(emily)
At Franklin Goose, our mission is to ensure that parents and families can be responsible environmentally. We strive to sell products that are natural and organic or that are made of recycled materials.
So Earth Day is a pretty big deal for us.
We believe that every person should not just be environmentally aware but take responsibility for the earth. We’ve seen the effects of living without concern for the planet, and we know that it’s going to take more than just people turning off the lights when leaving a room. It’s going to have to be a lifestyle change.
So how do you start talking to your kids about this? Do you sit down and have a talk about recycling and leave it at that? You could, but kids (and adults) learn more by experiencing than just listening.
Earlier this month we discussed how toys are not just sources of entertainment for children but also viable teaching tools. Through playing children learn lifelong skills. They are also able to use their imagination and role play, allowing them a safe place to learn about life and their world.
If you’re looking for toys that could help your children gain perspective and understanding of environmentally responsible living, there are a few items we’d like to suggest.
Green Toys
We love Green Toys. All of their products are made with 100% recycled milk jugs, which saves energy and reduces greenhouse emissions. That’s awesome in itself, but Green Toys also makes several toys that are great for teaching children about living green.
Planting Kit
These planting kits are great for spring. Children can grow their very own organic sunflower, allowing for parents to teach about gardening and responsibility.
Recycling Truck
Green Toys makes a lot of different cars and other vehicles, but one of our favorites is the Recycling Truck. It comes with cards depicting bottles, cans, and paper that your child can sort into the truck before lifting the bed and dumping them out through the rear door. Recently one of our customers told us how her son loves his recycling truck and can now identify the ones on the street, which allows him and his parents to discuss recycling and why it’s important.
Plan Toys
Another favorite of ours, Plan Toys has a lot of fun and unique toys that are made responsibly.
Eco Town
The Plan Toys Eco Town includes an eco home, eco train station, charging station, and street accessories, plus a mat that has grass, trees, rivers, and roads. With it, your child can create whole worlds that are green.
Vegetable Garden
Plan Toys has tons of dolls and dollhouses for children, plus accessories. One of our favorites is the Vegetable Garden, which comes with a wheelbarrow, a watering can, a spade, 4 vegetable beds, and removable carrots, radishes, turnips, and cauliflowers. This a great toy for teaching children about being sustainable.
Wonderworld
Wonderworld is big on protecting the environment and insists on only using rubber-wood from replenishable sources and water-based, non-toxic paints and lacquers.
Wonderworld Eco House
Speaking of being sustainable, the Wonderworld Eco House from Smart Gear is the perfect dollhouse for girls and boys. It comes with furniture (2 beds, bedding, bathroom shower, toilet, table, chairs, kitchen stove), but it also comes with several green and earth-friendly items. This house is completely sustainable with its rain barrel, solar panel, and wind turbine. The three dolls that are included will love living in this green house and traveling on their scooter.