Kids and Baby Design Ideas

Designed in an environmentally responsible way, the Hayloft Table for Children is the perfect example of great design with limited impact on the planet. The Hayloft Table for Children is the companion piece to the Hayloft Chair, but can also be used a coffee table or end tables for adults. The Hayloft Table parts come flat packed for shipping and are easily assembled by fitting the slots together. Crafted of Baltic birch plywood with all edges rounded for safety, this table is suitable for kids ages 2 to 6.

Set this up with the whole family for an extra special green Christmas! Make your own Christmas tree comes with over 150 super strong cardboard pieces made from recycled papers that are also biodegradable. Doesn’t that sound great? This cardboard Christmas tree will immediately lend a warm and festive spirit to your home. Once the New Year has come put all the pieces back in the box to rebuild a year later! The Christmas tree includes an angel, a deer, two peace doves, candles and decorations, and is topped with a star. A 3D alternative to traditional jigsaws. A charming green Christmas gift and learning tool.

Putting together a green Halloween is as easy as an orange and black one. Here are ten tips for an earth-friendly holiday.
1. If you’re having a party, E-mail party invites rather than snail-mail them. Get the kids involved and search the Internet for their own party invites.
2. Serve healthy and seasonal foods, like pumpkin, squash and in-season apples.
3. Buy pumpkins, apples and other seasonal items from a farmer’s market.
4. Make use of all pumpkin parts. After carving a pumpkin, make sure to save the seeds and roast them for a delicious treat. If possible, bury or compost your pumpkin carcass. Check out pumpkin the burial rituals at pumpkin craving 101, to “lay your pumpkin to rest with love and dignity.”
5. Use re-usable plates, cups, utensils, napkins and tablecloths if you plan to have festive party.
6. Make your own costume or buy one at a second-hand shop. Kids will love the creativity and quality time spent putting together silly costumes of their own.
7. Give out healthy treats. Some suggestions are organic popcorn, honey sticks, fruit leather and even healthy candy bars.
8. Instead of using paper or plastic disposable bags to collect treats, use or buy a recyclable bag.
9. Teach your children well. Teach them not to litter.
10. Experience nature. Visit a pumpkin farm!

As part of your eco-friendly, fair trade Christmas plans, let your kids start the countdown with the Biome Christmas Tree Fair Trade Advent Calendar. These socially conscious advent calenders were made by a small collective of women in Kathmandu. They hand produce their own chemical free felt from hand soap and hot water, then hand sew each decoration together and place it on a string ready for December.

This wonderful enterprise was established five years ago in order to help many poor, socially excluded women by building their skills and providing opportunity to enhance their economic status and independence. The workers are provided with fair wages and work in a healthy, clean and safe environment.

It’s important to teach our kids the importance and value of the natural environment that they live in. It’s ideal to start teaching children about the natural world, endangered animals, and sustainability from a young age. This way they develop healthy and eco-friendly habits, and an ingrained sense of responsibility and respect for our planet.

Websites like Childsake, Dog-Eared Publications and Barefoot Books offer hundreds of books, written just for kids, on nature conservation, global warming, recycling, sustainability, plant and animal life, and multiculturalism.

Amazon Adventure Party - Create a rainforest scene in the living room, have everyone dress up as their favorite animal, in fact you can even make masks at the party, and watch Tarzan.

Backyard Eco Campout - Set up tents in the backyard, tell stories, look at the stars and have the kids identify constellations. For treats, have kids make their own organic smores and trail mix. You can use a hibachi for a fire.

Garden Party - Provide seeds, pots and soil, and have kids plant their own flowers, herbs or veggies.

Field Trip Party - Take a tour of an organic farm, a dairy farm or an orchard.

Book Swap Party - Have each child bring one of their books (that they’ve already read) and trade with the other children in a book exchange.