ChildTrek Blog

Vulli Sophie the Giraffe is made of 100% natural rubber. It is BPA, PVC & Phthalates free. Sophie is a true multi-sensory toy that delights and soothes teething babies. The high-contrast spots attract developing eyes. The soft, velvety and flexible body parts invite babies to grab, teethe, squeeze, and play. The gentle squeak, squeak amuses. The natural rubber gives off a gentle, powdery scent that differentiates it among other toys.

Also a great, natural and eco-friendly alternative to plastic bath toys. When done, clean with soapy water and dry.

Originally made in 1961, Sophie the Giraffe retains the same original design that has comforted teething babies for generations. It is made in Rumilly in the Haute-Savoie region of France using time-honored, quality-driven processes.

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!

Contact: Annette Roth, Marketing Director

IR2 Media Group Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Please join us for Green Play: A Toy Safety Fair
At ChildTrek, located in Tacoma’s historic Freighthouse Square
430 East 25th St., #3
Tacoma, WA 98421
December 6, 2008 from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

On December 6, 2008 from 10 am – 6 pm, ChildTrek (www.childtrek.com) will be hosting Green Play: A Toy Safety Fair.  This informative safety fair is designed to provide parents and child-care providers information about various harmful elements and chemical in toys, and to help them become proactive consumers.

A number of activities are scheduled for the fair, including: 

–Test Your Toys:  Hosted by Essco Safety Check, our customers can bring their children’s toys to our store to test them for harmful elements and chemicals, with state of the art equipment.  You can use this FREE service to find out what, if any, toxic metals or chemicals are present in your kids’ toys, including lead, cadmium, or mercury.

–Green Initiatives:  Learn about current and prospective policies and initiatives designed to protect you and your family against toxic pollution.  Highly informative.

–School-Readiness Advice:  Talk with preschool and elementary teachers to get practical school-readiness advice for your child.

–Test for Lead:  Designed specifically for pregnant and breastfeeding women, we are offering a service that allows you to test for lead levels in your own body.

All of these activities are FREE to the public.  There will also be great toy giveaways and specials, available especially for this informative event. More at http://www.childtrek.com/toy-safety-fair-2008.html.

What is ChildTrek?

ChildTrek is South Sound’s newest eco-friendly toy store, located at Tacoma’s historic Freighthouse Square. In its very first year in business, ChildTrek was recently voted by King 5 Evening Magazine as a Top 5 Winner in the Children’s Gift category.   ChildTrek features unique, fun, green toys and books for children, babies and toddlers.  All toys sold at ChildTrek are child-safe and non-toxic, finished with beeswax, water- or vegetable-based dyes, or non-toxic paints.

For more information, please contact us, customercare@childtrek.com.  You can also visit the user-friendly and highly-informative website at www.childtrek.com.

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PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Annette Roth, Marketing Director
IR2 Media Group Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATURAL TOYS FOR A GREEN GENERATION
Introducing ChildTrek, Tacoma’s Newest Natural Toys Store
Grand Opening Celebration from August 17 to September 14, 2008

Are you looking for unique, natural and educational toys that are safe for your child? Then come visit ChildTrek, a new toy store located in Tacoma, Washington’s historic Freighthouse Square.

Good for Kids & Planet
Miebeth Bustillo-Booth created ChildTrek to marry her love for children, education, and the environment. As a former teacher, Bustillo-Booth understands the importance of toys that promote positive childhood development. As a parent, she understands that parents want toys that are safe, fun and educational as well as good for the environment and affordable. “I believe parents and grandparents are looking for quality, unique, open-ended toys that stimulate their children’s intelligence. When they come into ChildTrek or visit ChildTrek.com, they will find toys that provide this and more,” says Bustillo-Booth.

ChildTrek believes that the best toys are good for both kids and the planet, and actively promotes the idea of living in harmony with the environment. To support this belief, ChildTrek offers green toys. They are made with natural, biodegradable, recyclable or recycled materials under sustainable practices. Most are wooden toys. Very little new plastic is used. All toys are child-safe and non-toxic. They are finished with beeswax, water- or vegetable-based dyes, or non-toxic paints. Because the toys are made under stringent quality and safety specifications, few will end up in landfills anytime soon. They will become beloved toys that are passed down to siblings, friends’ children, and perhaps grandchildren.

Childhood Discovered Naturally
ChildTrek will soon offer fun, engaging, beautifully-illustrated children’s books. They are carefully selected to instill a love for reading — the foundation for a love of learning and lifelong success. The ChildTrek storefront is family and kid-friendly, where children can openly play with toys on display. “I love to see children play at the store. It also helps parents choose toys that are just right for their kids,” says Bustillo-Booth.

Come help celebrate ChildTrek’s Grand Opening celebration from Aug. 27 - Sept. 14, 2008. There will be door prizes, specials and daily promotions. For more information, please contact Annette Roth at 253-212-0379 or via email, aroth@ir2media.com. You can also visit the user-friendly and highly-informative website at http://www.childtrek.com.

ChildTrek Storefront Address
ChildTrek is located just two blocks north of the Tacoma Dome. Take Exit 133, right at the off ramp. Freighthouse Square is the green building just 2 blocks ahead. See you soon!

ChildTrek Toys, Books & Gifts
430 East 25th St., Suite #3
Freighthouse Square
Tacoma, WA 98421

800-406-8735 (Customer service available M-F (10 am - 5 pm PST)

Store Hours
Monday - Saturday: 10 am - 7 pm
Sunday: 12 noon - 5 pm

Come see us soon!