Natural Toys
           Natural toys are toys found in nature or made from natural prodcuts, like wool and porcelain.  Not plastic and other harsh materials.  Other examples of natural toys are baskets, shells, silks  leaves, and sticks.  There are many advantages to natural toys and some disadvantages.  Materials like glass break easily, and can be more costly than plastic.  However, many plastics contain harmful chemicals like phthalate.  Last year the government asked toy manufacturers to remove phthalate from their toys but according to new research many toys still contain high levels.
           Phythalate has been proven to cause liver and kidney damage in animals.  Despite this it is found in many teethers, squeeze toys, and bath toys for our children.  In some plastic toys there is a type of Phthalate that causes cancer and was supposedly taken out 13 yeras ago.  There are some manufacturers that have removed the phthalate from teething products, and this may even be on the lable but new testing of other plastic toys shows they have as much as 50% or more of the chemical by weight.  A leading toy manufacturer is currently attempting to find a safe alernative to Phytalates.  Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, and the Philippines have asked for volunteer withdrawal of PVC toys for young children.  In Europe right now Austrica, Denmark, Greece, Finland, Sweden, and Norway have banned vinyl plastic toys. 
           Not only safety concerns but there are ecological concerns with plastic toys as well.  Most of the plastics used in the making of toys are difficult to recycle and release toxins during the recycling process.  Some places do not accept plastics for recycling.  The toxins in soft plastics aren't fully bonded, thus letting them release sooner.  Also, six of the ten worse environmental toxins are directly related to the plastics industry.  An example of this is dioxin.  Dioxin is liked to breast cancer and other major health problems.  Plus, 21% or more of plastic toys contain lead, which is realeased to the surface of the toy as it ages.
             Other reasons are that when children play with natural toys their imagainations are awakened.  They are creating play from simple materials readily avaliable.  Sticks make wonderful wands or swords and good mixing spoons for magic cauldrons.  Stones are easily made into treas, pets or buildings.  Blankets becomes their favourite hide out and bushes become castels.  If you leave a child alone with their imagination then true play starts.
          Babies explore their enviroment by touching, feeling, tasting, and seeing so we should pay close attetion to those needs.  We shouldn't be indifferent to the materials that surroud our children.  Beauty should be important in a toy, even simple beauty.  Colours should not be the bright, un-real colours of plasticts but the delicate colours found in nature.  When was the last time you found the harsh bight ugly colours of plastics in nature?  Surround your children with beauty and soft colours.  Toys can be silks, hand-made or well made dolls, silk or wooden marionettes, shells, corks, nuts, acorns, tree stumps, rocks, coral, wooden blocks, and other old fashioned well made toys.  Wood is always warm and alive, there is a pleasent smell, unique texture, and naturraly beeautiful designs found within.  When you pick up wood it's as heavy as it looks it will be, this is not so with plastic.  This teachs our children about reality.  Plastics teach our childre not to care for things.  How many people have you heard say "it's okay, it's plastic."  Is this what we should teach our children?  You can throw it, step on it, leave it on the floor, it's okay it won't matter it's plastic?  I think not.  When we give our children good quality things not only are they beautiful and our children want to take care of them, but it gives them reason to be careful.  Let your children live in an enviroment where things need to be cared for, not where they don't matter; children absorb and learn from their enviroment. 
            Natural toys teach our children to really play and use their imaginations to the fullest.  When you shop for toys ask yourself how will your children play with it?  Does it encourage imagination and creativity?  As a young girl I spent hours adn hours playing with Barbies, when I have children I want them to have the same endless hours of play that I did.  In order to give my children this I will look for toys that allow children to play, not toys that do the play for them.  Remember quality.  Toys should help your child's inner development and allow them to express moods and feelings and not limit their expression.  You do not want children's toys to be to too formed in their intended function so they are inhibitied.  Simple toys allow their mind to expand to full play.  Toys should enourage and strenthen their fantasy life not be all of it. 
           Children learn by imitation.  A child who lovingly takes care of their dolls will be a good parent when adult.  Include your child in your life and daily household chores and let them play with all manner of things.  If you are mopping the floor give them a bucket and sponge to "help."  If you are making dinner find a task for them to help with, such as mixing the salad, breaking eggs, setting the table, or anything else you can think of. 
            Make your children's toys timeless.  When you buy good quality of toys the toys your children play with will be around for your children's chlidren and your great grandchildren.  Let them be heirlooms.