Andrea’s Weblog

Lately, I’ve been glad that we’ve chosen not to buy a lot of toys for the girls. It seems like every week a new toy is recalled, sentencing more plastic toys to a premature death in a landfill. I’ve been thinking a lot about what we bring into our home.

I’m working on a toy buying checklist:

-Does it require imagination to use or do kids need to know about the character and watch TV to know how you’re supposed to use it.
-Will it be trashed after a few uses?
-If it breaks, is it repairable?
-Does it require batteries?
-If it does end up in the trash is it recyclable?
-What is the environmental impact of trashing it or making it in the first place?
-Can Elena choke on it?
-Does it encourage sedentary activity?

Whew! I’m finding out that shopping at the dollar store is out. Buying action figures is out. Buying a plastic outdoor playset is out. Instead, we can buy craft supplies, outdoor toys, books, dress-up stuff . . . For her birthday, she got: a tent, a Cabbage patch kid doll, Bella Dancerella DVD with ballet bar and a Barbie doll. I could have done better, but it IS hard! Also, we said “no gifts” on her party invites so we wouldn’t end up with a bunch of toys that don’t meet the new criteria.

Elizabeth rarely lacks something to do. The other day, she asked me to make a drive-through with a box we had around. She’s spent hours making cappuchinos and baby mochas for the family. Today, she has taken all the utensils out of the drawer and put them “to bed” all over the desk and windowsill. I said, “you’re going to have to wash them when you’re through.” She replied “that’s OK, they like showers!” It’s neat seeing her imagination at work, and I just have to get used to her using non-traditional toys and watching out for chopstick fairies and talking black beans.

Silverware Slumber Party

Elizabeth’s Drive-Thru