In my last post, I listed several nature-related books that I bought for my grandchildren this Christmas. We had our final Christmas shindig of the year last night, and I believe those books were hits.
I intended to write a second installment, in which I would list a number of nature-related or eco-friendly toys found online that I thought the kids would enjoy.
Despite the fact that preparations for the actual events overtook my intention, I did in fact spend time online and found several toys that fit my three basic criteria. The toys must:
- Be made made of good materials, without chemicals and dangerous parts
- Teach kids something about nature and how it works, but in a subtle way – or serve as a catalyst for questions and conversation
- Be fun
Here are a few toys that I thought fit the bill. They would be good for birthdays and other gift-giving occasions, too. For each toy, I included either my own comments and/or product descriptions from the manufacturer, or both.
For one-, two- and -three-year-olds
Smithsonian Interactive Animal Cubes
From the Manufacturer: “Toddlers can’t keep their hands off these put-and-take animal cubes! Place a critter cube in the talking base, and learn the top animal’s name and sound. Explore all six sides of all five cubes, then switch to quiz mode. Instead of illustrations, this hands-on learning toy features crisp, real-life photos that are more educational and keep kids engaged longer.
The set includes 30 animals in five categories: pets, insects, wildlife, farm animals, and sea creatures. Batteries included. For ages 12 months and up.”
From the manufacturer: “This rainbow-colored gear toy is twisting, turning, changing fun! With their bulky, notched shapes, the colorful gears are easy for children to fit onto the color-coordinated pegs … then rotate, remove and rearrange. Children will be fascinated by the colors, movement and sweet butterfly artwork on this charming wooden toddler toy. Recommended ages: 17+ months.
I think I’d have fun playing with this with a toddler. How about you?
Chameleon and Bumble Bee Watering Cans
From the Seller: “Grab hold of Verdie Chameleon’s tail and keep your garden watered with this colorful Melissa & Doug watering can.”
Both this watering can and the bumble bee can feature an easy-grasp handle and are good for ages 3 and up.
A child can help water indoor plants with this can when the weather is cold — and of course, the outdoor plants when the weather is warmer. I know my grandchildren always like to water pots. This can will make the job even more fun.
For five- and six-year-olds
From the Manufacturer: “A Bird’s-Eye View. The whole family will enjoy the fascinating glimpse of bird life possible with Nest View. This see-through bird house mounts directly to a window of your home, so kids can watch a family of birds build a nest, feed their young, maybe even witness a fledgling’s first flight! 4″sq. x 8″H size is ideal for nuthatches, chickadees, wrens, and other common species. All ages.”
The risk with this gift is that the birds won’t choose to build a nest there. But if they did, wouldn’t it be fun to watch the entire process of raising baby birds?
From the manufacturer: “HABA 5913 – Binoculars with bag. Magnification x 4 – Neoprene shoulder bag with security fastener – Includes knowledge cards. Measures 3.75″ x 3.75″. Recommended for 5 years and up.”
This strikes me as a toy that could perhaps help begin a life-long fascination with seeing birds and other animals up close, or looking at details of objects that are far away.
For an eight-year-old
Toysmith Nature Kaleidoscope Kit
Paraphrased from the manufacturer:
This kit allows a kid who likes art projects to make a kaleidoscope. The kit includes the scope parts, 8.5 inches long, two nature drawings to color as wraps, colored pencils, and several items — dried flowers, polished gemstones, glass marbles and minerals — to put into the kaleidoscope to create the view. You can do it over and over again to change the view.
Learning Resources Zoomy Handheld Digital Microscope
From the manufacturer: “Amazing all-in-one digital microscope takes scientific inquiry to a new level—yet is easy for even a young child to use. Hold the hand-friendly scope over an object, turn the top to focus, then press the single control button to take videos or still images from 35 to 53x magnification on a 14” monitor. Use with your computer, projector or interactive whiteboard. Downloads and charges via USB. Features 640 x 480 pixels (interpolation up to 1200 x 1600 pixels), VGA CMOS sensor, LED illumination, fun special effects (photo frames) and 2 head adapters for viewing different kinds of subjects. Compatible with Mac and PC (XP, Vista, Win7). Measures 2″L x 2.5”H. Grades PreK–12
Good Toy Companies and/or Sellers for Nature-Related Toys
Do you have a child’s birthday coming up soon? If so, you might want to consider these toys. Here are some of the online stores that I had most success with:
- The Ultimate Green Store: Sells EcoZoo backpacs for kids and numerous other nature-related toys
- Learning Resources: Sells nature-related science and observation toys
- Melissa and Doug Toys: Has all sorts of toys for various ages related to animals. Known for solid toys that last. One of my favorites!
- The Nature Store: Features bird and animal homes, as well as art projects and such things as glasses that enable a youngster to see the way a bug sees.
- Smithsonian Museum stores: A good resource for science and observation kits
- Toysmith: Has a good collection of gardening and backyard exploration toys
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