Green Options

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If you have children, you know that they have boundless amounts of energy. It only makes sense to use this energy to power toys, and Zen Design Group has come up with a line of toys that does just that. These “environmentally friendly,” kid-powered SEE Toys will be available online September 15.

SEE Toys has created five different kid-powered toys: Dyancar, Dynatiger, Dynafly, Dynashark, and Dynadolphin. SEE stands for safety,

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If you practice yoga, you know personally the benefits to all aspects of your life. Children can also reap these benefits from regular yoga practice. No matter what form of yoga children practice, they will increase their well-being, reduce stress, and purify their little, physical bodies.

There is evidence that special needs children may especially benefit from yoga. For example, often children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and

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When I was a child, I loved to play tetherball! I ruled the playground, and my parents made a tetherball game for me in our backyard. I would spend countless hours practicing. When I saw Magic Cabin offered a tetherball game, I had to get it for my children’s birthday.

As I mentioned before, our cabin is small, and outdoor toys are very appealing. I believe children should [...]

A Rope Ladder is a great eco toy for outdoor fun. This Rope Ladder, available from Magic Cabin, is made of sanded hardwood rungs. The nylon rope is the least eco-friendly part of the toy, but a more natural fiber would not hold up to outdoor weather. The Rope Ladder is rated for children 5 years and older; however, we have had a rope ladder hanging from a [...]

Another great toy by Plan Toys, the wooden Pirate Ship is made of natural rubber wood and comes with a multitude of accessories. Offered by Magic Cabin, the Pirate Ship is made in Thailand and comes with:
A wooden pirate figure
Four crew members
Two ladders
Two cannons
Anchor
Barrel
Treasure chest
Small rowboat
Plank
Crow’s nest
Felt sail

My son received the Pirate Ship for Easter two [...]

Snail’s Pace Racewas first recommended to me by a fellow preschool teacher. This cooperative game allows very young children to work together moving snails across the board. Two colored die are rolled, and depending on the color showing, the appropriate snail is moved. Snail’s Pace Raceteaches turn taking and color identification, and it is fun! The large [...]

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, [...]

My son received the Plan Toys Crane Setfor his third birthday. This toy is aesthetically pleasing and made of salvage rubber wood. All paint colors are derived from vegetable dyes. The Plan Toys Crane Setcomes in three pieces, which snap together. Our set was very difficult to assemble, and we eventually took a rubber mallet to pound [...]

The Carrot Seed has just celebrated its 60th anniversary! This simple, almost Zen-like story tells of a young boy’s determination to grow a carrot, despite his family’s doubts and opposition. The little boy tends the seed, ever patient, keeping his expectations high. In the end, he is rewarded with a carrot so large, it has to be hauled with a wheelbarrow. Not only does this book teach [...]

A few years ago, we received A Handful of Sunshineby Melanie Eclare for my daughter’s birthday. This delightful gardening book follows the life of a gigantic sunflower grown by Tilda. Real photographs of Tilda’s sunflower growing experience accompany the text of A Handful of Sunshine. I particularly like Tilda’s sense of style with her rubber boots and striped [...]

Our family’s first adventure into cooperative games was the Yoga Garden Game. My daughter and I started playing this game when she was three years old, as she had shown an interest in yoga. In the Yoga Garden Game, players work together to plant the flowers before nighttime falls. Players take turns rolling the dice to move a bumble bee around the circular game board. Depending on where you land, [...]