifts from there this year!
Susan Helene Gottfried
Those are great ideas! I’m buying books for anyone who I need gifts for… books are good things.
By the way, my son’s Cub Scout pack might have a marshmallow making party before we head off to resident camp next July. thanks for the recipe!
Greatfullivin
All wonderful Ideas. My hubby and I make toys for our granchildren every year. He is a wood worker and I am a painter. We have made them all a table and chairs, cars ,trucks and a cradle. There are two semi trucks hauling backhoes sitting on the work bench for the boys this year. We also teach the grandchildren to make something each year for their parents. Giving is good! Thanks for sharing. I will be printing the sock monkey directions. Happy TT.
Comedy Plus
These toys coming from China are a nightmare. I refuse to buy them. Excellent advise here. Have a great TT. 🙂
Yogamum
Those are some really great suggestions! Thanks for sharing!
Lori
What great ideas!! It must be nice to be so creative:) Happy TT.
amy
etsy rocks
I am also making some cool agendas and trying to se form “Bend the Rules” book. My heart loves buyolympia.com too….
Morgan
Wow. Thanks for the list. 🙂 Those are great ideas. I really want to do toxic-free toys, but there aren’t many made for Infants/Toddlers, but I’m still looking, LOL.
🙂 Happy TT!
SJ Reidhead
Channel Craft (I think that’s the name) Toys is excellent – made here – small business. I sold them in my shop years ago. Can’t recommend them more highly.
The Pink Flamingo
2boys2teach
Those are some great ideas. Thanks for sharing and for stopping by. Blessings!
Grace
We give books not toys so we are not so bothered by the toy recalls.
Raggedy
Fabulous!
Natalie
Those are some wonderful ideas!
Xakara
It’s absolutely terrible to hear of everything happening with toys this last year. These were great alternative ideas.
I also think that all that’s happen has made this a perfect year to bring kids back to books. If not the actually handing over of a book, then gift cards to book stores to put them in the right mindset to get books or music that engage the mind.
Secret Agent Mama
Our kids will probably be getting a lot of games, books, and out door fun stuff. I’m doing my very best to avoid all Made in China toys this year and forever.
patois
You’ve got some great ideas there! Really, I’m impressed!
Shannon
I just checked out the AquaDots situation, because it’s the only thing my daughter has legitimately asked for-besides her traditional American Girl doll. She would not put anything in her mouth, so I may still get them. But for younger kids that is horrific!!! I have to say, I don’t think I would buy something like that anyway for any child of an age where they would still put them in their mouth. And always adult supervision of course…kind of like paint. Do kids eat that too? 🙂 Great list!!! We love PB Teen and they helped us make B’s room so cool.
Cecily
This is a great list! I love all the hang out with your kids stuff on it. How lucky the kids around you everyday must be!
Heidi Hyde
That little birdie is so cute!
-HH
Nap Warden
Great list…The whole toxic toy shock has many of us wiggin’.
Holly
Great ideas. It is getting scary though – every time I turn on the news some new major toy recall is happening.
Smiles,
Holly
http://theabundanceplace.com
Mama Pajama
What awesome ideas! Thank you Thank you!!!! Great TT!
Painted Maypole
all my stuff for MQ is already in the attic -grabbed from thrift stores and consignment sales over the course of the year!
Linda
Wonderful suggestions! The most important aspect of a toy is the memory it holds for the recipient. One of my most treasured toys was a handmade doll given to me by my grandmother when I was very young. She not only made the doll but crocheted all the clothes as well. It was and still is my favorite.
Merry Christmas,
Linda
http://safest.toys.ever.com/
J. Lynne
I’m still trying to figure out if toys today really are more dangerous than they were when I was a kid in the 70’s or if people are just more aware.
I too remember getting oranges in my stocking when we lived in Florida. Hmmmm.
I have to say, I wondered about the Aquadot thing, but I don’t really know what kind of toy it is. However it sounded unsafe to me even if it wasn’t toxic because it was small enough to be put in the mouth — choking hazard?
Anyway, my mother sewed me a doll and her clothes one year and made the doll look like me. That was very precious to me. So that’s my suggestion.
Sharon
I’m on the fence about how nervous to be as far as Christmas presents go. I take comfort in knowing that it’s been like this (and somewhat worse) for a long time, and many pf us have survived it just fine. 😉 But I know it only takes once…
great list of resources. Thanks!
damozel
What a great idea for a really useful T13.
I’d add that for older girls, a scrapbook with scrapbooking materials will be lots of fun. It was a big success last year with my niece.
Leslie
Great ideas! The sock monkey has made my list this year.
Pingback:
Pingback:
gail
This is a fantastic list. May I post it to my site? Thanks, gail
Pingback:
Pingback: