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Cardboard
Toddler Chairs £14.95 7.5/10 |
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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
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