With summer vacation right around the corner, it won’t be long before you hear that oh so familiar phrase, “I’m so bored!” For many parents, finding entertaining and child-safe activities for the children is often easier said than done.
Coloring and drawing activities are almost certain to be great big hits in your household. After all, most kids love to color, right? This summer, why not try environmentally friendly crayons or coloring pencils and combine your child’s love of coloring with eco-friendly products? The following five products offer environmentally friendly coloring products your creative kids are sure to love.
Crayon Rocks
Crayon Rocks, well, rock! These uniquely shaped crayons are made out of natural soy and are colored with natural mineral powders. The non-toxic crayons were actually designed to strengthen children’s grip muscles and help with handwriting and fine motor skills. Crayon Rocks are packaged in a variety of ways and in a variety of colors. Depending on what package is chosen, they range in price from $5 to $20.
Crayon Rings
Created by designer Timothy Liles, Crayon Rings are crayons you can wear! Made out of washable crayon, these fun and colorful crayons are available in sets of eight and come packaged in a beautiful wooden box. Currently, Crayon Rings are sold in ladies sizes 6, 7 and 8 and men’s size 10. These unusual crayons would also make a great gift for an art teacher, wouldn’t they? Unfortunately, the crayons don’t come cheap; they come with a hefty price tag of $50.
Smencils
These super-popular pencils are not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill pencils. Smencils are “gourmet scented pencils” made out of 100 percent recycled newspaper! Smencils are created by tightly rolling newspaper around # 2 graphite to form the pencil. Next, the pencils are soaked in an award-winning fragrant gourmet liquid scent. Once dried, erasers and stickers are applied and the pencils are placed in a corn-based biodegradable plastic tube to keep them nice and fresh!
From Bubble Gum and Cinnamon to Cotton Candy and Grape, Smencils come in all sorts of delicious scents that kids are sure to love! And you don’t have to worry about the smell fading away as soon as you open them. The pencils are guaranteed to keep their fragrance for two years! Smencils are sold in a variety of colors and packages.
Twig Crayons
These crayons are not only eco-friendly, they are downright adorable. Twig Crayons, from Inntrax, are made from actual willow, elm and ash twigs. In accordance with the sustainable forestry practices, the wood comes from mature forests in Poland. And each crayon is lovingly handcrafted too. The sets are packaged in a beautiful handmade birch basket made from recycled brush.
Can’t you just envision Twig Crayons sitting in the middle of your harvest table or fireplace in your summer cottage? And what a perfect gift for your favorite art teacher! The non-toxic crayons are sold in sets of 8, 12 and 60 in a variety of colors and prices.
Stockmar Beeswax Crayons 
These colorful crayons from Germany are petroleum-free. The non-toxic crayons are all-natural and made from pure beeswax. The Stockmar Beeswax Crayons are renowned for their quality and brilliance and are packaged in a variety of choices and prices. Stockmar Beeswax Crayons are recommended for children 3 and up.
If you’ve been putting off talking to your children about the environment, what better way to begin a candid conversation than by using an eco-friendly product like crayons or pencils? Your kids will see that going green not only helps our environment, but can be loads of fun too. This summer, inspire the artist in your children with fun and entertaining eco-friendly products listed above.
