Eco Toys supports manufacturers that pay their workers a fair wage and run programs that help fight poverty in third world countries. We strongly believe in helping those communities and individuals so we only purchase toys made overseas that we know have been made in an ethical way.

What does ethically made mean?

• workers get a fair price for there work.
• promotes sustainability.
• improves the standards of living for people and their communities which in turn allows for better health care, education and more skills.

By buying an Eco toy you are doing more than just helping the environment. Your purchase  is supporting to help poverty and feed a family in a third world country. Look out for the  powerful Eco Toys symbol which tells you that the toy you are purchasing has been made in an ethically sound way and support a program to help fight poverty. I have seen myself how badly people in third world countries are expolited by Western companies and I am 100% committed to supporting people both here locally and in poorer countries to have a better life.

Some of these projects are:

• Under the Nile 13 villages project - Women in 13 villages across rural Egypt are  employed to sew our organic cotton veggies.

• For a better world, Vietnam - Local toy company Qtoys is making a difference to the lives of people with disabilities in Vietnam. They run a program where they train and employ people with disabilities to become skilled woodworkers for life and provide a shelter over 50 people.

Look what arrived yesterday!

Safari loved the finger puppets

. . but Bluey the dog was her favourite!

These gorgeous wool felt toys are simply stunning and have given new life to Safari’s playroom. They are handmade in Nepal (fair trade) and designed right here in Melbourne by Australian designer Renske Carbone. I am still adding the products to my store so keep a  look out for them!

This month two of our popular toys, the wooden train & the pull along duck are featured  in the June edition of House & Garden magazine.

Both toys are designed and manufactured by Qtoys, an Australian family owned company and handcrafted from eco friendly ruberwood, in fair trade conditions in Vietnam. They have a lovely natural wooden finish without the use of any paints.

There are so many more benefits of  choosing wooden toys over plastic ones that I could write so much on this topic. As parents are we becoming more aware of the safety issues and impact of plastic toys on our our environment? It would be nice to think so but a recent visit to our local toy shop confirmed that the plastic toy industry is huge. Unfortunately there was only a few small shelves (in a large toy store)  of wooden toys.  So what’s so great about wooden toys? Why should you be choosing eco friendly, handcrafted wooden toys over plastic ones?

Wooden toys are a much safer and all-natural alternative to plastic toys as they do not contain toxic chemicals such as PVC (phthalates). This is particularly important for babies who put everything into their mouths when they are teething. Our nature rattles and cherry rattle are a perfect teething toy to give your baby as the wood is naturally antibacterial and is so much more appealing with its lovely textures, smell and of course taste! Our nature and cherry wooden rattles are handmade from fruit trees and other reminant woods and are finished with beeswax which is completely natural and safe.

Wooden toys encourage children to use their imagination and be creative as they build and create endless structures. From simple wooden blocks to arches and more complex play blocks children love creating things.

Wooden toys are durable and biodegradable so they are much better for our environment. Unfortunately plastic toys end up in landfills and do not break down. Wooden toys can be mended if they break and passed down from generation to generation. They are made by craftspeople not toxic, chemical factories that exploit people in third world countries.

Most plastic toys are loud and over stimulating and require children to press a button to hear a sound. This is merely entertaining a child and teaching the child cause and effect. When a child plays with wooden toys they engage in meaningful play, developing cognitive and problem-solving skills. Their environment is calm and they are busy creating, talking and inventing play. I have watched my daughter many times with such delight as she immerses herself in such play.

Educational wooden toys such as puzzles, games or toys that involve stacking, sorting, counting all have huge educational benefits for children as they are learning through play. A toy like the stack & sort Montessori board is not only a lot of fun, it also teaches children about colours, shapes, counting and sorting as well as developing their fine motor and problem solving skills.

And lastly wooden toys are recyclable and environmentally friendly so by giving a child a wooden toy you helping protecting the child’s future.

An eco toy is a toy made from 100% natural and / or organic materials, is biodegradable, made from sustainable  and renewable resources, recyclable and / or made from recycled materials. Our toys are not made in chemical factories where poor people are exploited. They are made by highly skilled craftsman & WOMEN who love making them and are paid a decent wage.

Eco toys are safer for your kids and better for our planet because they are made from natural and non-toxic materials. We not only look at the materials a toy is made with, we also consider the whole manufacturing process and where and how the toys are made. We ensure the production of our toys have minimal impact on the environment.

We are also really proud to stock a large range of environmentally friendly, Australian made toys. These unique toys are made locally by mums, grandfathers and indigenous Australians.

Our toys encourage imaginative and creative play, they stimulate your child’s mind and their senses! They are simple,  yet educational and most importantly they are made to last and can be passed down to generations.