Filed Under Eco-Mama, Giveaways Coupons, Product Reviews, Toy Safety
I know Earth Day is April 22nd but we’re treating the whole week like Earth Day. Besides, the Earth could use a little extra TLC, so 5 days instead of one sounds good to us. In honor of Earth Day Week we’re reviewing and giving away some environmentally friendly goodies, reviewing products and bringing attention to some ways we can help teach our kids how to take better care of the planet.
To kick off, we’re starting with a review of one of our favorite companies, Green Toys. The Green Toys company was started in California with the hopes of focusing on an alternative to plastic toys that promote recycling, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy, and increase the overall health and happiness of the planet. All of their toys are made from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs (HDPE) which saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. All their toys are BPA, Phthalate and PVC Free AND are all made in the USA without any toxic or lead risky paints. Also (and I think this might b my favorite thing: All Green Toys products are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable. No twisties or waste… just plop the cardboard in your regular recycling.
But are they good toys?
In a word, YES. If you think about traditional plastic toys, how many times have you been left with something that cracked, broke an inevitably ended up in the trash. Especially those cheap sand toys for the beach. We tried out Green Toys Sand Play Set recently and we were wow’ed by the great quality.
Living in Florida, going to the beach is a regular occurrence for us (keeps the kids busy!) so we trekked down there with our Green Toys Sand Play Set and gave it a good beating. My husband, unknowing of the test, was heard saying “Hand me the GOOD shovel!” referring of course to the Green Toys shovel. These are far more sturdy than any of the cheap plastic shovels and pails we’ve had (and recycled due to cracking or breaking). They’re really sturdy and my son now prefers these over the rest of his sand toys. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed.. and the eco-friendly nature of the creation process and the company make me love it more.
Green Toys has an adorable selection of toys (if I had a girl I would so be getting the Tea Set!) including Play Dishes, Jump Ropes, Frisbees, a Tool Set (I see owning this in my future – I’ll soon have 2 boys in the house) and how cool is this Recycling Truck?
Win A Green Toys Sand Play Set!
Green Toys is giving one of our lucky readers a Green Toys Sand Play Set! Woo! I know you’ll love it as much as we do. To enter:
- Visit GreenToys.com
- Leave a comment on this post and tell us what Green Toys product you think your kids would love. If you already have a Green Toy tell us which one and why you love it!
Extra Entries:
Follow us on Twitter and comment here to confirm. If you already follow us, Tweet this giveaway and link the tweet back here in the comments for an extra entry. (Please submit a separate comment so your extra entry will be counted)
One winner will be chosen at random. Giveaway available to U.S. residents only. Entries accepted until Friday April 24, 2009 at Midnight EST.
Giveaway Closed! Congratulations to Jennifer H for picking up a Green Toys Sand Play Set. Thank you to everyone who entered and helped promote the giveaway on Twitter. We hope you’ll participate again as we have more to come!
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117 Responses to “Green Toys & Earth Day Week Giveaway!”























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We love Green Toys. We have the kitchen set for our play kitchen and think it is great! The colors are cute, they are so sturdy and durable and my kids think they are so fun! We would love a nice sand toy set to play outside this summer!!!
Though I love the recycling truck, the sand play set is more our speed right now.
My three sons (twins 20 mo and four year old) have the cookware and dining set and love it. I love it because it’s recycled and safe. They love it because it’s the perfect size, there are a variety of items in the set and twins love to pretend to eat with the flatware. We liked it so much, we went back and bought a second set!
I have twin 22 month old daughters – they would absolutely love the tool kit on the green toys website. I purchased a cloth one, to avoid the nasty plastic toys, but it is just not very exciting for them.
I think the green toy version would be a hit.
Thanks
Beth
I think my daughter would love the Sand Play Set. We live in Florida and would get a lot of use out of it.
Their products look great! I think my son would love the sand toys because he always tries to “help” me when I’m in the garden with my tools
Dear safemama,
I’ve been reading your website since I was pregnant and now my son is going to be 8 months tomorrow!! I love this site!!
I just figured out how to leave comments here!!
I love the recycling truck, the sand play set and the tool set. I think it is a great way to teach kids about living green.
Congratulations on your pregnancy!! It is very exciting news!!
Good luck!
Ana
I think my son would love ALL of these toys! He does dig shovels, so I think he would love the sand play set or the indoor garden set. But he would also love the dump truck and the recycling truck. My son isn’t too hard to please
My daughter would love the Green Toys Tea Set. It is too cute!
I love the tea set. It looks so cute!
I love the tool set–especially that they labeled them! This should help my son as well as his Mom!
My son would love the dumptruck. We just had a sandbox built to be sure we did not have chemically tainted wood or used plastic and this toy would be a great addition!
I bought the Green Toys Cookware and Dinning set for my 17 month old daughter. She loves it! The blue “soup” pot is her favorite. She loves making “doup for mama”. She is still at the stage where she puts everything in her mouth so it makes me feel better that Green Toys are Safe and Earth Friendly as well. Not to mention made in the U.S.A.!
(I have not given her the place settings pieces yet.)But I’m checking out the Beach Toys for this summer.
I really like the tea set. I think my daughter would love playing with it.
My son would LOVE the dumptruck, and the tools would be a close 2nd!!! This is an aswesome giveaway-thanks!
My daughter would LOVE the tea set!
I am SO excited about these products! I just checked out the Green Toys website and I know when my son is a little older he will LOVE the tool set and the trucks!! We would love the Sand Play set since we’re planning a trip to Florida to visit family in the fall! I love the classic style of the toys and, obviously, the care that goes into making them safe for kids and the Earth
Thank you so much for introducing me to this company!
We have the tea set for my 2 year old and she loves it! She will even cook food in her kitchen and serve it with the tea.
I would love to have a cookware and dining set to start a play kitchen for my son. I hope I can get him interested in cooking.
The Cookware and Dining Set is absolutely adorable!
I’ve been eyeing their tool set for awhile now. I’m sure my son would go nuts for it. We also live in Florida so the sand play set has a great appeal too.
I personally would love to play with the cool green recycling truck, but my son would go nuts about the cookware and dining set for his play kitchen.
Thanks for your great work and a snazzy giveaway!
My son would LOVE LOVE LOVE the dump truck and recycling truck, as well as the sand toys.
I’ve got a six month old daughter, who I’m sure would love the tea set once old enough/
Both would enjoy the cooking set, at different times, of course!
Our daughter would LOVE the tool set. Her dad is an architect/builder and she is always wanting to play with his real tools.
My kids would love the recycling truck or the dumptruck, or even the sand set!!! I can’t narrow down which one they’d love more!!
My one year old would love the dump truck. He loves trucks!
I’m following you on twitter!!
Wow, my son would LOVE LOVE LOVE the tool set! Although the trucks would be a close runner up.
My daughter would love the tea set and the sand play set. She’d probably also love the tool set as she loves to imitate her father!
My son would LOVE the dump truck, we are just about ready to get the sandbox out.
I do not have any Greentoys but am very interested. I think my 20-month-old daughter would love the sand play set.
The Tea set is so cute. I have purchased 2 of them in recent months for gifts and it is always a big hit with the birthday girl. My 3 year old would love the dump truck and the sand toys. So nice that they are made in the USA too!
Also living in Florida, I loved the idea of a safe “play in the sand” set that is green. I think my little one would enjoy this when he gets his first taste of the beach!
I think the Dump Truck would be liked and used here very much!
Thanks, Cindi
I love the recycling truck!
I follow you on Twitter and Tweeted your giveaway!
http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/1567300239/
Thanks, Cindi
the tea set looks very pretty!
I am always looking for safe, earth friendly toys and products and am excited to see these. I would buy any one of these toys. I have been looking for a good tea set for my 4 year old to use and this one would be perfect. My 2 year old son is into any kind of truck; those would be perfect for him.
Dump truck. WIthout question, the dump truck.
My son is into filling things up and then dumping it all over. So either the sand toy set so he can fill up the bucket with dirt/sand, or the dump truck.
The ecosaucer. My son loves to play “frizelbee”.
I got my niece the tea set for Christmas. She absolutely loves it. We have tea every time I go over!
My son would love the cookware set. My husband and eye both enjoy cooking and our little man loves to get involved!
Kathy, first of all, huge thanks to you and your partner for the amazing world you do, guiding us, eco-conscious parents, in the world of child safety. This past Chanukah, we got our girls the dinnerware set from Green Toys. We bought it from oompa.com, amongst some other green toys (like a train set from Plain Toys for my son), and by far, this set is my girls’ favorite! It is everything you describe in your post –durable, great design, fun, and so much more. Thanks again for your site and for giving up the opportunity to win this set from an amazing company, Green Toys.
I think my daughter would love either the tool set (she loves to hold her dad’s tools) or the tea set because she loves to pretend to feed her stuffed toys. These toys look fabulous!
My daughter might be a little young yet, but I think she would love the tea set!
My son (and husband as well) would love the tool set! He’s only 15 months but already when daddy’s fixing something he wants to help!
I have a son who would LOVE the tool set! He recently “helped” his Papaw fix our front door, and loved using the screwdriver and wrench. I recently had to retire a plastic tool set that I know was full of toxic chemicals. My son would be thrilled to “fix” everything at home with this set and I know I can rest easy knowing it is safe!
I would love to win the Sand Play Set. I bought the Tea Set for my daughter for her birthday which is next month, so she hasn’t actually played with it yet, but I’m so excited to give it to her. My mother-in-law is buying her a sand box for her birthday so the Sand Play Set would go so well with that! What a great giveaway!
My son would love the tea set – he’s just started having “tea parties” but his “guests” have been drinking “water.”
Love the tools! Awesome!
I think my 21 month old daughter would adore the tea set. She loves her little kitchen and would I think she would have a blast making tea on her little stove.
I’ve been eyeing these Green Toys since late last year, but have yet to try them. If I were to buy one right now, I think it would be the kitchen & cookware set for my 3 year-old daughter. But the dump truck would certainly appease my son!
I think he’d like the recycling truck!
With the weather warming up, my daughter would love the sand play set.
My son has their tea set and loves it. We pretty rabidly patrol the plastics in our house (the MagnaDoodle is the plastic toy that squeaked through) so it’s nice to have something that… well… ISNT made from wood for a change, you know?!
My daughter would love the sand set.
The sand play set looks awesome. My little guy has been a digging fool, I think he’d love it.
The kitchen and cookware set would be great for my 22 month old daughter. Her birthday is coming up so that would be a great present.
We have tea parties with our Green Toys tea set just about every day. I’m sure we’d get loads of use out of the sand play set too. Thanks so much and Happy Earth Week!
My 21 month old son would LOVE the recycling trucks & I think it is awesome too.
The sand toys would be very handy for our beach vacation this summer!!!
We live in Florida, too. And the sand set would be great!
The recycling truck would be a big hit in our house!
I think my baby would love the recycling truck! For one thing, she loves green! For another, she seems interested in “boy” toys.
I am now following you on Twitter, too!
My son would love the dump truck. I’ll have to get that and perhaps the recycling truck, too!
I follow you on Twitter and here’s my tweet: http://twitter.com/prizealert/status/1571278309
We have the tea set and the kitchen set. My 2 year old loves it! I love that my 9 month old can put the pieces in her mouth and I don’t have to worry at all. I would love to buy all their products!
The recycling truck for sure.
I have given the tea set as a gift to a few friends and it is the greatest! My son would love the dump truck!!
I think these green toys would be great for my 2 yr. old daughter and 6 mo. old son. I wanted to purchase the tea set at Christmas, but they were out of stock. All their products look like great quality. Plus they are safe toys that I can feel good about having my kids play with. Thank you for writing this article.
I think my son would like the recycling truck best.
My daughter would LOVE the gardening set…so cute!
I love the tool set!
I would really like to have the sand kit. I have thought of buying a regular plastic one, but I haven’t yet because I wanted to look for an eco-friendly alternative. this might be it!
My daughter Saraluna turned 1 this past april 17!
Thanks!
My daughter would LOVE the tea set and for my son, it would be a toss up between the sand play set and the dump truck.
Since the summer is coming up and I plan to spend a few weekends being a beach bum, the Sand Play Set would be perfect for my daughter!
My son has a current obsession with recycling trucks, so I think that may be the favorite, although he would love the dump truck or the tools as well. The sand toys look great too!
My daughter would love the dump truck or recycling truck. She is all about trucks lately.
I got the tea set for my dd and will definetely buy the cookware set. She could actually eat and drink from them and I’ll feel very comfortable knowing that they are really safe.
My little boy would love a tools set so he can work with Daddy!
I am planning on buying my son a play kitchen soon, so we would love the cookware and dining set.
I think my boys would love the recycling truck or the sand toys and my girl would love the tea party set.
I am currently expecting but my daughter would enjoy the sand set since I work in my garden she could help too. I also liked the tool set because the tools were labeled, haven’t seen that before.
I love the idea that my precious little girl can play with her tea set, while enjoying it to the fullest drinking real tea and eating real treats from it. Nothing like the real thing, especially when it’s safe!
My son loves trucks! I would love to be able to give him the recycling truck! This could be another step in teaching him to be earth friendly! And thanks safemama for teaching me how to keep him safe and toxin free!!!
Either one fo the trucks! My son is 18 months and loves cars, buses, trucks, anything with wheels. Very cute toys, great green effort.
Wow – Green Toys has a lot of new, fun stuff since I saw their website last. My 18 month old son would LOVE the dump truck, the recycling truck and the sand set. Actually, there is very little that I think he wouldn’t like from their site
My son loves playing kitchen. So the kitchen set would be perfect for him.
the tea set is perfect for my little darling who loves to picnic with her toys
My daughter likes the tea set. With 5 kids in our family I know we would use it and I bet it is durable.
I think my son would love the tool set. He is way into having toys that look like daddy’s.
I think my daughter would love the sand play set. I love that it is green, safe, and durable. We go to the beach often so this is perfect for my little 18 month old.
Oh, gosh, the sand set! The others don’t last at all . . . right now my twins (age four) are using my gardening trowels, but of course they have a sharper edge, and that makes me a little nervous for beach playtime run-around, enjoy-the-beach kind of play.
We don’t have anything like the tool set. That would be great. The sand toys would get a lot of use, too, as my oldest has been playing in his sandbox a lot this spring.
I think my daughter would love the tea set. I know my husband would love to have tea parties with our daughter.
My daughter would love the indoor garden kit. She’s really gotten into gardening, and it’s awesome seeing the look of accomplishment on her face when something she’s planted starts growing!
I love the idea of green toys and am excited that companies are really stepping up to the plate. My son loves trucks and tools (like his dad), and I love that they have a recycling truck. He’d like either of the trucks or the sand or tool set.
I’m following you on twitter (thriftygrrrl)
My son will be etting the sand play set this summer, and I also love the recycling truck – a nice alternate to the more traditional “dump” trucks out there!
I would enjoy getting the cookware and dining set, not just for play, but to have some safe plastic plates for my girls to have their lunch on.
Gave the tea set as a gift, totally loved the quality and cuteness (not sure that is a word). My son would love the sand set for this summer!
I just love the little recycling truck. My son has a dump truck, but this recycling truck would be a great teaching tool to teach him that not all waste need go in the dump truck… it would be a great item to teach him to separate trash from recyclables, and show him which items go where.
Love it!
Happy Earth Day,
~Angela
These toys look fantastic! I would be happy with any of the toys but I think what my 2 sons, ages 2 1/2 and 5 1/2 would use most is the sand toys set. It is the least redundant of what we already have and they would love a complete set taht doesn’t break. Thank you!
Love the tool set. Happy Earth Day!
What a great concept! My son would love the colorful dump truck, although the recycling truck would be great to teach him about recycling.
i think my son would love that recycle truck! he gets a huge kick when its recycle day and loves to wave hi to the guy working the back! being almost 2 he pretty much loves anything on wheels! LOL
My daughter would love the indoor gardening set. She loves to help in the yard, planting things and digging in the dirt.
I have the plant set, which is very cool. But my sons would love the trucks. (Despite mama not “genderizing” them, they love their trucks!)
I tweeted it at “thecatenelson”
my little guy would love the sand bucket set…perfect for our summer trips to the beach! and i’m sure that tool set would keep him busy on those rainy days. what a fantastic product!
To be honest, my daughter would love any one of those toys. She loves tools, trucks, tea, jumping rope, gardening, and has found a new interest in frisbee after watching some kids at the park play. Awesome site with a great idea behind it.
my granddaughter would love the tea set! wish they toys like this when my children were small.
We have the tea set, and what I love most is that it’s safe to put water in for drinking so she can pretend play even better.
My son would love the Dump Truck. Thanks for sharing~
My grandson would love the sand set. Green toys are new to me. I love the concept and wish they were available when my children were growing up. Good idea and I am interested in any new products.
My son would just love the tool set! The recycling truck is really neat too. The toys all look great!