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Featured Products
Early Childhood Products Become Safer, Greener and Stylishly Practical
by Tina Manzer
The more information that’s circulated about the design of, and materials in, children’s toys and furniture, the more pressure is heaped upon manufacturers to make products that are safer, greener and stylishly practical. In this age of CPSIA, environmental kindness, and design simplicity, we asked manufacturers about the changes in today’s products and what they’re made of. Here’s what they had to say.
Safe and Green
Wood Designs, a 30-year-old manufacturer of early learning furniture based on North Carolina, introduced an environmentally friendly product line last year called Healthy Kids. This year, the company plans to produce its entire product line using 100-percent Healthy Kids plywood. “The epidemic rise in rates of asthma, diabetes, autism and other environmentally caused diseases are leading parents, schools and government to demand safer, nontoxic materials and finishes,” said Wood Designs’ Kristen Urban.
As the movement toward sustainability sweeps our country, the call for children’s clothing and toys made from natural and organic cotton, sustainable wood, and natural vegetable dyes is becoming louder. It’s even impacting product packaging. Cloud B, a children’s toy and accessories company specializing in sleep products, is meeting the demand with eco-friendly materials including soy-based and bamboo fabrics. “It drives the design and manufacturing of each new product,” said Nader Hamda, company president and CEO.
ConsumerReports.org reported more than a year ago that not all “green” toy claims could be substantiated. “There’s no standard definition for the term ‘natural’ for example, except as it applies to meat and poultry, and fabric toys labeled ‘100-percent organic’ are only required to meet USDA organic standards that refer to how the fiber was grown, not to the processes by which it was made into cloth.”
It’s led some companies to obtain special certification for their products labeled “natural” and “organic” so that consumers can be more assured of their meaning.
Stylish practicality
Simple functionality combined with smart style is turning baby strollers into “all terrain,” but with chrome or aluminum trim. Popular colors of everything from car seats to children’s clothing include chartreuse, periwinkle, orange, “cognac” and black.
The Baby Dipper bowl and spoon set is an example. It was developed by a mom of two sets of twins who needed to successfully feed cereal and pureed food to a baby, while keeping one hand free. It has a unique triangular shape and a hip color combination of cobalt blue and yellow, a non-slip base and vertical contoured sides to facilitate food scooping. The Baby Dipper has become a favorite among moms of multiples and child care providers who always seem to need a free hand. Thanks to the rise in the number of multiple births, more and more products are being specifically designed to meet the unique needs of people caring for more than one baby.
CHANGE CHILDREN’S EATING HABITS! FOOD GROUPIE EARLY NUTRITION EDUCATION PRODUCTS FOOD PYRAMID ACTIVITY CARPETS (SPECIAL) |
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Learning is fun with Food Groupie Activity Carpets! This attractive carpet style features the new food pyramid, alphabet, food origins, the five senses, colors, and numbers. Children learn about the five food groups and nutrition while exercising. During this special, each carpet comes with a FREE Activity Kit ($34.99 Value). This interactive learning kit includes game activity instructions and all components needed for children to play “The Food Groupie Road To Healthy Eating Floor and Exercise Game” Children take turns spinning the game spinner and identifying different foods by food group, food origin, color, and food characteristic. They hop and move along the game path until they reach the top of the Food Pyramid alongside Bread Food Groupie. All carpets are made of high quality durable soil resistant antibacterial nylon yarns and have a asynthetic backing which prevents mold, mildew, resists curling, and is skid resistant. They are treated so they can be easily cleaned and have a 5-year warranty. These fun carpets are available in four sizes to meet the needs of all centers. Food Groupie carpets are in use at many early learning centers throughout North America and are very popular with children. See this carpet, other carpets, and many other Early Nutrition Education Products at: www.foodgroupie.com or call Food Groupie at: Mention this EARLY LEARNER NEWSLETTER AD when ordering a carpet and also receive a FREE Food Groupie Sticker Pack with Activity Sheets! ($15.99 Value) Offer valid through April 30, 2010. |
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Construction Center Explosion ZinkoTek is a large-scale educational construction toy made of brightly-colored, soft, yet sturdy, EVA foam pieces that link together to create a variety of structures such as animals, robots, giant bugs, jet planes, helicopters, and even play houses large enough for a child to play in. |
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Phillip Roy, Inc. Phillip Roy, Inc. publishes multi-media materials that contain information that students want and need to know. Our Pre-School multi-media curriculum is the most important curriculum because children appreciate learning, they learn to make better decisions and they will be educated to a higher level. We at Phillip Roy, Inc. believe that early childhood education has a lasting impact and that children learn the skills necessary for success in their educational program both at school and home. Our materials build on children’s curiosity, abilities and interests. They provide hands-on learning with tangible objects. This enables children to experience the world around them. Our materials integrate learning. By using the different activities, themes and projects can be developed that provide a way to expand knowledge and skills in a holistic manner. Because the activities in this curriculum help children improve school readiness skills, they are better prepared children for kindergarten and first grade. For more information about this and other curriculums, contact us at 1-800-255-9085 or email info@philliproy.com. |
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Portable Sinks You can count on strength and durability when you order MONSAM's portable sinks. Reliability starts with the solid aluminum bars that form the frame and continues with the solid plastic panels that form the walls and base. We never use laminated material which can separate. This three level sink allows several people to wash their hands at the same time. Designed for Child Care programs, it is useful for both children and adult staff members. The staggered height insures that everyone can find a sink that is easy to use. Excellent value compared to purchasing three individual sinks. Model PSE-0123 is colorful in design; simple to clean and easy to move from one location to another. Simply fill the Fresh Water Tank and slide it into the cabinet. Plug the power cord into any standard outlet and the electric water pump and heater provide Hot and Cold running water for everyone. The single pump and heater support all 3 hand wash stations. This truly is a remarkable idea. |
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Contact us at Fahy-Williams Publishing, Inc. • P.O. Box 1080 • Geneva, NY 14456
Copyright © 2010 Fahy-Williams Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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