On testEco-Friendly Toys on Test
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Cardboard
Toddler Chairs £14.95
7.5/10 |
Giant
Cardboard Rocket £27.50
9/10 |
Outdoor
Shapes Skittles £16.80
8/10 |
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About this test
A growing number of babyworlders have expressed a keen interest in green parenting so we thought it was high time we did a big test on eco-friendly toys. Whether you choose to engender respect for the planet just for Christmas or as a life choice, is entirely up to you but the good news is, is that there is now a wide choice of non-toxic toys that will bring hours of playtime fun for your child without having a negative impact on the environment.
We tested for
- Fun Factor
- Quality
- Versatility
- Originality
Points to consider
Packaging : There's no point treating your child to an eco-friendly toy if it's swathed in mountains of plastic! Check how the company will pack and deliver your order and ensure it's in keeping with their environmentally aware policy. A lot of modern ethical toy companies now send their goods out in recycled materials such as boxes, donated materials or wrapping they've received from other suppliers.
Production: It's worth finding out where the materials are sourced from. There are some lovely wooden toys on the market but not all of them are sourced from indigenous woods or ethically managed forests. Most eco-friendly websites will have an 'about us' page that provide detailed information on their materials and production methods so check this out first and don't be afraid to call them with any questions.
Longevity: A lot of eco-friendly toys are made from cardboard materials that your child can put together and decorate over the course of an afternoon. Our panel loved the Cardboard Toddler Chairs but they did comment that the 'novelty factor' may wear off after a while, especially since the construction and decorating can be finished off within a few hours'. Look for toys that will enthuse your toddler to revisit or encourage them to find other uses for it (a decorated chair makes a perfect seat for painting and reading). Of course, you can recycle out-grown toys yourself by passing them on to other children or donating them to charity shops/women's refuges.
Versatility: A versatile toy will have lots of play features to preserve your child's interest and encourage them to explore different aspects of their creative imagination. Our panel found the Giant Cardboard Rocket 'fantastically versatile with numerous opportunities for creative play' - 'they can play in it, around it, draw on it and use it as their own little playden' - 'the appeal never ends!' A versatile toy is also likely to appeal to different age ranges so should serve to preserve your child's (and any other siblings) interest for a decent length of time.
Awards - which products won and why
The Giant Cardboard Rocket was awarded 'Best Buy' for its 'unique fun factor', 'broad appeal' and 'encouragement for both creative and imaginative play'. 'Best Value' went to the versatile and fun Playmais Modelling Bricks - a brilliant way to engage your child's interest and explore their creativity.
Where to next?
- Full test results
- Read the reviews:
Cardboard Toddler Chairs 8/10
Giant Cardboard Space Rocket 9/10
Outdoor Shapes Skittles 8.5/10
Playmais Modelling Bricks 8.5/10
Snail Number Puzzle 7/10
Wooden Train Set 7.5/10
- About our Product Tests
- Visit the babyworld shop
