I’d like to share why we choose to sell natural and smart toys and products, and not battery-operated or plastic toys at Summer For Kids
Children's Imagination
* Toys without batteries invite open-ended play - the type of play that fosters creativity and keeps the child interested in the toy for many years.
* Open-ended toys inspire a child to imagine the countless possibilities for that toy, and all the while the child is focusing on just that toy. Their thoughts are not jumping from one toy to the next as often occurs when the toys think for the child.
* Natural toys allow for 'downtime'. It is difficult for a child to switch gears from a very active toy to resting, whereas simple toys allow for a natural progression to rejuvenating activities such as reading books, daydreaming, or napping.
Children's Mental Health
* Toys with battery-generated special effects can over-stimulate children. The combination of blinking lights, loud sounds or music, and automated movement can be too much information for a small child to process
* The environment is completely different in a room with natural toys than in a room with battery-operated plastic toys
* Adults and children are drawn to nature and to products created from natural materials.
Children's Physical Health
* Studies have shown that certain plastics may negatively affect health. Our customers know that Summer For Kids doesn’t carry any products made with PVC, BPA and PHTHALATES . CHECnet.org states that, "phthalates are added to PVC (polyvinyl chloride) to make it soft and flexible. Phthalates have been linked to cancer, kidney and liver damage, harm to developing reproductive organs, and premature breast development in baby girls. Inhaling these chemicals can also worsen asthma in children. Phthalates are not bonded to the plastic, but can migrate, or leach out."
* Pesticides and fertilizers are used on conventionally grown (non-organic) cotton, and chemicals are often used in the production process. These harmful chemicals not only impact those who buy conventionally-grown cotton, but those within miles of where they are used, as they drift in the wind, fall back to the ground in rain and snow, and leach into groundwater.
* Due to children's small size and their propensity to "mouth" or cuddle everything, plastic and non-organic products, with the risks shown above, could pose serious health threats to children.
Environmental Health
* Wooden, bamboo toys and toys made out of recycled materials are durable so they last longer than their plastic counterparts and therefore there is less waste. When the time does come to retire your toys, wood and bamboo are recyclable, replenish able resources so you can rest assured that their disposal will be gentle to our Earth.
* Children are drawn to natural toys and have more respect for them so they tend to care for them better than other toys. This also leads to less waste.
* Bamboo is a giant natural grass that can grow to over 100 feet. Once cut, bamboo grows back completely in only three years. Thus, bamboo has economical and ecological values to the world, particularly as it is used instead of certain woods.
* The chemicals used in non-organic cotton farming harm not only the land, but also flora and fauna for miles around.
Here are some of the Manufactures we carry
Sprig Toys, Green Toys, Plan Toys, Lauri Toys, Beka, Maple Landmark
Idbids, Automoblox, Blunders, Uncle Goose Blocks
I myself have read these books and watched these dvds among other books and dvds. I can honestly say that Dr. Karp is an amazing teacher. The techniques taught in his dvd's and books truly help make our kids happy. 
