Green Options

Are gender differences inborn? Does my son like trucks because he’s as different from girls as cats are from dogs? Boys come out of the womb clutching footballs, girls cuddling dolls?

Probably not, but young kids seem to believe that.

In a U.S. study of 450 kids aged 5-college aged, researchers found that the young ones were more likely to believe that gender differences were nature, not nurture. As in: differences are there because they’re born into you, as species is. The differences are innate, they think.

Interestingly, over time children’s beliefs on gender differences fade, not grow stronger.

Beyond simply shopping for eco toys for my children, I also think it is important to support toy companies that support local designers and promote natural play. Natural Pod is a Canadian company that fits this bill, and they have just expanded their line to include the unique toys of two Canadian designers. Natural Pod’s motto is “Natural items for play and daily living that are mindful, creative and inviting for your family.”

Poot & Boogie Eco-Friendly Dolls

Poot & Boogie eco-friendly dolls are individually handcrafted from cotton and wool. The dolls are stuffed with corn-derived fiberfill, and each one is unique. These dolls are made in Aldergrove, BC, and they remind me of Raggedy Ann and the dolls children played with before plastic dominated the toy world.

I hate Barbie Dolls. These plastic, large breasted, out of proportion dolls create unrealistic images in children’s minds of a woman’s body. As Empowered Parents explains,

If she were alive, Barbie would be a woman standing 7 feet tall with a waistline of 18 inches and a bustling of 38-40. In fact, she would need to walk on all fours just to support her peculiar proportions. Yet media advertising, television and Hollywood would reinforce her message, influencing what would become the American ideal of beauty.

And what’s up with Ken being an eunuch?  Leave it to artists to find a creative use for Barbie and comment on this cultural icon.

Little girls love mermaids, and I love Waldorf dolls. I have always been drawn to the work of dollmaker Kathe Kruse, the oldest German doll company. “Handwork, simplicity of design, integrity, and an aversion to gimmicks and fads are still very much a part of how the dolls are made. Each doll and item of doll clothing is made by hand and takes from 16 to 36 hours to make. During that time, [...]

Thankfully, my daughter has not entered the world of Bratz (with the exception of a toothbrush). Recently, Mothering.com asked readers to take action on this over sexy product. According to Mothering.com, “The Bratz—whose wardrobes include miniskirts, fishnet stockings, and bikinis—were recently singled out the by American Psychological Association for contributing to the sexualization of young girls.” Bratz is marketed in schools through Scholastic via their book fairs and book clubs. [...]

We have finally done it! After being inspired by my friend Teri’s guest post in February, my daughter and I have finally made our own Waldorf doll from a Magic Cabin Doll Kit. The Magic Cabin Doll Kit comes complete with mohair yarn for hair, wool for stuffing the body, embroidery floss for eyes and mouth, and skin stretch fabric. In addition, you will need matching thread for the skin [...]

Ebay can be a great place to buy wooden, handmade, vintage, or discount natural toys. Everything from blocks to trains to puzzles is available on Ebay. Some toys are used and some toys are new in their boxes. Ebay is also a great source for handmade Waldorf dolls.

If you are interested in learning how to save money while doing the laundry, please visit Green Options Tip o’ [...]

Children today are bombarded with plastic, limiting toys that do not expand their imaginations or aid their development. Not only can plastic toys be harmful to children’s health, but the production of plastic toys further increases our dependence upon petroleum and leaves a greater carbon footprint than natural, wooden toys. There are many companies that produce wooden toys; however, not all of these companies provide information about the kind of wood they [...]

Two years ago, my daughter received a magnetic princess dress up doll similar to Melissa and Doug’s Princess Elise Magnetic Dress-Up Doll. The magnetic parts adhere to the doll easily and are durable, compared to paper doll clothing. Not only are the magnetic backed wooden parts long lasting, but they are much easier for little hands to manipulate and thus do not cause the frustration. I [...]

For my daughter’s first birthday, we gave her Melissa and Doug’s Deluxe Wooden Fold and Go Dollhouse. The recommended age rating is three years old, but we felt we could watch her closely and hide away small parts until she was older. Five years later, she still plays with her Melissa and Doug’s Deluxe Wooden Fold and Go Dollhouse, although she does wish [...]

While stumbling around the web, I discovered these surreal images by Phillip Toledano. Mr. Toledano has been taking odd pictures since he as 11 years old, and he believes, “a photograph should be like an unfinished sentence. There should be space for questions.”

I loathe plastic baby dolls, as you probably already know (see “The Search for a Natural Baby Doll”). Not only do [...]