10
Steps to Play, the Plastic-Free Way
As the world grows more concerned
with the effects of climate change and the impact our
industries have made on this beautiful planet, we should
all think about our children and their place in the universal
changes that need to be made. One obvious excess that
clutters our playrooms and our planet is the manufacture
of plastic playthings. Although toys are an integral part
of entertainment and useful tools for teaching, plastic
toys are as toxic to the environment and they are unnecessary
for the fulfillment of childhood play.
Until the mid-20th Century, inexpensive plastic toys were
virtually non-existent, yet brilliant children developed
into fine citizens and our world flourished. What seems
to have been lost by western society over in the past
fifty years is the wonderful experience of kids playing
with each other and inventing their own games and toys.
Self-directed and creative play platforms have been pushed
aside for market-driven products. What was once the province
of childhood, the simplicity and innocence of play, has
become a multi-level branding opportunity for manufacturers
and entertainment giants. Huge effort is devoted to gaining
the support of consumers-in-training, a.k.a. kids. These
advertisements run the gamut from food and clothing to
hygiene and education. It seems like every possible material
that touches childhood has become a selling and profit-building
mechanism.
What can be done in a world where plastic toys are not
going away? How can we, as individual parents and families,
contribute less to the manufacture of plastic toys, and
in turn decrease the burden on our air and water quality,
energy and waste management systems and climate? And moreover,
what we should ask ourselves is not only what the costs
are to our planet, but what the costs are to our children.
How do we quantify their crippled, innate creativity from
exploration that ultimately contributes to their problem-solving
capabilities, or capture the loss of innovation that our
kids will deliver as adults when it is their turn to run
the planet?
The solution to these problems
is a simple one: Take it one step at a time (or in our
case, one family at a time). Each of these 10 plastic-busting
suggestions from Funplaydates.com is one simple step to
bolstering your child’s creativity, appreciation
for all things natural, and ability to interact positively
with others.
1. Give kids time to play. Take the initiative
to bring kids together, because once that happens, playmates
become more important than playthings. As an added benefit,
this usually involves lots of physical activity, giving
a one-two punch to childhood obesity.
2. Give kids tools to play. Make toys
and games from paper scraps and old boxes, tubes, containers
and all kinds of around-the-house parts. It takes almost
no purchased materials, requires only the most basic supplies
(scissors, glue, tape, string, paper, crayons). Teaching
kids that their imaginations are more fun than most toys
is a sweet exploration, and teaching kids to recycle is
a valuable lessons for their futures.
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