Thanks to all of the people who suggested new characters and voted! Goat barely edged out the Black Eyed Susan, and the love interest for bee–don’t worry, I think we’ll see those two someday (the BES is actually next to goat in the title panel).
Congrats and thanks to Jan Steinman for suggesting the goat! I’m not yet sure where I’ll go with her personality, but she’ll definitely be nicer than Wendy…

More on Backyard Goats

From Treehugger: Milking Backyard Goats in Urban San Francisco (Video)
From HuffPo: The Campaign to Bring Goats to Your Backyard

Follow the rest of the Hank D and the Bee series at JoeMohrToons.com. For cartoon updates and other green goings-on, follow Joe on Twitter @GreenCartoons.

Hank D and the Bee: Wendy Welcomes “Augie” the Goat is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Hey Hankheads! I need your help. Can you suggest a new character for Hank D and the Bee? It can be an animal, a person, an insect, or anything your creative little brains come up with! Just leave your suggestions in the comment section of this cartoon, or (if you’re reading this on NaturalPapa, EcoChildsPlay, or EcoSnobberySucks) on my cartoon archive website.

After a week or two, I’ll put my favorite suggestions to a vote.

Looking forward to your ideas!

Thanks,
Joe

Follow the rest of the Hank D and the Bee series at JoeMohrToons.com. For cartoon updates and other green goings-on, follow Joe on Twitter @GreenCartoons.

Hank D and the Bee: Help Create a New Cartoon Character is a post from: Eco Child's Play

More info on ocean pollution

(Heavy) From Mother Jones: Marine Pollution: How the Ocean Became a Toxic Waste Dump
(Lighter) From Greenwala: The Ocean’s Top 25 Deadliest Pollution Predators
(Lightest) From Joel Harper: All the Way to the Ocean

Happy New Year, Hankheads! Cheers to a promising 2012!
Follow the rest of the Hank D and the Bee series at JoeMohrToons.com. For cartoon updates and other green goings-on, follow Joe on Twitter @GreenCartoons.

Hank D and the Bee: Sharks Only Eat Certain Kinds of People? is a post from: Eco Child's Play

More Thanksgiving-related info

From NaturalPapa: Family Thankfulness Activities for Fall
From EcoSnobberySucks: Hunting your own food: A liberal converts
From EcoChildsPlay: How Can I Detox My Thanksgiving Diet?
From Eat.Drink.Better: The Anatomy of a Genetically Modified Turkey [Infographic]

…and in case you’re not familiar with the above-reference railroad (for shame): History of the Underground Railroad from National Geographic

Joe’s cartoon archive, twitter ramblings and StumbleUpon page…

Hank D and the Bee: A Thanksgiving Underground Railroad is a post from: Eco Child's Play

I take my kids hiking, camping, and backpacking at every opportunity.  Real gear is essential. Toys are toys.  One way I know I can trust outdoor gear designed for children is if it comes from I company I trust for adult gear.  The Princeton Tec Bot Headlamp fits the bill!

Small, simple, and ready for action, meet Bot. The newest and youngest member of The Family is designed with the same ergonomic features of the older members, but with a fun and bright PTec twist. Two Ultrabright LEDs housed in a variety of wild colors will certainly be the center of attention, but look beyond that. The Bot is built with the same ruggedness and reliability as the rest of the headlamps in The Family. Durable plastics, a single arm bracket, and large push button make the Bot sturdy and simple to operate. In addition, the battery compartment on the Bot screws shut to ensure that the batteries won’t be accidentally accessed. PTec reliability, PTec personality – the Bot rounds out The Family in a big way.

Would I buy this product? Yes. It is cheaper than an adult headlamp, and it would make a great stocking stuffer. The only eco-friendly properties is that it is made in the USA and uses LED technology so the bulbs and batteries last a long time.

Disclosure:  The products described above were sent to us as free samples, unless noted differently in the review.  Prior assurances as to the nature of the reviews, whether positive or negative, were not given.  No financial payments were accepted in exchange for the reviews.  The reviews reflect our honest, authentic opinions.

Outdoor Kid Gifts: Princeton Tec Bot LED Head Lamp for Children is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Yep, that’s a Jeff McIntire-Strasburg mask–Sustainablog founder, Sundance Channel contributor, and the person who got me my cartooning start! The mask may be niche, but the man is a superstar (unlike Scary Rick Perry)!

More info for a “Green Halloween”

From NaturalPapa: Reverse Trick or Treating: Help End Exploitation of Children in Cocoa Industry
From EcoSnobberySucks: How to make your own realistic Werewolf legs
From EcoChildsPlay: Eco-Mom Confessions: Are Violent Polyester Halloween Costumes OK?

Follow the rest of the Hank D and the Bee series at JoeMohrToons.com. For cartoon updates and other green goings-on, follow Joe on Twitter @GreenCartoons.

Hank D and the Bee: Hank’s Halloween Costume is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Image via Wikipedia

Play…it’s essential to human development.  If you are of my generation, you remember roaming the neighborhood without adult supervision, playing with your peers in empty lots, houses under construction, and playgrounds at parks and schools.  Today, I would never think of giving my own children this allowance of freedom if I lived in town.

Just like Nature Deficit Disorder affects our children, our kids are also experience a deficit in play.  According to the non-profit organizations KaBOOM!:

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, play is important to healthy brain development and allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Today’s children spend less time playing outside than any previous generations in part because only 20-percent live within walking distance of a park or playground. This Play Deficit is having profound consequences for kids physically as well as mentally and socially because children need a place to play every day in order to be active and healthy.

That’s right!  Only one-in-five children live within “walking distance” of playgrounds or parks.  Not only are our children not living near parks, those parks are too safe!  As another example of how we overprotect our children, playgrounds have become sterile places where children are robbed of challenging their gross motor skills and overcoming psychological fears.  The Daily Mail reports:

Old-fashioned playground equipment like climbing frames, sand pits and paddling pools are set to be re-introduced after research found a degree of risk helps children to develop.

For years councils have felt forced to remove older attractions from their sites fearing any potential injuries could result in costly legal battles.

But recent research has shown that children actually benefit from risk when they play as it helps them develop the judgement skills they need in later life.

I still remember when my elementary school installed giant heavy equipment tires on our playground. We would run and jump up trying to scale to the top. After countless tries, reaching the top was a serious achievement, but that was not all!  We would then jump from tire to tire, which was quite a leap.  I can’t imagine parents or teachers today allowing children such an experience. I think my heart would drop watching my own children try such a feat.

Play Deficit Disorder: Bring Back the Dangerous Playgrounds! is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Last weekend, I took my seven-year-old son on his first backpacking trip.  For my ten-year-old daughter, it was her fourth trip into the wilderness. Why do I take my children on these overnight adventures when we already live in a place more wild and natural than designated wilderness areas?  The minimalist experience and little bit of suffering endured along the trail has made my children better people and me a better mother.

Backpacking is not just about physical endurance, there is a psychological factor as well.  Feeling the strain of the heavy back as you ascend upward towards your final destination, which in our case is a high alpine lake, overcoming the feelings that you can’t make it, only taking the essentials, the communal nature of shared meals and equipment….all of these factors create an experience that can’t be beat by any amusement park!

My daughter is strong-willed, a kind way of saying she is prone to argue and voice her opinion inappropriately at times.  When we backpack, these problems in our relationship dissolve (it also happened while we traveled in Europe this summer).  Her brighter side shines. She is more helpful, responsible, and enjoyable.  I asked her about it on our recent trip.  She responded that when backpacking there is nothing else to do; there are no distractions of home and home routines.  Perhaps the difference lies in my complete attention to our trip, our tasks, our time together.  Perhaps it also makes me a better parent…

My son was so excited for his first backpacking trip, as he has been left behind multiple times.  He relished in the experience of carrying his own pack, ate food that he would not normally eat at home, and had a smile on his face pretty much the whole time (except when he fell in the lake).  He’s ready to tackle more miles with his positive attitude.

The last time I visited a zoo, almost every family seemed in conflict. The same occurred when seeing families back-to-school shopping recently.  Although conflict can occur backpacking, the physical aspect usually works through the tears and emotions stored in our muscles, and adrenalin replaces negativity.  It is hard to harbor bad feelings and thoughts when surrounded by the beauty and awe of the wilderness.

If you have never been backpacking yourself or taken your children, I highly recommend it!

Reflections on Backpacking with Children is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Happy birthday to my amazing wife!!!

Follow the rest of the Hank D and the Bee series at JoeMohrToons.com. For cartoon updates and other green goings-on, follow Joe on Twitter @GreenCartoons.

Hank D and the Bee: Happy Birthday Bee is a post from: Eco Child's Play

I hope you all take full advantage of the health benefits of dandelions in order to prolong your life and be around when wind power finally surpasses coal power.
For today, I hope a little “summer snow” falls peacefully on you and yours.

Follow the rest of the Hank D and the Bee series at JoeMohrToons.com. For cartoon updates and other green goings-on, follow Joe on Twitter @GreenCartoons.

Hank D and the Bee: Summer Snow is a post from: Eco Child's Play