Guest guest Posted May 12, 2001 Report Share Posted May 12, 2001 >My >husband and I feel strongly that we don't want having a baby to be a >consumerist thing, and thus litter our lives and our house with plastic >toys and other products generated by corporate greed that she'll use for >a >few months and then have no use for. So we never bought her any toys, >and >already have plenty of stuffed animals and rattles that friends and >family have given >us. But now that she's starting to become more aware of her >surroundings, >I feel like I'm depriving her by not buying her something like a >playskool >kickstart gym. How do you feel about these things? I agree with you!! Since our son was born (he's almost two!) we decided no plastic toys (and no toys or clothes from companies we have ethical problems with, plastic or not!), and we have asked close family members who might buy him a gift to follow this request as well, with varied results. There are soooo many companies out there that sell simple toys: wooden, fabric, dolls, stuffed animals, etc. I have seen wooden versions of those toys the babies lay under and bat and kick at things hanging down, if that's what you were referring to. There are lots of companies that have websites and paper catalogs if you prefer, do a search and you find some wonderful things! If you like simple, you might like Waldorf-style (an education method) toys, so you could try to search for that as well. You are not alone!!! There are lots of us out here that are tired of our over-consuming, disposable culture. Buying/borrowing used toys like someone else mentioned is a good option too, and to send them along in turn yourself makes sure they get plenty of use before they get thrown out! It's great that you are concious of all the details of your baby's world... good for you! Jennifer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2001 Report Share Posted May 14, 2001 Hi I have a question for folks who have asked friends and family to give the kinds of toys that you want your child to play with. I have trouble conveying exactly what I mean particularly to family members who always refer to me and my family as " marching to their own drum " -- a euphemism for " they are nice, but have some unconventional ideas, which are wacky. " Because our families see our commitment to a lifestyle that minimizes the exploitation human beings, animals, and our environment as drastically out of step with mainstream culture even when they try to be senstive to our wishes they end up buying toys and clothing that we would rather not have. On the other hand, I do want to recognize their efforts and be encouraging. It tend to end up not expressing my true feelings Colin & Jennifer McCullough wrote: > >My > >husband and I feel strongly that we don't want having a baby to be a > >consumerist thing, and thus litter our lives and our house with plastic > >toys and other products generated by corporate greed that she'll use for a > >few months and then have no use for. So we never bought her any toys, and > >already have plenty of stuffed animals and rattles that friends and > >family have given us. But now that she's starting to become more aware of her > >surroundings, I feel like I'm depriving her by not buying her something like a > >playskool kickstart gym. How do you feel about these things? > > I agree with you!! Since our son was born (he's almost two!) we decided no > plastic toys (and no toys or clothes from companies we have ethical problems > with, plastic or not!), and we have asked close family members who might buy > him a gift to follow this request as well, with varied results. > There are soooo many companies out there that sell simple toys: wooden, > fabric, dolls, stuffed animals, etc. I have seen wooden versions of those > toys the babies lay under and bat and kick at things hanging down, if that's > what you were referring to. There are lots of companies that have websites > and paper catalogs if you prefer, do a search and you find some wonderful > things! If you like simple, you might like Waldorf-style (an education > method) toys, so you could try to search for that as well. > You are not alone!!! There are lots of us out here that are tired of our > over-consuming, disposable culture. Buying/borrowing used toys like someone > else mentioned is a good option too, and to send them along in turn yourself > makes sure they get plenty of use before they get thrown out! > It's great that you are concious of all the details of your baby's world... > good for you! > Jennifer > > For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to http://www.vrg.org/family. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2001 Report Share Posted May 14, 2001 I am right now making up an email of links to different toys I would like my mother to choose from for Madeleine's 4th birthday. Try http://www.magiccabindolls.com for wonderful low impact toys, lots of wood. It's actually very waldorf inspired so not vegan (use of wool and silk) but is in line with our ambition of making our kids use their imaginations if it kills us! Bonnie The phrase " working mother " is redundant. - Caroline Weaver Monday, May 14, 2001 5:47 AM Re: simple living question Hi I have a question for folks who have asked friends and family to give the kinds of toys that you want your child to play with. I have trouble conveying exactly what I mean particularly to family members who always refer to me and my family as " marching to their own drum " -- a euphemism for " they are nice, but have some unconventional ideas, which are wacky. " Because our families see our commitment to a lifestyle that minimizes the exploitation human beings, animals, and our environment as drastically out of step with mainstream culture even when they try to be senstive to our wishes they end up buying toys and clothing that we would rather not have. On the other hand, I do want to recognize their efforts and be encouraging. It tend to end up not expressing my true feelings Colin & Jennifer McCullough wrote: > >My > >husband and I feel strongly that we don't want having a baby to be a > >consumerist thing, and thus litter our lives and our house with plastic > >toys and other products generated by corporate greed that she'll use for a > >few months and then have no use for. So we never bought her any toys, and > >already have plenty of stuffed animals and rattles that friends and > >family have given us. But now that she's starting to become more aware of her > >surroundings, I feel like I'm depriving her by not buying her something like a > >playskool kickstart gym. How do you feel about these things? > > I agree with you!! Since our son was born (he's almost two!) we decided no > plastic toys (and no toys or clothes from companies we have ethical problems > with, plastic or not!), and we have asked close family members who might buy > him a gift to follow this request as well, with varied results. > There are soooo many companies out there that sell simple toys: wooden, > fabric, dolls, stuffed animals, etc. I have seen wooden versions of those > toys the babies lay under and bat and kick at things hanging down, if that's > what you were referring to. There are lots of companies that have websites > and paper catalogs if you prefer, do a search and you find some wonderful > things! If you like simple, you might like Waldorf-style (an education > method) toys, so you could try to search for that as well. > You are not alone!!! There are lots of us out here that are tired of our > over-consuming, disposable culture. Buying/borrowing used toys like someone > else mentioned is a good option too, and to send them along in turn yourself > makes sure they get plenty of use before they get thrown out! > It's great that you are concious of all the details of your baby's world... > good for you! > Jennifer > > For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to http://www.vrg.org/family. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2001 Report Share Posted May 15, 2001 I've been reading the responses to the " toy " question & feeling slightly guilty because my 2 boys have lots of toys; some used, some gifts from my generous family, but some were bought by me, myself & I. Well, my youngest (3.5) has been asking for a box to make a pirate ship in for a couple of days so today we stopped by the local appliance store & picked up a couple of large boxes. After some discussion & planning, we made 1 into the pirate ship & the other into a castle. Both boys came up w/ideas for a drawbridge, telescope holders, lookout windows, turrets, buttons, levers; all along using stuff we had in the house. We worked for 2 hours, & it was wonderful to see them using their imagination. After we finished, we played " castle " for a bit, & my 5-year-old said " Mommy, you were a great cyclops! " Boy, does that make me feel good! Although we do have lots of toys around, I keep a good deal of them contained in boxes & the kids decide what they want to play with & I pull the box down. They also have baskets of musical toys, puppets, balls; a box with all types of paper & crayons; toy box with all types of cars, trucks, etc. There's quite a variety of stuff to play with, but sometimes I still get " Mommy, there's nothing to play with! " That's when I think " we've got to get more simple around here! " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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