Skin Soothing For Parents and Children

My family could not live without Country Comfort Baby Cream. This natural product is the best for soothing diaper rash, dry skin, patches of eczema, etc. I keep Country Comfort Baby Cream in multiple locations (car, bathroom, bedroom), as it the best salve I have found (besides the one my friend Liisa makes at Bellabotanica). My son has extremely sensitive skin, and Country Comfort Baby Cream is the only solution. When he had a negative reaction to the Pampers they put on him after heart surgery, Country Comfort Baby Cream cleared it up within hours. The NICU nurses were amazed! Of course, Country Comfort Baby Cream is cruelty-free and is made of:
Pure Oils of Safflower & Hazelnut/Pecan, Beeswax, Lanolin, Avocado & Apricot Oils, Chamomile, Chickweed, Comfrey, Calendula, Golden Seal, St. John's Wort, Myrrh Gum, Aloe Vera, Vitamin E is

Great Children's Literature: The Mountains of Tibet

The Mountains of Tibet by Mordicai Gerstein is a beautiful story of life and birth. A woodcutter passes away, then he is left with a choice. "You know you have a choice. You may become part of the endless universe some call heaven, or you may live another life." The woodcutter searches the planets, stars, earth, etc. looking for parents and a new life. Beautiful mandala like watercolors illustrate this book on reincarnation. Even if you do not believe in Buddhist thoughts on the after life, this is a wonderful book about the numerous possibilities for life. The Mountains of Tibet is also helpful to read when a child has lost a loved one. We often talk about our dog's next life, and it brings us comfort to know our paths may cross again. We have always told our children that they chose us to be their parents, and I believe that. Our children have come to us so that they may teach us, and so that we may teach them about love and compassion.

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Have You Met the Muffin Man?

I first became aware of the dangers of nonstick cookware from a student who had a pet bird. Apparently, when you cook with nonstick cookware in the oven, it gives off a gas that can be fatal to the bird. If it is fatal to a bird, isn't this sort of the canary in the cave for human use of nonstick cookware? We immediately gave away all of our nonstick cookware, but I could not find an alternative to muffin pans. My children love to make and eat muffins. They are quick and easy to make, and you can pack them full of whole grains, nuts, and fruit. Cooking with your child ensures they will eat healthy foods that they have helped prepare and is an opportunity for authentic measuring tasks.

I began to search the Internet for a safer muffin pan. All I could find were cast iron pans, which we use a lot on the stove top, but the muffin cup size was very small. I didn't want to make mini muffins. So, I posted a question on Debra Lynn Dadd's Green Living Q & A Blog. Debra has been called the "Queen of Green," and she is very responsive and helpful. One of her readers suggested the stone muffin pans from the Pampered Chef. The first pan arrived broken, but Pampered Chef quickly sent me another pan. The pans are heavy and similar to the stone pizza pans; however, at least I know they are safe.

Here is our favorite muffin recipe, adapted from the cookbook How it all Vegan. Of course, organic ingredients are best!

1.5 cups cornmeal
1.5 cups flour (I combine whole wheat pastry with unbleached white)
dash of salt
.75 cup sweetener ( I use Sucanat)
.75 tsp baking soda
.25 cup oil
.75 soy milk
.75 cup orange or apple juice (really, any juice will work)
1 tsp vinegar (I use apple cider)
1 cup raspberries (I use blueberries or mixed berries sometimes)
flax seeds (my addition)

Preheat oven to 400 F. In a large bowl, stir together cornmeal, flour, salt, sweetener, flax seeds, and baking soda. Add the wet ingredients: oil, milk, juice, and vinegar. Mix together gently until "just mixed." Add berries. If you use frozen berries, they will not change the color of the dough. Spoon into muffin pan (I line my muffin pans with Unbleached Baking Cups, although I know using oiled tin cups is more eco-friendly). Cook for 25 minutes, then check with a toothpick or knife. Makes 14-16 muffins.

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Melissa and Doug Sound Blocks

We have both the Melissa and Doug Wooden Sound Vehicle Blocks and the Melissa and Doug Wooden Farm Sound Blocks. By matching up the images on both blocks, children are positively reinforced with the corresponding sound. Just like other Melissa and Doug natural toys, the sound blocks are made of high quality wood. My daughter thinks it is funny to switch the blocks to the other set's base, thus the train will moo like a cow. This is only possible if you have both sets of sound blocks and appropriate for an older child to problem solve. For younger toddlers, the sound blocks offer a simple two piece puzzle that rewards them when they succeed. The sound blocks are affordable, at about ten dollars, and they make a nice gift. We were given one of our sets, and I had purchased the other set for my son's first birthday.

Can't We Just Let Mothers Be Mothers?

A recent Op-Ed piece in the New York Times titled, "Off to Work She Should Go" annoyed me. Every once in awhile, the media reports about working mothers versus stay at home mothers. Any parent will tell you, all mothers are working mothers!

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics recently published, “Trends in Labor Force Participation of Married Mothers of Infants”, thus reporting that," In recent years, the labor force participation of married mothers, especially those with young children, has stopped its advance.” According to the NY Times, "Sixty percent of married mothers of preschool children are now in the work force, four percentage points fewer than in 1997. The rate for married mothers of infants fell by about six percentage points, to 53.5 percent. The bureau further reports that the declines 'have occurred across all educational levels and, for most groups, by about the same magnitude.'” Is this a bad thing? Is this a good thing? It is impossible to decide as a nation the value of such statistics. Each family must find their own balance between financial needs, childcare, and their beliefs on child rearing, that is why this article annoys me.

Furthermore, "Off to Work She Should Go" states, "What has changed in the last decade is that the job of motherhood has ramped up. Mothers today spend more time on child care than women did in 1965, a time when mothers were much less likely to have paying jobs, family scholars report. The pressure to increase mothering is enormous. For years, women have been on the receiving end of negative messages about parenting and working. One conservative commentator said the lives of working women added up to “just a pile of pay stubs.” When the National Institute of Child Health reported recently that long hours in day care added but a single percentage point to the still-normal range of rambunctious behavior in children, newspaper headlines read, 'Day Care, Behavior Problems Linked in Study'. Should we care if women leave the work force? Yes, because participation in public life allows women to use their talents and to powerfully affect society. And once they leave, they usually cannot regain the income or status they had."

Can we just leave mothers alone? As a mother who works part time in a job in which I take my youngest to work with me, I feel I straddle the working versus stay at home labels. Mothers can still participate in public life without working, and what more than raising responsible, compassionate citizens of the earth affects society? The article continues, "The next generation of girls will have a greatly reduced pool of role models." Why?, because their mothers have left the work place. Now I am pissed and not just annoyed.

Are Play Teepees Culturally Sensitive?

For my daughter's second birthday, her grandmother got her a Magic Cabin Teepee
. This canvas teepee was truly beautiful and expensive. It took me several attempts to properly assemble the teepee, but once it was up, the teepee provided a great enclosed outdoor space to play in and looked great in the yard. The canvas is secured to the ground with tent stakes (not provided). During high winds, the tent stake straps tore on our teepee, and it came crashing down breaking a pole. I repaired the pole as best as possible, as well as the tent stake canvas loops. In the hot California sun, the canvas deteriorated quickly. We stored the teepee under our shop during the wet, winter months. The following summer, the canvas was stained and very weak. The teepee did not survive its second summer, as more poles broke and the canvas tore in many places. I was sorely disappointed, as I truly love the teepee, and it was very expensive. I don't know if our climate or our storage of the teepee contributed to its destruction, but we can no longer read stories and play in this unique structure.

A Hopi friend of mine feels it is inappropriate for children to play in teepees, as they promote stereotypes about Native Americans. Obviously, not all tribes live/lived in teepees; however, they have become a symbolic representation of all native people in America. For my daughter, we never associated the teepee with any culture and simply enjoyed the unique structure for play. We did not pretend to be cowboys or Indians. If she would have been older, I would have been sure to teach her about all of the various housing structures utilized by tribes across this vast continent.

Don't forget to read Green Family Values this week!

Have You Downshifted Yet?

It's Downshifting Week, and I hope you are able to simplify and spend more time with your family. April 21-April 27 is National Downshifting Week, created by sustainable living writer and broadcaster Tracey Smith. During this week, citizens in the UK and US are asked to "Slow Down and Green Up!"(Please see our previous post!)Tracey has also been featured in the Grist's Interactivist column. You have until tomorrow (Wednesday) to submit questions for Tracey. Visit the Downshifting Manifesto to track your progress this week towards improving the life of your family and the planet. And, mmmmm, don't forget the fair trade chocolate!

Ride On, Little One!

The Radio Flyer Classic Tiny Trike is the best ride on toy for a toddler. Made of quality wood, chidren love to learn how to scoot along around their first birthday and don't stop (my five year old daughter still tries to ride ours, even though her legs are too long). My two year old son rides his Radio Flyer Classic Tiny Trike every day, scooting around on both rugs and wooden flooring. It can also be used outside on smooth surfaces, like a deck or concrete, but it does not work so well in the grass. The extra wide wheel base makes the Radio Flyer Classic Tiny Trikevery sturdy and not likely to tip over. The alternating foot action of your child is also important for gross motor development, similar to crawling and alternating feet on a ladder. Don't buy a battery operated ride on toy, treat your child to the Radio Flyer Classic Tiny Trike.

Earth Day Prayer

"May there only be peaceful and cheerful Earth Days to come for our beautiful Spaceship Earth as it continues to spin and circle in frigid space with its warm and fragile cargo of animate life."

--United Nations Secretary-General U Thant
March 21, 1971.

Listen to the wise words of my friend Neil Harvey, senior producer of the Bioneers, discuss Wisdom From the Heart of Nature (Part 1 and Part 2)

Children and adults can learn from the Wombat, forwarded from my friend Charley.

Wooden Stencils from Hearthsong

As an art teacher, I have never been a big fan of stencils. I have seen students become quite dependent upon them and resistant to draw freehand. As an early childhood educator, I love stencils for developing fine motor skills. Children love the experience of filling in the positive space that reveals the image. Stencils are also very useful for exploring spatial relationships.

Hearthsong offers a wonderful alternative to plastic stencils with their Horse and Pony Wooden Stencil Kit
. This kit comes with 20 stencils, colored pencils, and a sturdy wooden box to keep them neatly organized. The stencils can be combined in unique ways to place riders on the horses, fences and corrals, etc. One stencil confused my daughter and I. She thought it was a man with a rifle, but I told her that Hearthsong would not include such a thing in their Horse and Pony Wooden Stencil Kit
. It turns out the stencil is a wheelbarrow, but when it is held upside down, it does look like the violent image she saw.

Here are my daughter's words for her first creation using her Horse and Pony Wooden Stencil Kit
:
"What's happening is the horse is diving for the apples that are falling, and one of the farmers is riding a horse, and the other farmer is picking apples and throwing them into the wheelbarrow."

Note: When taking dictation from young children, it is important to write their words exactly as they say them and not to correct grammar, run on sentences, etc. Children need to learn the connection between spoken words and writing first. There will be plenty of time for grammar later on. Also, writing and letters are symbolic, as is drawing. There is a natural progression in young children from drawing to writing, so it is good practice to write children's words about their artwork and encourage them to write their own artist statements, even when they are only making letterlike forms.

Symbolic Play in a War Zone

Symbolic play is an important developmental stage children go through, in which they demonstrate cognitive skills. Symbolic play begins with children engaging in highly familiar activities from their world. My daughter used to get our on her wooden Radio Flyer Classic Tiny Trikeand pretend she was going to fix our hydro turbine. For children growing up in a war zone, their symbolic play obviously takes on the characteristics of their unsettling environment.

I've managed to avoid the media since the tragedy at Virginia Tech, but this sort of tragedy occurs daily in Iraq, and children's development is being affected. Hometown Baghdad covers such a tragedy in the below video. "One of the great tragedies of the violence in Iraq is the
emotional toll on Iraq's children. In this installment of the Hometown Baghdad project, Adel interviews his young brother and cousin, who have just witnessed a dying man crying near corpses, one an 11-year-old boy. The interview is juxtaposed by footage of the two young boys playing
vigorously with toy guns."

Great Children's Literature: The Tin Forest

Written by Helen Ward and illustrated by Wayne Anderson, The Tin Forest is a beautiful story. An elderly man lives in a small house on property surrounded by garbage. The man is depressed by the lack of life around him. "Every day he tried to clear away the garbage, sifting and sorting, burning and burying. And every night the old man dreamed." He dreams of nature at night, and in the day begins to build flowers, bird, etc. from the metal scraps. Two birds visit his creation and drop real seeds. Soon nature returns to and makes its home in The Tin Forest. The book ends with, "There was once a forest, near nowhere and close to forgotten, that was filled with all the things that everyone wanted."

The Tin Forest is rated for ages 6-10, but I include it in my preschool curriculum with children as young as two, who are fascinated by the man's creations. There are many extension activities you can do with older children, such as sculpture using recycled materials. The Tin Forest was also featured on Reading Rainbow.

Don't forget to visit our weekly post Green Family Values on Green Options!

Please Protect Our Right to Herbal Remedies

Update 5 May 07: This from the OCA:
ANSWER FROM OCA: There is only one group that has launched an alert on this issue, while all other health freedom groups have taken a more reserved stance. After much research and discussion with our allies in the alternative health world, it is the opinion of the OCA that although this FDA Guidance Document deserves attention, it does not change any laws that are already in place, and, in fact, serves as a distraction from some of the more important issues currently going on in regards to alternative health care regulations.
Do you use herbal products with your children? We do. I can't imagine getting through a winter without elderberries and echinacea, but that is what the FDA would like us to do. It seems like every couple of years, this issue comes up, and I remember about ten years ago stocking up on echinacea seeds in defense. Once again, the FDA is attacking complementary and alternative health care. You can read the new proposed regulations here.

My herbalist friend Liisa of BellaBotanica alerted me to this important issue. She writes, "Please read and sign. You might soon have to go to the doctor for a prescription of vitamin C. This is for real. Emergen-C packets of 1000mg would have to be prescribed by doctors, and your lovely sweet smelling Lavender essential oil would too. This is ridiculous and the list goes on. Are you getting what this will cost us to simply take care of ourselves and practice preventative medicine? Actually I should call it preventative health care. Since "caring" is not a felony yet. This is not right. Help! Please take action and a moment to sign it."

Dr. John Gilbert writes, "Essential oils, herbs, herbal remedies, homeopathic remedies, minerals, nutritional supplements, plant enzymes and vitamins are redefined in this
proposal as "medicine." Very simply, medicine is under the
jurisdiction of the FDA and, by law, only licensed medical doctors may
prescribe "medicines." Anybody else who advises, advocates, counsels, distributes, markets, recommends or suggests anybody use "medicine" is practicing medicine without a license. This is a felony in the USA punishable by fines and incarceration. Aromatherapy, auricular therapy, biofeedback, color therapy, homeopathy, hypnotism, naturopathy, neurotherapy, nutritional consulting, reflexology, sound therapy and wellness consulting are among the alternative health modalities being redefined as "Alternative Medicine." This subtle change of vocabulary from "alternative health care" to "alternative medicine" makes all of these industries subject to control by the FDA as medicine. Only medical doctors would be allowed to provide, prescribe and supervise the delivery of these services. Anybody else who provided any of these services would be practicing medicine without a license and subject to incarceration and fines."

You have until April 30th to sign the petition or make comments. You can also find out more information from the Natural Solutions Foundation.

An Affordable, Classic Toy

If you have been reading Eco Child's Play for awhile, you know we are big fans of Magic Cabin. In fact, my friend Jessica told me yesterday that I sound like a spokesperson for company. The truth is we have a lot of toys from Magic Cabin, as they are a reliable source for quality wooden toys. The Classic Ring Toss
is an affordable wooden toy from Magic Cabin. At a cost of $8.95, this natural toy is simple and of good quality, and I have to admit, I enjoy playing ring toss with my children. The ring toss can be used inside or out,and it is great for motor development. The rings are made from rope with a colored bead added for weight. The clown stand is made from brightly colored wood, which assembles easily by screwing the legs into place.

Cosleeping

I am a big advocate for cosleeping with your infant and toddler. I love this snuggle time and cherish it as a way to reconnect physically with my child after a busy day. I cannot imagine placing my newborn baby in a crib and having to get up every time the child needed to breastfeed. Cosleeping, for me, means a better nights sleep for both my child and me. That being said, cosleeping is not right for everyone, and I respect the choices parents make.

The Natural Child Project featured a wonderful parenting site this month called Tribal Baby. Tribal Baby asks the question, "'How would we raise our baby if we were in a tribe?' This is the question we asked ourselves when deciding the best way to raise our baby. Our research tells us that many of the things that our ancestors did through necessity, are still the most beneficial things for our baby today." Sleep sharing is a topic featured on this great parenting site. Tribal Baby lists many natural consequences for "Night Nesting":
*'thermal synchrony' in which I regulate baby's temperature with the temperature of my own body.
*'sleep synchrony' in which our sleep patterns begin to match so nightly arousals are far less disturbing, are not even noticed a lot of the time.
*regulation of baby's arousal patterns
*regulation of baby's body temperature
*regulation of baby's metabolic rate
*regulation of baby's hormone levels
*regulation of baby's enzyme production (which improves antibody levels and thus ability to fight bugs.)
*regulation of baby's heart rate
*regulation of baby's breathing (baby has lower oxygen levels when alone)
*regulation of baby's immune system (the skin to skin contact releases oxytocin to boost baby's immune system)
*bonding continues through the night as well as during the day

Of course, cosleeping is not appropriate for an intoxicated parent and you do have to adapt your habits with pillows and covers to ensure the child's safety. We have followed Dr. Sears' advice and placed our crib beside our bed as a sidecar, with one crib wall removed. This has extended our queen sized bed to accomodate the extra little one.

Many parents worry that if they cosleep with their child, that they will have trouble ending the family bed tradition. In my experience, children can be eased into their own beds by transitioning first to a futon or mattress on the floor beside the parents' bed, to eventually their own bed. My daughter handled the move to her own bed without tears or struggle. Of course, we still spend a lot of time snuggling in both of our beds.

The Learning Tower: Helping Toddlers and Young Children Participate In The Family Kitchen

We are very pleased to host this guest post written by Jeremiah McNichols of Z Recommends, one of our favorite parenting blogs. Thank you Jeremiah!

One of the best big purchases for our toddler daughter has been her Learning Tower. She has used it virtually every day, two or three times a day, since she was about 14 months old. Since she will probably use her Learning Tower on a daily basis until she is four or even five years old, even at about $170 (they are selling at a discount on Amazon at the moment for $153) that turns out to be a pretty good deal. We enjoy cooking, so much of our shared family life centers on our kitchen; thanks to the Learning Tower, our daughter is already learning those same priorities.

The Learning Tower is a sturdy wooden platform your toddler can use to interact with adults at their level, primarily in the kitchen, where most of the "action" is happening on 32-to-36" countertops. Unlike a chair or stool, the Learning Tower features a large platform for standing on (approximately 18 inches square), the platform can be set at any of four different heights (around 11" to about 19" off the ground), and a railing runs around the perimeter at your toddler's waist height. This makes it a very safe place for your toddler to participate in highly engaging activities without either of you worrying about him falling down.

The Learning Tower is solidly built, has splayed feet to prevent tipovers, and is easy for toddlers to get up on and down from. It ships flat in a box and is very easy to put together with the provided allen key.

Our daughter uses her Learning Tower for all of the following:

• Eating breakfast at the counter while Mom and Dad get ready for work
• Helping cook at the stove, under careful supervision (she likes to stir things gently frying in a pan, put things in water, check done-ness, taste as we cook, and taste or smell and talk about seasonings, spices, and ingredients)
• Helping prep foods at the counter for cooking or baking (no knives yet, but she can sort beans, knead dough, top pizza, cut out cookies, and so on)
  
• Engaging in messy play activities (like water play) which are easier to clean up and supervise at a counter, while Mom and Dad cook in or clean the kitchen
• Helping Mom or Dad at our kitchen's double sink, washing dishes, veggies, or hands

Over the last year and a half our daughter has come to rely on her Learning Tower to give her access to all kinds of things. Now, at two years and eight months old, she has suddenly decided that she can (and must) drag it around herself to place it where she needs it (we have tile floors, so this is both relatively easy and not an issue).

If you are considering buying a Learning Tower, there are a few words of warning to help you determine if a Learning Tower is right for your family:

• The Learning Tower is big. The platform and sides are about 19x19", but with the feet at the base its actual footprint is more like 19x25", and it is about 38" tall at its highest point, the arcing side rails. If you can't find a spot to conveniently store it when it isn't in use, or if you have a very narrow kitchen, you may find it getting in the way. (A tip for Little Partners, the company behind the Learning Tower: A model with a railing that could be detached, or even better, folded into the platform's base, would make for a much more easily stored Learning Tower, which could double as a toddler table/workspace.)
• The Learning Tower is designed for counters, not tables. If your primary need is for something to support activities at a kitchen or dining room table, the Learning Tower is too tall. The top of its front railing is about 36" off the ground and is not adjustable, so high chairs are much more better suited for at-the-table use.
• If you don't cook, forget it. Some people just don't cook. If that sounds like you, there probably aren't enough additional uses for the Learning Tower to justify the expense.
  
• The Learning Tower gives full and unimpeded access to counter-height surfaces. Once your toddler is old enough to drag the thing around on her own, an unsupervised moment in the kitchen could mean danger if she has a hard time playing within established boundaries. It does take a moment to move and is quite loud, and our daughter is fairly well-behaved, so this hasn't been a problem for us. But depending on the child, having a Learning Tower might require a little more child-proofing or a little closer supervision than you would need without it.
• The Learning Tower's "extras" are worthless. I really don't know why they promote the Learning Tower's use as a puppet theater or provide the materials they do. Almost anything you could buy or even make yourself would work better than the Learning Tower because it is a very small box for a child to stand or sit in while they are trying to put on a puppet show. A "stage" with an open back makes so much more sense this is really a red herring. So please don't think you're getting a worthwhile puppet theater along with your extremely useful and safe child's stool - it's just not true. Even our two-year-old recognized this as soon as we set it up; she just doesn't like to use it in that manner, and I don't blame her. As for using it as a fort, I suppose it can be, but only within a much narrower size range than your child's use of the product, and it makes no better fort than a good box, or two chairs with a sheet.
  

If none of those drawbacks sound like deal-breakers to you, then take a look at the Learning Tower specs yourself. We believe it is probably the single greatest enhancement we have made to our daughter's toddler-sized world, allowing her access to all of the activity that occurs in our kitchen. It's a high-quality piece of furniture that looks nice in our house and which we'll pass on to someone else when we're done with it; I would not be surprised if it lasted multiple generations. There is probably no other item in this price range that you could buy for a toddler that would get this much use and be this much of a benefit to them!

You can learn more about the Learning Tower on Amazon.com.

Camping With Your Kids

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
—William Shakespeare
One great way to teach your children to appreciate our beautiful, natural world is to take them camping. This can be challenging with little ones, but it is well worth the effort. Shamefully, I have only taken my kids camping one time, but I plan to venture out again with them this summer. When you live in the mountains, the call to get out the tent and go camping is not as strong (at least in my experience) as when you live in the city. Camping with young kids is more challenging than older kids, so I like to find a spot that is not quite car camping, but a short walk to the car. Our favorite spot is Bear Harbor on the Mendocino coast in the Sinkyione Wilderness area, as you can camp near the beach after a half mile hike. You can even take a jogging stroller on the trail. Other friends of mine take their horses and pack into the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area with their two little ones. They can cover many miles this way. Another friend of mine packed her six month old 12 miles into the Marble Mountain Wilderness Area. I was quite impressed, as she hung diapers to dry off of her pack. REI offers Expert Camping Advice for Camping with Kids. Here are five quick tips from REI:
1. Practice camping close to home before taking a long, faraway outing.
2. Involve kids in the planning for a camping trip.
3. Seek out activities unique to the outdoors.
4. Make sure kids always carry an emergency whistle.
5. Focus on fun; let kids be kids.

Bunnylicious

With all of the concerns about bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles, I've become concerned about the plastic dishware my children use. Searching the bottoms of the plastic dishes for recycling codes to no avail, I discovered that in very small writing they say "not intended for children under three." Hmmmm, this standard line is usually reserved for toys with chokeable parts, but what is chokeable about a plate or a bowl? I suspect the warning has too do with the materials, as the new SF law bans certain plastic toys for children under three. We started using our eclectic mix of ceramic bowls and plates with our children, but they have broken a few since we made the switch. Magic Cabin offers a great alternative to plastic children's dishes with the Bunny Family Dish Set
. According to the product description by Magic Cabin, "The porcelain enamel dishes are chip-resistant, oven and dishwasher safe, and practically indestructible! Gift-boxed set includes plate, one-handled mug and bowl with plastic lid." My children love them! My daughter has been taking the bowl with its plastic lid in her school lunch every day. The images of the bunnies are delightful!

Green Family Values on Green Options

I have begun writing a weekly post on Green Options in a series called Green Family Values. Green Options focuses "on giving you the knowledge and resources you need in greening up your life." My weekly post will be covering green family issues. Welcome Green Options readers that have migrated to Eco Child's Play, and we hope our blog readers will venture to Green Options. If there is a topic you would like to suggest for Green Family Values, please send me an email jennifer@ecochildsplay.com.

Who Speaks For The Trees?

Dr. Seuss wrote The Lorax the same year that Greenpeace was formed. His message, cleverly told with rhymes and silly words, forewarned my generation of the consequences of overusing resources. I wish I could say we have learned from The Lorax and saved all the Truffula trees, but old growth forests are still being logged. In fact, Kleenex brand tissues logs old growth forests, including the Boreal Forest, in order that its customers can blow their nose. Remember hankerchiefs? My dad always had one in his pocket ready for our childhood runny noses. They are softer than tissues, and old growth forests do not need to be logged in their production. Of course, alternatives to Kleenex, such as Seventh Generation Tissues, exist.

Dr. Seuss does leave us hope that we have the power to correct the environmental problems humans have created. With the last Truffula seed, "Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back." You can download the audiobook of The Lorax, as well as The Cat in the Hat - 50th Birthday - Download It Now at iTunes. Your child can play the Save the Trees Lorax game by clicking here. Even better than playing computer games, plant seeds and trees with your child. It is fun to watch them grow with your child. The redwood we planted when my daughter was four years old is definitely outgrowing her!