Wait, I'm not just repeating articles, am I?

Everybody is going green these days. It’s rather trendy to say the least, so it’s no surprise that toys are following the trend and selling big when it comes to eco-friendly categories. If you’d very much like to give your kids something fun to play with that they’re guaranteed to enjoy plus is quite possibly better for the environment in the long run, then good news because here’s an article about the top selling eco-friendly toys right this second.

Still Going Green It Seems

Do you remember me talking about the company Green Toys a while ago? I’m not here to judge; it was after all quite some time since that article. The reason I’m bringing them up is because they’re selling one heck of a lot of their toys right now with the number one green toy of them all being the Green Toys Tea Set that I went on about in my article. Someone must have been listening to me when I wrote the positive review or something. Of course they aren’t just a one-trick pony since they also have a cookware and dining set, a dump truck, and a sand playset. You know, things every kid should already have. The best part of all that is that none of those toys are particularly expensive with only the full cookware and dining set being over $30.

Dang it, now I want to go play in the sand.

Green toys may have a lot in the bestseller category, but they aren’t alone. Another company called i Play is doing quite fine for themselves until Apple decides to sue them for using a lowercase I in their company name. Their top item is the Green Sprouts Stacking Cup Set, yet another incredibly simple toy that happens to be a toy every kid should own. Heck, I had a set of these when I was a kid, but I’m sure this set is a lot better for the environment.

My set had much manlier colors though, but otherwise they looked the same.

If you’d prefer something way more advanced, check out Elenco Electronics’ Frightened Grasshopper Solar Powered Bug. I swear to you I didn’t just invent that thing, and even better, this robo-bug is only $7. That’s a deal no matter who you are.

Alright, I'll allow a robo-grasshopper, but as soon as we get robo-hornets I say we've gone too far.

Sprig Toys have a handful of bestsellers when it comes to construction vehicle toys if you’d rather not buy everything from Green Toys. Let the girls have their tea sets, us boys got stuff to dig and construct and whatnot. Then after we’re done with that maybe some more tea.

Once more, all I want to do now is go play in the sand.

Rounding out the bestsellers is Plan Toys with a couple items. What’s their highest selling item right now? A solid wood drum. That’s it. Just a little drum with a little mallet. While I’m all for kids having a toy drum, I’m not everyone. Plan Toys also has a doll house nursery set for the less noisy children, though I’m somewhat surprised to find out that the toy drum is $21 and the doll house set is $18. I must be really out of touch with my green side.

Yup, that's one wooden drum there.

So there you have it folks, a multitude of great eco-friendly toys at affordable prices. Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s once more time for tea.

This right here is one of the most popular education-based toy around. And it's a video game system.

If I were pressed to defend the educational value of video games, I probably couldn’t do much other than say they can teach reading, math, problem solving, community interaction, cause and effect, and hand-eye coordination skills, so really I’d have an uphill battle talking about their benefits (wink). However, there are a handful of very popular toys being sold this very second to parents wishing to give their kids a little boost in the learning aspect of playing while still making sure the toy is fun (gotta love parents). But just what are some of the most popular educational and learning toys right now?

Yay! A noise-maker for kids!

Heard of LeapFrog? You probably have since they’re selling tons upon tons of electronic toys aimed at teaching kids. It just so happens one of their best-selling products is a video game system called the Leapster. It looks like a mutant Game Boy but plays like something with the explicit purpose of learning in the foreground. However, you can easily fool a kid into forgetting he’s learning something when the character in the game is Batman. LeapFrog also has a wide variety of other electronic-type toys with the Learn & Groove Musical Table for kids (a thing that makes noise), the Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo (a thing that makes noise), or the Scribble and Write (I’m sure it makes some sort of noise, it is a child’s toy after all).

Responsibilities! Exciting!

If, perhaps, you’d rather not futz with noise or electronics in general, our good friends Melissa & Doug have more than enough toys made of wood and magnets. Sometimes simple can be best, and Melissa & Doug tends to make very high-quality toys that last and last. It’s hard to beat a magnetic alphabet set or a magnetic responsibility chart. Sure, kids hate responsibility, but disguise it with magnets and they’re sold.

Dang that kid looks happy. I want some of those blocks!

Fisher-Price is still around and doing just fine, by the way. Do you remember them from your childhood? I sure do. I had all sorts of plastic blocks and shapes and steering wheels and things of that nature from Fisher-Price, and I’m happy to say they still make all those things with their Brilliant Basics Baby’s First Blocks staying as a bestseller. Their Sesame Street Silly Sounds Remote may not really be in the same category though. It may say “Sesame Street: on it, but it also says “Silly Sounds” which is code for “Lots o’ Noise.” Just get the blocks.

Hooray for bugs! What, you don't like bugs? That's science!

It’s also cool to see that the Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden is up near the top in sales. Why is that? Bugs, while super gross, are also super cool. Plus, it’s impossible for kids to find bugs in the house, so they have to go outside. If they can find tons of bugs inside, you’re teaching your kids something wrong. I was always happy as a kid with a bug net and a jar to keep my findings in. I assume kids haven’t changed too much since my childhood.

This is an incomplete list of the bestselling Education and Learning toys, but it’s a good start for sure. If all else fails, I can’t think of a single kid that’d say no to “Imagination Time” with their loving parents. In fact, I might just call my dad and see if he’s up for a game of it right now.

The Melissa & Doug See & Spell is one of a line of toys designed to foster early learning in children. The See & Spell in particular focuses on early language skills, and is a fun way to teach early letter recognition and sight vocabulary.

The toy is quite simple, containing a set of 64 colorful wooden letters and a set of 8 pictures paired with easy to spell words. The letters are set into the boards, making spelling the words as simple as solving a puzzle.

This product is suited for children aged 4-7, though children aged 4-5 may find it the most fun. However, the small pieces are easy to lose, and could be a choking hazard for children under 3.

One of the great things about the Melissa & Doug See and Spell, like many of their toys, is how sturdy it is, and how it’s literally designed to take a beating.  The wooden spelling boards and letters are durable enough to withstand whatever a child can dish out, making the See & Spell a purchase that can survive the tough love of multiple-child households.

The greatest benefit to a product like this is that it can grow with your children.  Once they master the simple wood block words, they can move on to form other simple everyday words. This product would be a great compliment to any household or classroom. The only complaint is that the box does not come with a lid… so be prepared for a bit of a mess!

Classic wood abacus by Melissa and Doug

Wooden toys have always been a favorite of mine.  There is something about the solid, lasting, made-of-the-earth quality of wood that satisfies a need I have as a toy-searching parent.

NPR’s All Things Considered recently had a report about a lumber company in Maine that has been refitted to work as a manufacturing plant for a new line of wooden toys made completely here in the United States.

The company had seen a lot of its manufacturing of house wares moved overseas, and an idea was sparked by the lead paint scares that revolved around toys coming from certain places in China.

The story got me thinking about all the toys we buy and how doing a little bit of research could end up saving jobs for people in our own country, whether that may be the US, Britain, or India.

Stimulating local economies is good for the whole world.  Any time a company is able to keep the entire production process on one continent there are environmental savings, but the added bonus of saving jobs in a time when jobs are scarce at best is wonderful.

Focus on American-Made Toys

For example, how does one find some wooden toys made in the USA?

A quick, simple search led me to a page called Maine Made – America’s Best, which lists all kinds of products, not just toys, that are built in the state of Maine.  Other online sites will have an index listing the toys they sell that are made in America.  Another way to find great handcrafted toys, and this is true no matter where you live in the world,  is to visit a local craft co-op or craft fair & talk to the artisans about their work.

The craftsmanship that goes into these items is undeniable and these toys will last generations.  My own daughter has a favorite toy that is a wooden craft toy I got a long time ago, and it is as much fun for her as it was for me at her age.

With just a little bit of thought–before we buy–we can support our neighbors and our own economy during these times where economic stimuli seem to be needed wherever possible.

Melissa and Doug have hundreds of toys, but most of their toys can be put into easy-to-remember categories.  To help you navigate their vast toy empire, here is a breakdown of my favorite toy categories from Melissa and Doug:

Arts & crafts:  While a necessity for any household, arts and craft items can be annoyingly difficult and messy.  With the M&D items I have found the instructions on the craft items easily understandable and the options include stamps, beads, and painting.  My favorite:  an art easel that adjusts as my kid grows (plus, it keeps her from coloring on the dining room table).

Classic toys:  These are wooden toys such as blocks, or that hammer and peg workbench you had as a kid, as well as lacing items (great for quiet car rides).  The items withstand the poundings of a three year old easily and still manage to look good after a beating.

Puzzles:  I LOVE these puzzles.  Once we moved beyond their wooden puzzles I was equally impressed with the floor puzzles, both the designs offered as well as the quality.  The variety in the number of puzzle pieces is also a great thing since the increased challenge keeps the kids occupied.

Puppets:  The variety offered from hand puppets to marionettes to “full size” puppets is going to allow us to grow into some of the larger, more coordination-challenging styles.  The detail on these items is often quite stunning.

Play food:  This is perhaps my daughter’s favorite item.  She will spend a good hour preparing dinner for people with the cutting food, bringing us our sandwiches and apple slices.  The food uses hook and loop fasteners to stick together and is put together in such a way that she could figure it out even at 2 years old.

The motto of Melissa and Doug is to create educational toys that are heirloom quality.  In my book, I would have to say that they’ve wildly succeeded.

Scare up a puppet that you design!

To warm up the appetite, check out Melissa and Doug’s Make Your Own Monster Puppet set. You can design your own monster by adding parts such as scary teeth, antennae, mysteriously thick eyebrows, and bizarre hair-dos.

There’s no glue or mess; just swap out the parts you like to create an original monster puppet.  Melissa and Doug have done it again, creating fun toys that are safe and easy to use for a wide range of ages.

This is a great way to get the younger kids involved in Halloween.  Who knows, maybe if you bring your monster puppet with you during Trick-or-Treat, the puppet will get its own share of the candy loot.

For more great toys by this toy maker, check out our Melissa and Doug toy round up.

Toys by Spiel & Holz are inspired by Waldorf education, a philosophy that children learn best through active and imaginative play. These toys are made from natural materials, and have a minimum of details, letting the natural beauty and feel of the wood shine through. These toys are much more versatile and durable than the most toys nowadays, and they sustain a child’s interest much longer. Each toy set can be played with in a variety of ways—some of their toys are puzzles, building blocks, and play buildings all in one.

Spiel & Holz uses only premium European wood, primarily Alder. Most of their toys are hand-crafted and finished, making them a true work of art and craftsmanship. And each toy is painted with either natural, kid-safe paints and dyes.

Another maker of high-quality wood toys is HABA–check out our page about them.

The BRIO Virus

If you’ve decided that wood toys are the way to go, then you should definitely check out BRIO. With roots that reach back to the 19th century, BRIO is now a global corporation and one of the largest makers of wood toys in the world. BRIO’s focus is on quality and durability—they want their toys to be passed on from generation to generation.

BRIO was started in 1884 by basket weaver Ivar Bengtsson. As his basket weaving business became more successful and his company’s range grew, their repertoire of products grew to over a thousand items, including many wonderful toys. Nowadays, BRIO is committed to creating toys that are delightful to play with and that support development throughout different stages of childhood.

And BRIO has continued with their commitment to quality and excellence. They have taken steps to ensure that all of their overseas suppliers adhere to strict international regulations regarding working conditions and environmental standards. And, of course, safety is of the utmost importance to this company. Both new and existing toys are rigorously tested against standards higher than those of international regulatory bodies.

BRIO is also dedicated to innovation in the toy industry, and gives an annual award to independent researchers or organizations that contribute to the fields of toys and play. And BRIO has also received a number of design and ‘best’ toy awards.

But of course what’s most important is the toys themselves. In addition to the classics, such as railway sets, building blocks, push-alongs, and games, BRIO offers some of the most unique toys available anywhere. One of their most exciting lines is their Network rail set, which is inspired by the inner workings off a computer. Play sets such as the E-Mail Central Set put a new twist on classic train tracks with original themes and engaging characters.

For more info, check out our Wood Toy Buying Guide.

Wooden toys have been around for millennia, and some of the first toys in history were probably made from wood. But there are plenty of reasons why they’re just as popular today as they were back then. Kids still love to play with toys made of wood. Because they rely on imagination and creativity, their appeal lasts much longer than plastic toys. Parents often tell me that their kids lose interest in those big fancy toys within a few days, but that they’ll play with toys like blocks and construction sets for years. I think this is because when kids play with wooden toys, they’re really playing, as opposed to just being entertained or distracted. Wood toys also play well with others—with a little imagination, they’re easily combined with other toys.

the Flori Teether by HABA

Their aesthetically pleasing designs, often making use of bright colors and geometric shapes, engage a child’s senses immediately. Wood toys for babies and younger children stimulate a children’s sense of sight, touch, and sound (and maybe taste!), while wooden toys for slightly older children provide challenges and encourage problem-solving. This is part of what makes wooden toys so wonderfully educational. They’re a great way for young children to hone their hand-eye coordination and motor skills, and wood toys help kids develop creativity and foster their artistic abilities.

And as a parent you can rest easy knowing that your children’s wood toys are safe and environmentally friendly. If your child chews on his or her toys (like many do), then wood toys with natural, non-toxic paint or dye will cause no harm, whereas many toys today are loaded with plastic, chemicals, and PVC. Most wood toys use much less wasteful packaging. They also need no batteries, which can harm children and end up in landfills.

Plus there’s the simple aesthetic appeal that owning a well-made wood toy can bring. Not only are they a pleasure to have around the house; they will often last for years, if not generations. After all—do you really think your kids will be passing down that plastic robot action figure with all the bells and whistles?

For more information on wood toys, check out our Wood Toy Resource And Buying Guide, and our page on HABA toys, a premier maker of fine wood toys.

Their Chunky Puzzles are perfect for babies. They come with large, colorful pieces that fit neatly into the board and can also standalone for imagination play. The big, chunky pieces are perfect for small hands and developing motor skills. Aside from every variety of animal puzzle, Melissa & Doug also offers puzzles that are great for teaching children counting and the alphabet.

They’ve also got puzzles with themes of shapes, vehicles, instruments, and even states. A number of M&D puzzles even have talking boards, such as USA Map Sound Puzzle, which speaks the name of the state and its capital when the puzzle piece is lifted. Melissa & Doug puzzles are beautifully designed and excellently crafted, and are sure to become a favorite in any child’s toy box.

For many Indian craftsmen, toy making has been their family’s way of supporting itself for generation. But it’s just now that many toy makers are working together and pooling their resources in order to increase production. Newer designs, improved quality, and better marketing facilities have allowed toys typically distributed solely within India to find their way to the international market.

Scares about Chinese toys has also increased demand for Indian wooden toys. They are entirely child-safe, made from all-natural materials and vegetable dyes. Parents have no qualms about letting their children chew on naturally germ-resistant wood toys.
With both demand and opportunity growing, the Indian wood toy market is enjoying enormous success.

For more information, check out the full story here.

Construction sets are a perfect way to foster children’s creativity, improve their motor coordination, and nurture their cognitive development. They’re also a toy that is easily integrated with others, and that lets a child’s imagination run wild. Unlike newer, flashier play sets, the Ball Track Construction Set from HABA promises to hold your child’s interest for years to come.

The set comes with 42 excellently crafted beechwood pieces and six glass marbles, allowing for an infinite number of structures to be built. Your child will love to build intricate systems of ramps and tracks, race marbles, then tear it all down and start again!

And of course you can rest easy knowing that this set is built from the finest naturally germ-resistant European timber. And HABA is a company with a conscience—they adhere to the strictest standards to environmental protection and ethical corporate policy.

It’s too bad that it takes a tragedy such as a child lead poisoning case for consumers to notice the trend of cheap, disposable, and unsafe toys in our homes and schools.

Wood toys , on the other hand, are always safe for children. Wood is naturally bacteria-resistant (in other words – practically germ free). Wood toys are perfect for infants who are teething so parents can relax about their baby’s safety. And guess what – no hidden lead, guaranteed.

Check out, for instance, the Melissa and Doug Fireman puppet. Perfect for kids over three years old, this contemporary take on the ancient art of puppetry is made traditionally, with a wood rod inside for guiding hand movements.

Other fun puppets include: a chef, a surgeon, a construction worker, and the ever popular Melissa and Doug Cheerleader Puppet.

Melissa and Doug have been rewarded by the toy community for their impeccable values too. They have been honored as Vendor of the Year by retailers such as Toys R Us and FAO Schwarz. Their toys and games have also been named “Toys of the Year” by Child Magazine, FamilyFun Magazine and Parenting Magazine.

Now it’s time to point out our personal favorites!

Melissa and Doug Puzzles

Melissa and Doug’s Puzzles are the heart of their toy empire, and for good reason. These puzzles are their original toys, still made with high quality wooden pieces for the toddler puzzles, and extra thick cardboard for the more advanced puzzles. Wooden toys like puzzles for toddlers are a great choice for gifts because they are sure to be a hit with babies and parents. Remember that wood is a naturally bacteria-free material, so even if the puzzles just get chewed on, everyone is happy.

Melissa and Doug puzzles for older children are just as fabulous. Ranging from 50 to 500 piece jigsaw pieces, these are perfect as floor puzzles or on a table. Spilled the orange juice at snack time? No worries, all these puzzles are easily washable with a damp cloth to keep them looking bright and glossy.

Melissa and Doug Baby Toys

We are excited to see Melissa and Doug’s new collections of premium baby toys. Their toddler collection is a great spin on all the classic discovery toys, using hand-crafted fun designs. These baby toys are all made from select hardwood and finished with non-toxic dyes.

Rattles, walkers, clutching toys, teethers, and ring sets by Melissa and Doug are classy editions of these traditional baby favorites.

Melissa and Doug Arts and Crafts

This is where Melissa and Doug’s core message of safe fun for kids really takes off. Packaged into fun kits are dozens of great rainy-day activities. Coloring, etching and making fun scrap books have never been more easily organized.

We fell in love with Melissa and Doug Alphabet Stamp Set. Crafted with wood stamps with both lower and upper case letters, children can start their own printing press of stamps by selecting their favorite words and phrases. What a creative educational toy! Kids are enthusiastic to learn their alphabet so they can make original stamp art.

Our hint for less motivated children: set this kit out with the sparkle and glue kit too. Just wait, their stamps and messages will be the finest the neighborhood has ever seen.

But our all-time favorite is the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Easel and Art Set. This is one of the most convenient art kits on the market, coming complete with a roll of easel paper, 4 spill proof paint cups, 4 jumbo easy-grip paint brushes, 10 colors of poster paint, 10 giant chalk sticks, and a felt eraser that works on both chalk and dry-erase surfaces.

Our advice: lay down some newspaper or an art tarp first! This art easel with its multi-media bonanza will get any child’s creative juices flowing.

Melissa and Doug Dollhouses and Miniatures

For children aged 6 and up, a dollhouse by Melissa and Doug can be the perfect gift. Their dollhouses are like all of their toys: hand-crafted, made with quality materials, and guaranteed long lasting fun. We tested them ourselves, and came away mightily impressed.

The details are exquisite. For instance, the Melissa and Doug Dollhouse living room set includes two real upholstered chairs and a couch with tiny pillows. (their 1/12 scale pillow is almost too adorable for words!) A complete Victorian Dollhouse is available too, with hand crafted period furniture ready for play.

For boys, we recommend the Melissa and Doug Fold and Go Barn. This easy-to-carry model set comes with seven durable animals for an imaginative play of farm life. We love the simplicity of this set, which makes it appropriate for 3 years and up.

With 600 toys and growing, Melissa and Doug’s toy collection is much bigger than we could outline here. This guide hopefully has helped by illustrating the major toy groups that this up and coming toy maker has set its sights on.

HABA was recognized recently as the maker of the year’s Best Boardgame at the Annual Middle East Toy Fair in Dubai. This is another indication that the toymaker of classic wooden toys is having some success as it branches out into new arenas for contemporary play.

The award-winning game is called Treasure, ready, go!, and is described as a “turbulent challenge for 2 to 4 adventurers.”

This award should mean that the game’s availability in the US will become more likely; so far the game is most popular in Germany, which is the headquarters of HABA. In German, the game is titled: Auf die Schätze, fertig, los!

KidKraft definitely passes our test of “Imagination First.” I had an opportunity to poke around with their Savannah Dollhouse recently and became quite engrossed in all the details. The little furniture can be moved around, and is remiscent of the master  wood toys from the last century.

More recently, KidKraft has gotten into “activity toys” like pirate ships and firetrucks that have a lot of movable parts and accessories. These kinds of toys are always popular with children, but the parts are easily lost, and swallowable.

My advice is that an adult should be in the house when children play with these kinds of toys. Otherwise, they are high quality, imaginative and durable.

What impresses me about HABA is that their wooden toys are made in Germany – it doesn’t get more traditional than that. The wood used is Maple and Beech and smells great.

With all the worries about toxicity and toys these days, wooden toys are really the way to go. Wood is naturally a germ-repellent surface, and HABA wooden toys are often natural, or coated with non-toxic paints and finishes.