Archive for August, 2008

Back to School Time- Eco & Healthly Top 10

Published
by
amy
on August 26, 2008
in Uncategorized, healthy ideas, reading and safe products
. 2 Comments

After being in school for so long, it’s hard to shake the feeling I get at the end of every summer. School’s impending start: the cooler nights, back to school adverts, back to school deals and sales. I remember the dread of summer’s end, excitement for a new year, seeing my friends everyday, what to wear? what will my teachers be like? But I have a 2 1/2 year old, and although we looked into and applied to the few 2 yr old programs in our area, she isn’t going to school this year. Between the lottery system for placement slots and the other expensive options, she’s home with me. In lieu of attending school this fall, I am going to do some quasi-home schooling. My loose plan is to spend two days a week focusing on something, like nature, math, reading etc. and build it into our day through constructive play.

Nonetheless, school is on her radar and she’s interested. She sees school buses, and loves them (what’s not to love about a huge yellow vehicle filled with kids). She knows the neighborhood kids go to school and misses them while they are there. We live near a high school and she sees kids with backpacks, so she had to have one. And our wonderful mother’s helper, Zoe, even bought her back to school supplies for her backpack and they pretend to play school together and line up the dining room chairs like rows of seats on a bus. I have to say, as excited as I am for her eventually to go off to school, I also fret the day as I squeeze her extra hard when she role plays with me and bids me goodbye as she boards her pretend bus.

I know many kids are about to have that first day of school. So I’ve been hitting some of my favorite blogs to see what they are saying. I am picking my top 10 best Back to School articles with healthy, green ideas for your preparations and reading pleasure. Good luck on the first day of school!

1. Healthy Breakfast Ideas from Green and Clean Mom with great ideas to give your kids a good start to their school day
2. 12 Fabulously informative articles on Back to School in Great Green Style from The Daily Green
3. Back to school: Are we ready? Are we non-toxic? from The Environmental Working Group
4. Eco and Budget Friendly Back to School from Healthy Child, Healthy World
5. Safer Lunchbox picks and reviews from Safe Mama
6. Information and idea packed Eco-Friendly School Days from Nature Moms
7. Back to School Eco Style from EcoFabulous
8. Fabkins cute re-useable napkins giveaway for your kido’s lunchbox at Green Mom Finds
9. The Green Office’s school kits for eco kids of every age
10. Back to School 2008 shopping guide from the always fun and trendy Cool Mom Picks

Cribs~ toxin-free choices for your babe

Published
by
amy
on August 19, 2008
in baby furniture and cribs
. 1 Comment

CribMy other sister in-law is pregnant!!!! So excited, can’t tell you how happy I am about having another little one in the family. In all of the new conversations we’ve been having about what they’ll need and what they are looking at, she was telling me that her husband in thinking about making their crib. Wow! I was impressed. Now he is a crafty guy, diligent in reading about all the safety specs and looking into sustainable wood and VOC free finishes. I am all for it, especially the thought of a lovingly made crib by a father, but I need to tell you he’s working full time as an architect and is getting his second master’s degree and they are looking for a new house. So I understand why my sister in-law hesitates with the idea. I have no doubt in my mind he will do it in time and beautifully, but I know she wants to spend some time with her man before the little one arrives. Their search goes beyond the typical questions, side drop? stationary side? convertible? style? color?

So I have looked for some options for them to check out. A head spinning search, there are not many choices that fall under all categories of toxin free (that would include no MDF, formaldehyde free, low or free of VOCs). Many that I found are pretty expensive, but from my research they are following the same guidelines that he has in mind.
Q Collection Junior, earth and baby safe (sans toxins), and slick style, but one of the most expensive I found
Oeuf Cribs, great modern style and toxin free, baby safe
Pacific Rim Natural Crib - Arts & Crafts 1400, baby safe, simple traditional styling and can be ordered unfinished
Sahara Crib by Argington modern design, also seems to comply with most of the non-toxic requirements

Another must for the green baby’s new crib- an organic mattress.
Naturepedic Crib Mattresses
Check out these informative articles from The Daily Green, Safe Mama and The Soft Landing about safer mattresses and cribs.

As always, have an opinion on a green or natural crib? Or have you made your own earth and baby safe crib- we’d love to hear about it.

Rainforest Jumperoo




Published
by
Albert
on August 15, 2008
in toys
. 2 Comments
My wife and her mom just bought a “Rainforest Jumperoo” by Fisher Price for our daughter and she absolutely loves it. This morning I returned to my task of Daddy Daycare after a week off while my wife transitioned jobs, and my daughter was crying so much I was a bit worried she had forgotten me! I figured I’d let her try out the Jumperoo and see if that cheered her up. That was about 30 minutes ago and she’s been smiling and having fun ever since - and so I feel quite relieved! Note - I have no relation with Fisher Price at all, my daughter just really likes this thing!

I think its especially cool because it gives her a chance to try out standing up. When I hold her up to stand, she really loves that.

Toys for a road trip

Published
by
amy
on August 5, 2008
in Uncategorized and toys
. 2 Comments

Lauri Toy ToteWe are about to head out for a week long road trip to Maine. It will be a combination of vacation to visit some family and attend my cousin’s wedding, where my 2.5 year old daughter will be a flower girl. Yes, we’ll have to see how that goes. But it is about a four hour trip in the car for us and this week I have been brainstorming on what to bring her for car entertainment. (we do not have a car DVD and am resisting the purchase, I am not totally against them, I would definitely get it if we were on a x-country trip)

So I headed to my neighborhood toy store Creatoyvity in Providence, . The store is small but the selection is big so I know I will always find something to fit my request. I hunted around the store, and the first thing that caught my eye was a vinyl sticky board. They had these when I was a kid, made by Colorforms. This one, made by Mudpuppy has a fold out board and pictures of people and items that can decorate the room pictured on the board, they call it a play scene. It looks so cool, some of the cutouts are pretty small, so they might get lost or eaten so use you best judgement if your kido puts lots in their mouth still.

Next I grabbed a ring flash card set, also made by Mudpuppy, this one was for the alphabet, but there was an array of subjects that will appeal to just about any kid. I liked the ring, because she won’t play 26 card pick-up with them. They look easy to hold and manipulate on her own.

I wanted one more attention occupier… so I turned to the staff and explained my objective. Helpful and nice, they brought me over to a display with a bunch of car friendly toys. There was one brand in particular Lauri, that had a number a good traveling toys. There were small rubber puzzles, lace cards, stacking pegs, peel and stick boards, and more. I decided on the Primer Pack. It had a good selection of items, lace cards, a rubber alphabet puzzle, and some simple small puzzles. To top it off it comes in a little carrying case my daughter will easy tote around. Want to know more cool stuff about this company, the toys are made in the USA and they sell replacement pieces!

I am not giving her these new toys until we hit the road, that way they will be more exciting and attention grabbing. I suggest doing the same, the entertainment value is higher on something that is new to them. You need not buy new, you can always borrow something from a friend to accomplish this, or make it, here’s how to make your own lacing cards. Buy some thick, colorful card stock and cut out some fun shapes, punch holes long the edge of the shape, get some yarn and cut about 14-18 and finish the ends with scotch tape. And they’re ready to get lacing!

More ideas for a fun car ride:
Crayon and Notebook Roll-up from Apple Blossom Baby
I Spy Bag from Ainsley and Oswald
Car Valet by Alex Toys
DIY Travel Toys at She’s Creative