As a parent, I'm extremely concerned about the toys that I allow my kids to play with. I want to make sure that their toys are safe. I also prefer to choose toys that are educational and that will hold their attention. My guess is that most parents want to make sure that they are providing their kids with safe and eco friendly toys to play with.

After doing lots of research and learning as much as I possibly could, I made the decision to purchase eco friendly toys for my kids, exclusively. I'm not going to lie, this hasn't always gone over well with my 3 daughters, who simply can't understand why I will no longer buy Barbie's for them, but overall, they are extremely happy with all their new, safer toys.

If you're wondering what makes a toy "eco friendly" you aren't alone. Here's a partial list to help point you in the right direction:

• Look for toys that are made with natural or organic fabrics. Organic fabrics are better for the environment and for your child's heath.
• Look for toys that have the fair trade label. The fair trade label ensures that the toys were made by workers who were paid a fair wage and worked under fair conditions.
• Look for toys that are made with wood that was grown in managed forests.
• Toys that are made from metal or have metal parts are more eco friendly than plastic toys because metal can be easily recycled.
• Pay attention to packaging! Less packaging is always better.
• Look for toys that are made with recycled products.
• Toys that are durable are more eco friendly than those that will break after they've been played with a few times. The theory behind this is that they'll be used longer before they eventually end up in a landfill.
• Watch for toys with Phthalates in them. Phthalates have been linked to health issues in children and should be avoided.