If your kid becomes bored with this toy, there seriously is no pleasing him or her. I mean, c’mon, this solar-powered robot kit is actually 6 toys in 1! One minute it’s a robot dog — the next it’s a wind turbine, a boat, a plane, or a solar-powered car. And for under $20, the price is ridiculously awesome too. From the website,

The good news is that you don’t need a degree in robotics to start with, or have to try and figure out which screw is A678b and how part D456 slots into F9097a!! The diagrams are big and very easy to follow, there are only 25 parts and no screws are involved!

Sign us up. We need this thing now! For more details, jump here.

It’s kind of amazing how prevalent ziplock bags have become. There was a time not too many years ago when baggies were limited to only a few school lunches. Now, almost everyone has them daily — and they come with new features like plastic zips that offer convenience but add to the waste and energy needed to make them.

Mom Crystal Figlietti was thinking the same thing — and with her three kids burning through plactic baggies, she decided to take action and come up with an eco-friendly alternative. Dubbed the Fresh Snack Pack, (and available in different sizes) each PVC-free, non-toxic plastic and reuseable bag can hold a sandwich, fruit, or other goodies. They’ll also survive the rigors of your child’s backpack and daily abuse — making them a wonderfully “green” alternative to ziplock bags.

They’re available here for $4.50 and $5.50 each depending on the size.

via ohdeedoh

Remember your first Radio Flyer wagon? Even if you didn’t own one (like me), there was probably some friend you knew that did. They were perfect for everything from lugging around stuffed animals, to lemonade stand supplies, to being pulled down the street. Ah, to be a kid.

Well, Radio Flyer has their own green version of the classic original with the Earth Wagon. It’s made from 100% recycled post-consumer HDPE (plastic milk jugs) — over 230 in all. The green and tan colors are infused throughout the boards, so color won’t scratch off and painting is never needed. It is identical in size to Radio Flyer’s famous Town & Country model.

Even though I probably can’t fit in it, I still want one. You can pick up an Earth Wagon for $150 at Green Home.

Sure, wooden building blocks are fun — but if you’ve got a little archeitect with larger aspirations, this Spaceframe kit from Offi might just rock their world.

Sporting rigid felt-like forms made from recycled plastic bottles, the Spaceframe is a modular system that leaves endless possibilities for building. How about a fort? Or a rocket ship? A space pod? A castle? Not to mention the fact that the pieces are big (no worries about swallowing) and the final designs are even BIGGER! Plus, I imagine that knocking this down in the end would be a blast as well. Mommies with Style gave it this review,

Not one day has gone by, since the Spaceframe arrived, that it has not been played with. My kids are begging for a second set and if my husband does not give in first, I will probably get one more. Because then I can build a magical tower, that is taller than me! It’s no wonder that Fortune magazine named this one of the top 25 toys of the year – it’s an empire waiting to be built.

Needless to say, I want one. I think my son would appreciate it too. You can pick up a Spaceframe kit for $99 (marked down from $199) here!

The standard refrigerator box as a play toy has given way to more intricate and complex designs. To be sure, a giant box is still a blast for kids — but if you’re looking for something with a little design flair, this cardboard Calacastle is a great choice.

Not only is the Calacastle fully recyclable, but its blank 41″ x 41″ x 49″ walls can be decorated any way children see fit — and may also be configured in a variety of ways. Plus, it’s available right now for only $70 — which sure beats having to splurge on a fridge for a giant box! To see more details, jump here.

via ohdeedoh

The next generation of kids — more than any before — will probably witness the expansion of renewable energy from something of a novelty to full-blown everyday common use. No longer will solar panels or wind turbines be confined to science experiments or field trips. Instead, most everyone will have one on their roofs or in their towns. With costs dropping and innovation increasing rapidly, the future is looking very green for the renewable energy industry.

Until it’s ubiquitous, kids will likely enjoy this Solar Deluxe Educational Kit — which provides an opportunity to build a small array to power a fan, light bulb, and/or radio. Those options alone sure beat playing around with those solar-powered garden lights — and the series of do-it-yourself experiments will go a long way in teaching kids the wonders of alternative energy. You can pick up a kit — and be a hero on Earth Day — for just under $17 here.

Payless Shoes today announced the launch of a new eco-friendly brand called Zoe & Zac. The new line is mostly for adult women, but also features three girl’s shoes, as well as a range of jewelry and socks — all available for under $30 each.

The Zoe & Zac products are green because they are made from eco-friendly components and materials such as organic cottons and linen, natural hemp, recycled rubber outsoles, eco-friendly-EVA cushioning, and water-based glues for the shoes. Natural materials like dyed Tagua and Acai nuts are incorporated into the jewelry. The product packaging is eco-smart as well, utilizing 100 percent recycled shoe boxes and soy-based inks for the printing.

In celebration of the launch, Payless will also be participating in The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees campaign. The company will donate $1 — the cost to plant one tree — for every Zoe & Zac green brand item sold through May 4 and on every Payless exclusive reusable shopping bag sold throughout the year. The Nature Conservancy hopes this effort helps them reach their goal to plant 1 billion trees by 2015 to help rebuild the Atlantic Forest in Brazil.

Check out the full, new collection here.

If your kid has ever wanted to be a hobbit — or just have a playhouse of their own to hide away in, check out these custom, beautiful abodes from qb Playhouses. (Buzz Kill: These appear only currently available in Europe — so us Stateside folks may only gape.)

Each of these playhouses is fully customizable — your kid picks the color and print. Adding to the exclusivity, you can even upload a custom print to the qb website. And they’re wonderfully green as well — using sustainable wood harvesting and giving back to charity through Right to Play. From the site,

The qb makes sure that the creativity of the child returns by, first of all, choosing an unique shape which strongly appeals to children and secondly by giving them the opportunity to make or choose the design. Children have a marked taste and the children who tested the qb immediately knew which one they liked best.

Want to check out more? See a whole bunch of pics here — or if you’re fortunate enough to live across the pond, order one! (Price is between 619-749 Euros depending on design.)

via Inhabitots

There appears to be popping up an almost limitless amount of creative uses for used plastic bottles — the latest of which was the Plastiki Boat project getting ready to set sail next month. Now, some schoolkids from Australia have created an entire greenhouse from the containers; some 1652 two-litre and 1.25-litre bottles in all. From the article,

Year 1 teacher Kaitlin West, whose idea it was to build the greenhouse, said she was inspired by photos former principal Andy Best brought from overseas. “As the number of plastic bottles grew in my classroom, Allan Haworth and his work mates from his local business, Al the Handyman, got to work,” Ms West said. “A steel frame was constructed and the bottoms of the plastic bottles were cut off, enabling a secure wall to be built as the bottles were threaded onto PVC pipe. Each pipe was bolted to the structure, enabling all walls, both doors and the roof to be secured.

What a great idea — and a wonderful way to teach students about reusing materials for other purposes. Seems like schools all around the U.S. could do something similar (We all know there are plenty of two-litre bottles to go around.) — and encourage gardening at the same time. Well done, Aussies!

When I was a kid, Big Wheels were all the rage. I still remember the day someone tore my Knight Rider big wheel stickers off and I nearly cried to death. Bastards. But today, green is in and with it some very cool bike designs for toddlers; specifically this one from Wishbone.

The company claims that any kid from ages 1 to 5 will enjoy riding around on their eco-friendly bike — the only prerequisite is that they can walk. According to the site, every bike “has 60% post-consumer recycled plastic wheels, is made from sustainably managed woods and is bonded and finished with eco-friendly products. The Bike box and all printed material inside is recycled and printed with non-toxic inks.” They even have a limited-edition tricked-out bike with cool graphics.

You can pick one up for $249 at Skip*Hop!