Check out my Natural Pod giveaway gift certificate below!
Christmas season is almost here. But it seems like yesterday, that the Safe Toy Database was introduced. Just last holiday season the creation of this Database brought to the fore-front the reality that are children have been playing with unsafe toys. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a company who you could trust to sell environmentally safe, quality made toys? No questioned asked?
Well, Natural Pod might be the answer to your prays. This Canadian company “gets all of us” who desire environmentally safe, quality toys. How come? The founders, Bridgitte and Allan Alomes, are the parents of two young children.
“We believe in a natural style of parenting. We found through our own parenting the limited choices that were available and wanted to create an easy source to find trusted products for all families, communities and educators,” Bridgitte explains.
What I love about the Company’s product selection is that the toys are designed to not only be safe, but to inspire imagination and creativity. In addition, they are quality made so that the toys can be handled down to the next child or perhaps our grandchildren. I don’t know about you, but I get tried of buying toys that break as easily as twigs.
Most importantly, I admire Nature Pod’s environmental standards. They truly vet the products that they put on their site. Take for example, the wooden Chef’s kitchen pictured above that was designed by Natural Pod and constructed on Vancouver Islands. Not only was it built using FSC certified wood, the plywood used does not contain any added formaldehyde. In addition, the Company used a combination of water based glues and screws and it was sealed with a coat of beeswax.
I bought a kitchen set when my youngest was a toddler. I loved the imagination that it inspired. I would be his “customer” as he cooked me something special.
What about the shipping? Is the Company as environmentally minded in this area as well? Bridgitte further assured me that the kitchen is shipped in a double walled brown cardboard box. Packing material is recycled cardboard and brown Kraft paper.
So, what kind of toys can you find at Natural Pod? How about some food items to inspire more play time? Try the realistic wood veggies, fruits, or wood felt breakfast set.
Perhaps your children would rather play in the recycled cardboard house or rocket, or float around the room with “magical” plant dyed play silks, or play a game of skittles? (Remember that game?) There is something for everyone on this website.
Being creative is a theme at Natural Pod with colored pencils especially designed with a triangular grip for little ones’ fingers, watercolor paint brushes designed using natural sustainable products, and small weaving looms for that one of kind craft.
The Company took that same extra care in their choice of clothing sold on the site as they did in their selection of toys. Featured are organic onesies, organic plant based T-shirts, and PVC free rain gear certified by ÖKO-tex a European standard.
Why should the Christmas season be froth with worry whether your children’s toys are safe? Consider registering toys you would like from your family. No more emails listing what not to buy your children. No more returned gifts. Just point them to the website. How easy is that?
Natural Pod has generously offered a $25 gift certificate to a Green Talk reader. In addition, the Company is offering GT readers a 10% discount on their first order through December 31st, 2008 with code GCM08 at checkout. In order to win the free gift certificate, you must do the following:
- Leave a comment here as to your favorite holiday gift growing up.
- To double your chances of winning the gift certificate, consider joining my Ning Forum. Come back and leave a comment that you joined my forum.
- To triple your chances consider joining my Feedburner email list or subscribe to my RSS feed. Both subscriptions are listed on the upper left hand column. Be sure to come back and leave a comment to tell me which one you joined.
- A winner will be chosen by random on Friday, December 5, 2008. This is a short contest due to Christmas fastly approaching. I want you to get the gift certificate early in the season. Good Luck everyone!
Thanks to Sommer, Green and Clean Mom for this great tip for the holidays. (Another Green Mom Carnival founder!)
Jasmine says
My favorite gift as a child was the Cabbage Patch kid. I still have her. Her name is Carol.
Hyla says
My favorite holiday gift was a Christmas Ariel Barbie.
I have subscribed to your RSS feed!
~Hyla
Hylas last blog post..Green Printing from ECO Etsy Team
Mary says
Can’t remember a favorite gift but I usually asked for a doll and always got one.
Mary Jenkins says
I was given big teddy bear I named Bobo Ben, one Cristmas.When he got super raggedy, my mom comvinced me to throw him away. I immediately regretted it, imagining Bobo crying in a landfill. I had nightmares for a year!
quitecontrary1977@hotmail.com
Green Talk says
Hyla, thanks for subscribing to my feed!
Dan says
I got this remote control monster truck. It was awesome.
kelly jamison says
How very cute this stuff is–and it is green!! A win-win for everyone
valerie says
my purple bike with the banana seat!
valeries last blog post..MommyMandy Jewelry giveaway 12/07/08
Julie Terry says
My favorite gift growing up was my play kitchen set that I got when I was 4 years old. It was a refrigerator and stove, made of metal. I played with it for several years, it was still around when I was 12 years old. It went through myself, my 2 brothers, and several children that my mother babysat. It was destroyed by my grandfather, he ran over it by accident with his tractor. That was one durable toy.
Julie
Julie Terry says
I joined your Ning Forum.
Julie
Julie Terry says
I subscribe to your feed.
Julie
banbarak says
Cute pictures! Really interesting to read.Thanks for sharing the info which increases my passion towards kids.
banbaraks last blog post..Differing Asian Styles of Acupuncture.
Ken Carlos says
This sweepstakes has been featured on Sweepstakes Advantage, http://www.sweepsadvantage.com. The Web’s Largest Directory of Free Online Sweepstakes. Good Luck to Everyone!
natural pod says
Lovely post, thank you. We believe in what we do with all our heart. Spreading the word about safer more natural and simpler toys is something we hope more bloggers like yourself do. Wonderful site.
natural pods last blog post..Heirloom Toys: How to Choose a Toy Your Family Will Treasure
Johannah B says
Chatty Cathy – It was a doll, think 1960’s !
Gina from Queen Rabbit's Realm says
Hmm, my favorite gift was my bike. I was a city kid, so my bike was the closest thing I could get to a pony. I used to stroke its handlebars LOL
Gina from Queen Rabbit’s Realms last blog post..Win some dipaers!
Gina from Queen Rabbit's Realm says
I subscribed with feedblitz
Gina from Queen Rabbit’s Realms last blog post..Win some dipaers!
carolyn says
I’ m so old that I remember a toy that had a hot mold that could burn you that you would pour plastic goop into and “bake” little critters like spiders etc! This was before there was a consumer product safety commission!
carolyn says
I’m a person!
Vicki Wurgler says
my favorite toy was a child’s sewing machine-loved it
Tovah @ Gluten-Free Bay says
I’m embarrassed to admit it, but it was the American Girl doll I got when I was 10. I had been wishing for that doll forever!
Tovah @ Gluten-Free Bays last blog post..Adopt A Gluten-Free Blogger: Karina’s Pumpkin Chai Bread with Cranberries
Pat says
My favorite gift was a doll.
sandra kao says
i loved my cabbage patch dolls
Veronica L. says
My favorite christmas toys when i was little was always My Little Ponies. I never could get enough of them and I am amazed to see that they are having a comeback again with the little ones 🙂
Donna E says
I had a ride on white plastic pony,blackmane & tail,red saddle & wheels,yellow handles.I even dragged him in the car with me to the stores.He laid up in the big back window,stood next to my crib with handle in reach of me!
Donna E says
joined ning forum
Donna E
Kathy Conley says
My favorite was a chord organ!
Diana Corlett says
A bride doll that I passed on to my daughter and she to hers. It has a story attached to it about my mother’s childhood and so it will always be memorable.
Diana Corlett says
I have subscribed by email.
Donald H says
A bike was the ultimate present when I was a kid.
Terra H says
My very own computer for my room!
Carolyn D says
My favorite gift was a Woodsy Owl stuffed toy that had a Pull string and said “Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute.”
I just loved that guy!
amita says
My favorite toy was a handmade doll.
kathy pease says
i remember having a barbie bus..it was my favorite toy 🙂
Timothy Sternberg says
My favorite gift as a child was the Cabbage Patch kid.
RC Tanks says
The only toy I ever had was a cute teddy bear and i still have it as a memorelia.
Green Talk says
Congratulations to Julie Terry! Everyone, I loved, loved the comments. Most of these toys I remember. My favorite was my barbies. I would play for hours with them and dressing them up in different outfits. I am surprised I did not choose a career in fashion design!
I still have my Charlie McCarthy doll and my large Snoopy who is my home’s watch dog. Although the contest is over, don’t hesitate to leave a comment about your favorite toy growing up. I really enjoy reading them.
Thanks everyone for entering. I have lots more contest coming up. Anna
lace says
my favorite gift was a teddy bear that I had wanted. I slept with it every night for years. I still have it and now my niece sleeps with it.
Green Talk says
Lace, I love the you have a heirloom teddy bear. I am actually keeping my sons’ treasured stuffed animals for their kids. Anna
Family Guy says
Those are some pretty good ideas for my kids. We actually have another one on the way due in May 2009. Hopefully this one will be a Girl 😉
Green Talk says
Family Guy, I am glad you liked this Company. How many kids do you have? I assume you have boys? Anna
Veterinarian says
Those are some nice toys. Great for my kids. And to know that they are environmentally safe is also important. Thanks Anna.
Saj P says
wow, this great. i don’t have kids yet, but hope to soon. they will be playing with environmentally safe toys!
Pool Safety Certificate says
My favorite gift was Barbie Doll. The toys which are environment friendly are always safe for kids. I will also prefer these kinds of Toys for kids.