ChildTrek Blog

New Wood Dollhouse 
ChildTrek continues to expand its line of natural, eco-friendly toys for children. First up is the Educo My Rooftop Garden Home - brand new for 2009. This two-story wood dollhouse includes a poseable family of four. It has three good-sized rooms and rooftop terrace furnished with furniture and bath fixtures. There are also a colorful skylight and accented stairway and rail posts. Reasonably priced, this heirloom piece will be enjoyed for years.

New Imagination Toy Made of Bamboo
Next, ChildTrek adds to its Bamboo Collection with Contina. This highly imaginative, open-ended block set is made of 120 beautiful tiles made of eco-friendly bamboo and water-based paints. Kids from age 4 - 99 can create unique patterns and build bridges, buildings, towers, animals - just about anything their creativity desires. The colors are vibrant and inviting. The possibilities are endless.

New Made in Germany Toys
Check out the HABA Indian Summer Magnetic Art. It is made up of 88 brightly-colored wooden pieces with self-adhesive magnet foils. This playset is ideal for both little and older children who like to create patterns. It is perfect for arranging the colorful shapes over and over agan into new designs. Children can start by putting together the 10 enclosed suggested patterns, then run free with their imagination. Includes a wooden play board. Made in Germany.

Also new this year is the 200 Wood Lacing Beads by Grimm’s Spiel & Holz (20mm). These richly-colored beads are sure to excite much lacing fun! They are just the ones to inspire lacing creativity. Your child will have endless fun making necklaces and bracelets using 12 different vibrant colors to choose from. Each bead is approx. 3/4 inch in diameter. Great for refining motor skills and strenghtening hand-eye coordination. Includes plenty of durable, elastic string to lace. Made in Germany.

Click here to view these and the rest of the new natural toy arrivals at ChildTrek.com

By Miebeth Bustillo-Booth, ChildTrek Founder

ChildTrek’s 2008 Holiday Season
As ChildTrek’s buyer, I bought much of the holiday toys and books in the summer. Then October and the stock market did its best to scare most retailers. As a parent, however, I had faith that Santa was still going to make his stops.

And the jolly old elf came through - in a big way. In fact, his elves worked overtime to make more toys!

As I stare at our empty storage shelves, I can’t help but imagine children who giggled their way through December mornings - rocking their horses, playing their wooden drums, slicing pretend fruits and vegetables, stacking their new wood blocks, building model cars, cradling their dolls and stuffed animals. I can’t help but smile at the thought of babies and toddlers around the country on their parents’ and grandparents’ laps reading books from ChildTrek.

Although, I may never meet most of the families who graced ChildTrek.com this holiday season, it still gives me much happiness and gratitude that we were a part of their joy in some way.

I am also deeply grateful to the Puget Sound community — particularly our hometown, Tacoma, WA – for its loyalty and generosity of spirit. Thank you for supporting ChildTrek and for making the ChildTrek storefront a part of your family’s holiday celebration.

Together, you — our online and storefront customers – far exceeded our expectations. Thank you so much for your business. We appreciate it very much.

The ChildTrek team wishes you good health, much happiness, and enduring prosperity. We look forward to serving you again in 2009!

Holiday Season Pictures

Customers enter the ChildTrek Tacoma storefront.

Anna Davis from the Washington Toxics Coalition discusses children’s safety initiatives during ChildTrek’s Green Play: A Toy Safety Fair.

Jennifer and son, Kristof, are tested for lead levels by a certified nurse from the Pierce County/Tacoma Health Department during ChildTrek’s Green Play: A Toy Safety Fair.

Customer Katie Kuijper and son, Grady, enjoy ChildTrek’s Plan Toys selection.

The Green Play winning entry for a free Educo Professional Workbench!

A grandaughter of Gladys (Winner of the Educo Professional Workbench) enjoys the wooden bench before taking it home. Congratulations!

By Miebeth Bustillo-Booth, ChildTrek Founder

ChildTrek Natural Toys - Voted Top 5 Winner
King 5’s Evening Magazine 2008 Best of Western Washington
Customers voted ChildTrek Natural Toys as Top 5 Winner of King 5’s Evening Magazine 2008 Best of Western Washington - Children’s Gifts category. Because of your votes, ChildTrek placed #2. Many thanks to all of our customers for honoring us with your business and vote. The ChildTrek team will continue to do our very best to win your loyalty and praise.

Check out our Top 5 Winner Best of Western Washington Special!

What Customers Are Saying
Below is a sample of the reviews customers posted at the official website for the King 5 Evening Magazine 2008 Best of Western Washington.

….

“I can not say enough positive things about this store! I love it so much and I refer it like crazy to all of my family, friends, and parents. The toys are my sons favorite and it feels good to be buying toys that are safe for him and the environment. Customer Service is outstanding also!” ~Kelly48

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“One of my favorite places to shop in Tacoma. I love the store itself, but I keep coming back because the owner is so wonderfully helpful, and finds the greatest toys and books. Their online presence is great as well. I feel very lucky to have their retail shop nearby!” ~tanaf

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“This is the only store that I’m aware of that has ONLY safe/natural toys. The owner was so helpful and generous with her information that I took home her little fliers and when folks come over to see my new baby, I make them take her flier home with them!!” ~courtneyloved

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“It is so great to see this store in Tacoma. We can walk in and feel good about anything that we buy. The helpful suggestions have resulted in some new favorites for our 8 month old. We can’t wait until he is old enough to play with everything in the store. In the meantime, we will continue to visit to get age appropriate toys, and to “test” our favorites. We have also dropped lots of hints to all of those in the market for gifts–no more toxic toys!” ~greysma

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“The best all around - prices, customer service - AMAZING SHOP!!! I LOVE THEM!” ~WynneF

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“This is a wonderful earth friendly toy store for children! Great customer service. A store all parents must go to with their little ones to have a great experience and to encourage the healthy development of their children. HIghly recommended as the best toystore in Tacoma!” ~Melissa54

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“This is the best toy store we have ever seen. As new grandparents, I’m sure we will be back many times. The owner and staff are knowlegable and creative and led us through the maze of available toys to make the best selection.” ~roncharley

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“If you are looking for a green and one of a kind gift this is the store for you! I’ve been back several times for my son and for gifts. The shop owner is very helpful and she carries a wonderful selection of books. Currently my 1 year old’s favorite book is from ChildTrek!” ~yeldsy13

….

View more Best of Western Washington customer reviews.

By Miebeth Bustillo-Booth, ChildTrek Founder

ChildTrek carries a large selection of the multi-award winning Plan Toys at competitive prices. They are green, smart, and safe.

As a former teacher, I am impressed by the educational themes and thoughtfulness with which Plan Toys are designed to promote open-ended play, creative role playing, as well as stimulate intellectual and emotional development. These are truly amazing natural toys.

In upcoming blogs, I will review individual Plan Toys like the Solid Wooden Drum, Xylophone, Activity Clock, Shape & Sort it Out, Geometric Sorting Board, and others to explore benefits of specific toys. For now, let me begin by sharing adapted statements made by Plan Toys.

Plan Toys are Green
All Plan Toys are made with clean, natural rubberwood recycled from rubber trees that would otherwise be cut and burned. This process emits carbon emissions, creating carbon gasses that contribute to global warming. Plan Toys breaks this cycle by making high-quality toys with this beautiful hardwood. If that were not enough, Plan Toys takes the time to stabilize the wood using a chemical-free kiln-drying process instead of chemical preservatives.

Plan Toys is also one of the few toy companies that have gained environmental certifications. Here are examples:

1) Environmental Management (ISO 14001), which reflects the Plan Toys’ company’s commitment to environmental awareness and activities.

2) OHSAS 18001, which certifies Plan Toys as a company that provides a safe and healthy working environment.

3) Social Accountability Management (SA 8000), which recognizes the Plan Toys company’s policy to provide full and equal opportunity to all of its workers.

Plan Toys are Safe
Plan Toys assembles toys using a proprietary non-formaldehyde glue instead of traditional toxic wood glue. The glue emits no formaldehyde fumes and is rated E-Zero.

Plan Toys uses water-based dyes to color its toys. The colors are environmentally-friendly and non-toxic to children.

Plan Toys produces all of its toys in its own factory, which ensures complete control of materials and workmanship.

Plan Toys also has achieved the following safety certifications:

1) Quality Management (ISO 9001) for world-class product quality and service standards.

2) Toy Safety Standards (ASTM & EN71, — otherwise known as North American & European Safety Standards, respectively) for EXCEEDING international toy safety standards.

Plan Toys are Smart
Plan Toys makes toys with strong educational themes. From building blocks, to shape sorters, to games, puzzles and pounding toys, Plan Toys offers age-appropriate challenges for intellectual and physical development. Plan Toys offers open-ended play, creating a setting for hours of role-playing, creative play and emotional development. Plan Toys promotes the importance of play in a child’s development by combining design, age-appropriate challenges, and open-ended play to empower children, encourage social interaction, and reward discovery.

Check out our selection of Plan Toys.

By Miebeth Bustillo-Booth, ChildTrek Founder

This Week’s Progress
Watching your dream come alive is a bit surreal. First it’s in your head. Then it’s on paper. Then it starts to take shape right before your eyes. If it were not for all the logistics that keep me firmly on the ground, I would be on cloud nine. Let there be no mistake about it: Opening a toy store is a lot of work. But seeing the pieces come together is really its own energy.

Below are pictures from earlier this week. Much has already happened since. The walls are no longer blue (at least most of them, and not this blue). As soon as more pictures are available, I’ll post them here.

More about this process will be in How ChildTrek Was Born: The 3rd Trimester - the last installation of the series (read 1st Trimester, 2nd Trimester). I promise, it’s coming.

By Miebeth Bustillo-Booth, ChildTrek Founder

In June, you will find that more and more of ChildTrek’s natural toys will be “Temporarily Sold Out.” There are two very good reasons for this: 1) They are being sold (thank you!), and 2) they are not being restocked until we open ChildTrek’s first storefront on July 1. Let me explain why.

Limiting the Carbon Footprint of Moving Toys
ChildTrek currently has its inventory in a warehouse in Kansas City, Missouri. Now that ChildTrek is opening a storefront in Tacoma, the toys will be moved to Washington. This will centralize operations and ensure top-notch customer service.

Not surprisingly, such a move across six states will result in significant fuel emmissions. There’s a lot of toys. In order to limit the carbon footprint of ChildTrek’s move, the inventory in Kansas City is being sold down while we stock up in Tacoma. This will significantly reduce the use of gas and its impact to the atmosphere. I ask for your patience as ChildTrek transforms from virtual to reality.

More Natural Toys in July
On July 1, you will see a fully stocked store again. At that time, you will also see more new toy arrivals from new manufacturers that are in keeping with ChildTrek’s green living and worldwide prosperity philosophy.

Word of Mouse
My deep gratitude to all of you who are passing ChildTrek on to family and friends by word of mouse.  Thank you for your kind emails. It’s truly great to reach kindred spirits who are lining up their love of children and planet with their consumer behavior.

By Miebeth Bustillo-Booth, ChildTrek Founder

Thank You for Your Support!
Thank you to all of you who came to see us at the Green Power Baby Shower Expo in Seattle. It was a wonderful success! I can’t tell you enough how much Stacey and I enjoyed meeting you. We especially loved meeting the children! They are such an inspiration and reminded me why I started ChildTrek in the first place.

The Most Frequently Asked Question
You asked many child development related questions at the Expo. Let me share the most frequently asked one and recap my answer.

What kinds of toys do I give my baby who is 6 to 11 months old, sitting up or standing up, but not yet walking?

For the first few months, babies don’t do much. They sleep, pee, poop, and coo. Then one day, they add to their developmental repertoire by sitting up, crawling, rolling, and reaching out. Now what do you give them to play with?

Developmentally, babies can vary quite a bit. Since you see your infant everyday, you are the foremost expert at what your newborn is able to handle physically. So it’s good to start with your own knowledge of your baby. Nevertheless, here are some guidelines to keep in mind as you choose toys that are developmentally appropriate.

a) At this age, babies naturally want to grab and pull. It’s their way of interacting with their surrounding. The best grabbing or pulling toys are chunky and rounded so as to be easy for little, uncoordinated hands to handle. They have textures, sounds and visual feedback to give your baby important multi-sensory stimulation. Through these early multi-sensory experiences, your infant will begin to make sense of her immediate world. She will begin to synthesize information through repeat experiences and organize these in her developing brain. (This is smooth, rough, bumpy, crinkly; this makes this kind of sound, that kind of sound; this one has different colors (babies don’t actually understand colors; but varying contrasts help them differentiate one from another), etc.)

Be careful, however, from giving your child toys that are loud or over-stimulating. Keep it gentle and soothing. Babies are naturally disorganized. Their brains cannot handle information overload. And we don’t want to give them any reason to be upset (and lose the little sleep they give us in return), do we?

b) Rattles and teethers are also grabbing toys per se. However, if you are looking specifically to help your baby soothe tender gums choose ones that are made of unfinished, beeswax-finished, or non-toxic painted wood. Since wood is a natural anti-bacterial material, it is ideal for your infant. It is also safer.

With growing concerns over the possible harmful effects of phthalates - family of chemicals used to make plastic pliable - present in many children’s toys, it’s best to avoid plastic toys altogether. Choose only natural and wooden toys until there is conclusive evidence these chemicals do not disrupt hormonal development, among other things, in young children.

c) Towel dolls and stuffed animals are particularly good for babies and toddlers. They are soft, comforting, and designed to be easy to handle. As a regular companion, soft dolls and stuffed animals help young children to self soothe while in car rides, strollers, or just being a baby.

Note: Do not to put toys, pillows, blankets, or other objects in your baby’s crib. Childhood experts say that infants are safest when they sleep on their back and without things that may disrupt their breathing.

Upcoming Exhibits
We will let you know of other exhibits where ChildTrek will have a booth. If you are in the area, please do stop by. We would love to meet you and your family!

Thank you again for the for the opportunity to meet you at the Green Power Baby Shower Expo. We are also grateful that you chose natural baby, toddler, or preschooler toys from ChildTrek. We truly appreciate your business.

Hello. I’m Miebeth Bustillo-Booth, the founder of ChildTrek – an online store specializing in natural and eco-friendly toys. How ChildTrek was born spans many years, beginning with my own childhood. I’ll tell you the full story another time. For now, let me share the parts that involve a trip to Central America, the birth of our daughter, and a prayer.

How an Island Disappears
The year before our daughter was born, my husband, Bart, and I went to Central America. In Belize, we stayed in Caye Caulker – a small tropical island getting smaller by the year.

The locals will tell you that the ocean is rising. They’ve seen it creep up the shore. The once expansive beachfronts are in some cases reduced to a few feet. The five-mile island is now two islands. In 1961, Hurricane Hattie filled the low lying area to the north and created what is now called “The Split.” What’s troubling though is that this watery passage is getting wider and deeper. The residents know it’s because of global warming. There’s no debate. They are witnessing their island slowly disappear.

What the Sea is Telling Us
While there, Bart and I snorkeled in the Belize Barrier Reef – one of the world’s largest coral eco-systems. Frankly, I did not know what to expect and I was a bit skittish sharing space with sharks and sting rays. But that day would rank as one of the most memorable and rejuvenating days of my life. The reef is lush with a spectacular sea garden unequaled by anyone’s imagination. The sea creatures are wildly beautiful, swimming freely in a serene and awe-inspiring seascape. Swimming there as if I were one with the fish gave me back lost years.

Yet, this unforgettable moment is tempered by what the guides said. This sea paradise is threatened by human activity nearby and thousands of miles away. Pollution is rampant and the water itself is changing. Parts of the reef are dying – some much faster than others.

The Belize government has taken measures to protect parts of the reef. But its jurisdiction and, therefore, its effectiveness go only so far. For now the green sea turtles and the manatees swim in the warm waters like they have since before humans. But their numbers are dwindling and their fate is tied to what’s happening around them. The oceans are rising and cooling as the icebergs melt.

The larger scientific community now largely agree: Sustained dramatic changes in weather patterns caused by global warming are altering ocean currents and eco-activity above and below sea level. Some of the known effects are depleted oxygen levels in areas of the Pacific where sea life has fled or died.

Did you know water could lose oxygen?

Go Slow or Else
On Caye Caulker, there’s a sign that’s at once command, plea, and reminder of the island’s way of life, “Go slow.” It’s quite ironic that many of us fly south for a chance to relax only to find that our fast-paced lifestyle is threatening the Edens of the world.

As much as possible, I took in the island’s stillness and wished the same in me. I stood quietly “at the still point of the turning world,” [1] praying for humanity to go really slow.

How Mother Nature Rebounds
From Belize, we traveled inland to Guatemala. It was a spontaneous, go-with-your-gut kind of trek into the country. Bart and I had not planned to venture there, but something drew us in. We traveled to Tikal and visited the ancient ruins of the Mayan civilization. We learned that this place now covered by a vast wilderness was once a wealthy and bustling metropolis of as many as 100,000 inhabitants. The city fell as it succumbed to overpopulation, warfare, and environmental degradation. The people soon left.

With the populace and its way of life gone, Mother Nature reclaimed the abandoned city by blanketing it with her nurturing seeds and soil carried by wind and rain. A lush and thriving eco-system grew over what was once a prosperous urban center. Its memory faded until nearly a thousand years passed when a group of archeologists realized that in the dense jungle were not hills, but the remains of a great Mayan city. They soon discovered that the once open plazas and sprawling pyramids were consumed by the rainforest, buried beneath dirt and trees. Only the tops of palaces and temples jutted above the canopy. A massive excavation of the past would follow.

The Irrefutable Truth
As I sat at the top of one of the pyramids, I marveled at the power of nature. What humans destroyed in short order, Mother Nature reclaimed at her own pace. But would we be so lucky this time around?

When Tikal fell and it could no longer nourish the people, the inhabitants simply moved to another place. Today, we demand more of our natural resources on a global scale. In our wake, we leave much less behind and return to the land unnatural manmade goods that clog the pores of the earth and poison our water for millennia, if not forever.

Even as I soaked in the massive beauty before me, this tranquility was interrupted by gnawing questions. Where would we all go if we use up our immediate environment? Do we ask more of our neighbor’s? Are we willing to go to war to secure what they have to meet our needs? And how will Mother Nature be able to reclaim the land as we demand more of her?

One thing rang true as I pondered the inconvertible truth: Humans must yield to nature’s way in order to survive. I was reminded by what the great Native American elders have said all along: We are part of the web of life. We are not conquerors of life. We will always lose when we try to overpower nature.

How the Earth Endures
American astronaut Mae Jamison once remarked that when she looked back at our planet, she came upon the realization that the Earth would endure no matter what we did to it. Give her time, thousands of years, and Mother Nature will repair or reclaim ruined landscapes. Jamison, however, deeply worried about humanity. Our average lifespan is measured in double-digits.

The Earth is over 4.5 billion years old. It will outlast us all. It’s been a ball of fire, alive with volcanic activity. It’s been covered with ice for ages. It’s survived powerful hurricanes, tsunamis, and meteoritic catastrophes; and, yet, it goes on. But life on Earth is more fragile. Even as Mother Nature adjusts to new conditions, much of the life we know may not. Raise the global temperature a few degrees and the climate change will wreck havoc in the narrow bandwidth we call our comfort zone. Plant and animal extinctions are happening at a rapid rate. We need the plants and the animals not only for their beauty, but also for the strength they bring to the eco-fabric that makes life on earth resilient.

As we left Guatemala and Belize, a deep excitement and anxiety began to set in: If we don’t start working with nature, we may not be around for the rebound. A seed took root that summer. Perhaps it’s been there for some time. But by the end of the trip, it stirred in me a need to be part of the work. I just didn’t know how yet.

[1] T.S. Eliot, “Four Quartets: Burnt Norton,” 1943.

Next Blog: How ChildTrek Was Born - 2nd Trimester: Out of the Dark

In recent months, more and more parents are waking up to find that their child’s favorite toys have been recalled due to serious health risks. Companies and corporations, who our parents and grandparents have trusted through the decades, are producing health and hazard risks they call “toys”. Arguably, the mass production of toys with bottom-dollar pricing contributed to low or seriously compromised safety and quality controls. There are other contributing factors as well, which will be covered in future blog posts.

Below is a list of some of the most recent health risks posed within the latest toy hazard recalls:

• Aspiration and intestinal hazards
• Fire and burn hazards
• Lead paint hazards
• Choking hazards
• Tip-over hazards
• Sharp edges hazards

To date, approximately 738 toys, cribs, strollers, baby furniture, car seats and other child related items have been recalled.

To view the latest list, visit the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html).

So the question is when do we say “Enough!”? When do we say, “No, I will not let you do this to my child?” The time is now.

Natural, Organic & Eco-Friendly Toys – Bringing Back Wholesome Fun

Take back your child’s safety. Take back your child’s and our planet’s health. Remove the risks of toxins, poisons, and life threatening hazards by providing your children with natural, organic and eco-friendly toys that stimulate their mind, reduce harmful effects on the environment, and bring back the safety you want when your child picks up his favorite toy.

ChildTrek.com offers natural, organic and eco-friendly toys for infants, toddlers, and children made from natural, organic, biodegradable, recyclable and/or recycled materials. Visit our online store to view our full selection of natural educational toys.

Welcome to the Childtrek.com blog. We will be using our blog to help educate parents on eco-friendly (earth friendly) practices, on the benefits of wholesome, natural and educational toys, on timely industry news and information regarding toy safety, and how you can protect your children from the dangers posed.

Did you know?

• 70% of the toys recalled because of unsafe lead levels are returned to the manufacturer.
• The other 30% generally end up in the trash and ultimately our landfills.
• Recalled toys that end up in landfills can contaminate groundwater and pose a serious health risk to our communities.

Natural, Eco-Friendly Educational Toys

Please be sure to visit our online store where we offer educational toys for children of all ages – providing an alternative to toys that negatively impact childhood health and development, contribute to the problems of global warming, and choke up our landfills for untold millennia.

Please bookmark our blog and visit regularly to gain updates and latest tips on how small changes we as parents and family members can make to ensure a green and vibrant planet Earth for our children and grandchildren for lifetimes to come!