I was inspired by Jessica’s banana. The most eco-friendly choices are so simple, aren’t they? Though a picture says a thousand words, Jamie said it best this week in her post on fun activities for young children: “The first step in becoming more Earth Friendly is to consume less.”

This is why I love Jackie Silberg’s book 500 Five Minute Games. Quick and Easy Activities For 3-6 Year Olds. Silberg’s book is great for preschool teachers, but also for moms and dads who tire easily of young children’s games and toys. Before getting this book I often felt tempted to pick up the phone or put on a movie when my preschooler’s games got repetitive. There’s only so many times in a day you can sincerely answer yes to “Wanna play hippos?”.

The eco-friendly aspect of Silberg’s book is simple; the activities in it require almost no stuff. Apart from a few experiments that call for simple household items like a bowl or a flashlight, the majority of games and activities in the book require only the world’s most precious resource: children. (Some games require a few kids, but I have been able to adapt most of them to 2 player by either becoming a participant or inviting a stuffed hippo or pony into the circle.) You can also scan each page in a matter of seconds and get the game going before any attention is lost. My daughter’s favourite game from Silberg’s book is called “An Interesting Story” and is from the Language Game section. It goes like this: 

Mom: I was going to a park one day and what do you think I saw?

Child: A hippo.

Mom: And what was the hippo doing?

Child: Eating birthday cake.

Mom: And who was with the hippo?

Child: A pony.

Mom: And what did the hippo and pony do after they ate the cake?

Child: They ate dinner! It was backwards day.

Can you see how this gives us a break from hippos and ponies? We use “the park game” in the car a lot when we’re waiting for Daddy. One of my favourites is called “Speak with Your Body” and comes from the Active Games section. The children have to answer your questions with a body part other than their head. Do you like to eat worms? (Child shakes elbows no). Younger siblings can take part in many of these games (no chokable parts) as my two year old can attest. Giggles abound.

Another fun game is “Body Crayons”. The children are the the crayons and the floor is the paper. Does it get any more eco-friendly than that? Silberg’s book not only rescues parents from repetitive preschoool play, it teaches creative thinking to our youngest learners. And as we all know, it is criticial that we raise imaginative thinkers to help keep this planet spinning.

Related Posts on Simple Green Living for Families

• You can Save the Planet: Eco-tips for Children
• Living off the Land
• Why Reusing Everything is One of the Best Things You can Do for the Environment
• Simple Tips for Saving Energy and Making Tastier Meals

 

[This post was written by Tara Benwell.]