Published on July 18th, 2008
Like this post? Subscribe to our RSS feed and stay up to date.
Yes, that is a Women’s Lib patch (I’m sure both Glorias are kvelling). No, you cannot have it, I’m quite certain that the Smithsonian will offer me a gazillion dollars for it some day (it’s my fantasy, leave it alone…). Yes, those were my overalls, and then they were my cut off shorts, as I grew my mother sewed part of an old skirt bottom onto it and a few months later a second was added. She is awesome. Eco-couture should be renamed “Jessica’s Mom’s Idea in 1974″ stat.
For the record I am not advocating dressing your child like it’s 1974 again. I would, however, take your kids to the fabric store and see if there are any patches that catch their eye. With back to school shopping just around the corner maybe a few well placed patches could get them more excited about using last year’s backpack?
Read the rest of this entry »
Published on July 17th, 2008
Recently I was with a girlfriend and she asked me about when I was going to go back to work. “I’m writing,” was my half whisper.
“What?” she asked.
“I’m writing. I’m writing about environmental issues and green parenting,” I gushed. “I never really told anyone, because I was afraid to fail and have my friends see it, but I am a writer.” I sat up a little straighter and taller, proud of having let my secret out.
Read the rest of this entry »
Published on June 20th, 2008
Celebrating the Winter Solstice was one of my first posts here at Eco Child’s Play! I’m a summer lover and today I’m practically giddy that there will 15 HOURS of daylight! What a wonderful day to remind our kids that the sun is, ultimately, the energetic source of all we have.
Making small (or large, if that’s your cup ‘o herbal tea!) celebrations out of the Solstices and Equinoxes is one more way to teach your children that there is a rhythm to nature and a rhythm to life. If Winter Solstice is comparable to a “time to weep,” Summer Solstice is the “time to laugh!” (Thank you, Ecclesiastes for the most beautiful words on the seasonality of life…and thank you to the Byrds for putting it to music!)
Celebrate the longest day of the year with seasonal food and fun. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on June 8th, 2008
After finding myself seeking out organic musical instruments for my child, I had one of those open-palm-to-the-forehead-moments and realized the old stand-by of spoons on pots, dry beans in Tupperware and whisks around a metal bowl were classics for a reason. Simple. Easy. And I don’t have to buy anything.
BUT, for the really adventurous out there - I did find this wonderfully endearing YouTube clip of a man (the language barrier won’t matter) delighting in showing the world how he fashions apples, carrots and even asparagus into musical instruments. It is music so good you can eat it! (Sorry … couldn’t resist).
It is a little weird - but what a fantastic way to take the fear out of vegetables. I don’t know that I can pull off this trick with my paring knife, but I might give it a try. If nothing else, this will provide at least 10 minutes worth of hysterical laughter from my son.
Enjoy the clip after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »
Published on April 23rd, 2008
I am a harsh critic of children’s music. I don’t like most of the crap that is out there, and I don’t understand why children should be subjected to poor musical compositions just because they are children. Based on my strong musical opinions, it was with hesitancy that I listened to Hayes Greenfield’s Music for a Green Planet. I was pleasantly surprised by the jazzy melodies and amused by the lyrics of this cd, although I have to admit, I am a sucker for the upright bass.
Music for a Green Planet takes many traditional children’s songs, as well as other popular classics, and changes the lyrics to reflect a green message. I have probably listened to this cd a dozen times in one day, as my children absolutely adore it, and I do too. The first track is a version of “She’ll be Comin’ Round the Mountain” only she’s driving a hybrid and using biodiesel.
We’ll be driving biodiesel when she comes
We’ll be getting cleaner mileage when she comes
We’ll be a part of the solution
Cause we’re making less pollution
We’ll be driving biodiesel when she comes
Read the rest of this entry »
Published on April 21st, 2008
One of the ways Impressionism revolutionized the art world was by taking the creation of art from the studio to the outdoors. In fact, Impressionists have been called “open air” painters, because they took advantage of the mobility offered by the invention of tubes of paint and went outside for inspiration. Following this art movement’s love of the outdoors, I was inspired to paint with my children outside in honor of Earth Day. Since Earth Day falls on a school day, we began our project over the weekend.
Due to the fact that it snowed here this weekend, my six-year-old daughter, three-year-old son, and I picked some flowers to inspire our painting rather than draw them in their natural location. We did set up our paints on the covered deck and worked quickly due to the cold temperatures. Using chalk to sketch out our ideas, we then covered the canvas in “crazy” colors for the under painting. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on March 24th, 2008
Finger painting was one of my favorite pasttimes as a child, and I looked forward to the days at school when I could squish my fingers into gooey colors. Now, eco-minded parents concerned about their children’s health can chose eco-friendly fingerpaints made by Livos, a long time trusted company in my family for oils and varnishes. All natural and sensory fun, what could be better?
Salis Fingerpaints come in six colors: yellow, red, black, green, blue, and white. These paints can be mixed to form more colors giving children hands-on experience with color theory. They can also be diluted with water to be applied with a paintbrush, if your child is the type that doesn’t like to get his/her fingers dirty. Salis Fingerpaints can be used on stone, wood, unglazed clay, paper, cardboard, salt dough, etc.
These hemp-based vegan paints are made from water, mineral pigments, hemp oil, methyl cellulose, extract of gentian roots, and preserved with food/pharmaceutical grade substances. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on March 10th, 2008
Whether you are Christian or not, children love to hunt for a basket full of goodies on the springtime holiday of Easter, which this year falls very close to the spring equinox. My childhood memories of Easter are filled with fake, green plastic grass, gross gooey marshmallow bunnies, and of course, the ubiquitous chocolate bunny. My children’s Easter gifts are a much more eco-friendly than those of my youth. Here are a few ideas I have come across this year for an eco-friendly Easter:
- Green Gift Ideas: Stubby Pencil Studio is now carrying wooden toys. The Spinny Speller is great for teaching children phonemic awareness and reminds me of the homemade phonics mediators my grandmother used to make for her first graders. The Made By Me wooden kits are perfect for little hands to decorate and assemble. Both toys are made in the USA. Stubby Pencil recycled cards and eco-art supplies also make nice additions to your child’s Easter basket. The cards now come in eco-friendly packaging consisting of a custom button/string tie envelope made from 30% post consumer recycled paper and green seal certified.
Read the rest of this entry »
Published on February 28th, 2008
Congratulations to Carrie for winning our Green to the Letter Giveaway, sponsored by Stubby Pencil Studio.
Over the course of a walk in the woods and through our yard, my three year old daughter said this:
“The trees
the birds
the clouds
the sky
Oh mama isn’t it beautiful?
I like berries to pick and eat.
Blueberries
strawberries
raspberries
oh and our apple tree is nice to me.
I like that too.”
Carrie blogs at Rhubarb Sky. Congrats Carrie, and thank you to everyone that entered!
Published on February 18th, 2008
Last week, Kelli shared with us Green Valentines made by Stubby Pencil Studio. Stubby Pencil Studio offers 100% recycled (post-consumer) coloring, interactive cards, as well as eco-friendly art supplies for children and adults (see Victoria’s post on Crafting a Green World about toxic art supplies). Stubby Pencil Studio has graciously offered to give a “Green to the Letter” Stationery basket to one of our readers, a $60 value! Included in the basket:
6 packs of Color ‘n Kids cards (winner’s choice of styles)
5 Smencils (winner’s choice of scents)
Box of 24 Soy Crayons
Box of 12 Forest Choice colored pencils
To enter: Have your child write a slogan or poem about living green and post it as a comment to this post by Wednesday, February 27, 2008! Read the rest of this entry »
