How to Make Safe and Affordable Gifts for Children

American parents remember the horror of finding out that their children's toys could be poisoning them last year. The lead paint fiasco has left many parents weary of this years latest plastic toys. The alternative toys made in the USA or Europe with natural fibers are gorgeous, eco-friendly and generally safe. However, they can be very costly and therefore unreachable in today's economy. The following guide will identify some common natural toys and ways to buy or make them within your budget.

Playsilks

Playsilks are the ultimate open ended toy. They are as simple as can be: just a piece of dyed silk. Playsilks stimulate the imaginations of children. A playsilk can be a cape, a blanket, an ocean, soup in a bowl, and much more. The only limit is that of the child's imagination. Playsilks usually come in squares ranging in size from 22"x22" up to 44"x44".

You can buy playsilks from many online stores such as Magic Cabin for $10-$15 each. Although the hours of fun will make the playsilk worth the rather expensive price tag, dyeing your own will save you money. You can get blank silk scarves from Dharma Trading Company. Look for the Habotai silk scarves. You can use either acid based dyes or food safe dyes like Wilton's or even Kool Aid. Follow this link for easy dyeing instructions.

Play Dough

Every child loves the old childhood staple of play dough. Playing in play dough is great for developing fine motor skills. The name brand, Play Doh, hasn't been recalled to date. Many parents still feel safest knowing exactly what their children are playing with.

Organic play dough is very expensive. You can get a six pack from Raindough for about $30. For a fraction of the cost you can make your own. Follow this link for play dough recipes.

Sock Monkeys

That's right! Sock Monkeys are making a huge comeback. And why wouldn't they? Everybody loves to snuggle with the adorable little fellas. Depending of the materials used, they can be very eco-friendly and come in a wide variety of designs.

You can expect to pay $15-$30 for a standard size sock monkey. Seem outrageous for a pair of socks? That's because it is! You can find an easy to follow tutorial for making your very own sock monkey at this link.

Play Food

Children love to imitate their caregivers during play. That's why play food is such a popular toy. Although purchasing cheap play food isn't a very daunting task most of it is made of plastic. Parents who wish to avoid plastic are left with the options of wood or fabric.

You can buy beautiful play food at stores like Willow Tree or on sites like Etsy. These will run anywhere from $4-$30 per piece/set. If you would rather save your money and get your creative juices flowing you can make your own play food from felt. Be careful: it can be addicting. If you need proof, just look at the Flickr Play Food Group. The best part about making felt play food is that you don't really need a pattern or tutorial. Most felt food crafters make their own patterns or use pictures of other's creations as inspiration with amazing results. If you are still nervous, you can follow this link for a pancake tutorial.

There are few things so satisfying in life as watching the children you love playing with a toy you made with your own two hands. You can use these simple toy ideas as a starting point to dive into the world of handmade gifts for children. By making your own toys you are not only saving money and the environment, but you are also giving the children in your life the gift of your time. Happy crafting!