The kitchen got a lot of play over the last 3 years, however recently it had turned into a dangerously tippy climbing structure. I decided I wanted it gone. They weren't playing with the right way anymore, why keep it? So I sold the whole kaboodle for $40 since the kids had decorated the backside of it with plenty of crayon scribbles.
To lessen their anxiety over separating with something familiar, I told them that we could use the money to buy something new. That made it an easy sell and they were happy to let go of the kitchen. Parenting win: sell old toys to get new ones. New toys do not just appear out of thin air.
We went to the giant toy store and Big Bro picked out Optimus Prime complete with the trailer that carries the rest of the Rescue Bots. Lil Sis wanted to buy Blades the helicopter Rescue Bot but he was not available that day. She settled on some Dora DVDs that she spotted all by herself instead.
Once we were back in the car Big Bro asked "why do they put all the toys in boxes?" He was trying hard to get at his new toy to transform it. "I don't know." I responded. "It's not very good for the planet, is it?"
Just yesterday he had asked out of the blue "where does all the trash after the truck picks it up?" I told him what a great question it was then I explained how in a place called Coventry Vermont there is a giant hole in the ground where everyone puts their trash and buries it.
"It must be as big as the Grand Canyon then," he said, "because there is a lot of trash!"
It was an easy segue to explain to him that's why it is so important to recycle and compost.
But this darn toy packaging. It's so excessive. It's all designed so that only adults can open it. I was happy that at least with this Optimus Prime trailer toy the twisty ties that hold the toy in place were made out string made from paper tied in a simple knot. It didn't have those dreaded plastic twist ties that you need kitchen scissors to cut, nor was it encased in form-fitted, clear plastic.
All this packaging:
For this. Yes, the packaging is recyclable but that is not the point. Reduce is the first instruction in the phrase "reduce, reuse, recycle!"
It is a quandary buying children's toys. On the one hand I want my child to have toys that are current and fun. Yet I think of the unfair labor that goes into them, the plastics, the shipping, the excessive packaging, the greenhouse gas emissions...!. If only they sold Rescue Bots used on Craigslist. I suppose they will someday when Rescue Bots fall out of fashion. The cycle continues.
I don't want to teach my kids to be greedy consumers. Part of me is regretting this Rescue Bots purchase. Another part of me is happy that he has a fun, current, popular toy that all the kids talk about and is the subject of his favorite new show. Many of my kids' toys are hand-me-downs and garage sale finds, surely new toys can be ok sometimes.
A couple months ago we went to a little girl's birthday party where she had kids bring books to swap and cans of food to donate to the food shelf in lieu of presents. Perhaps Big Bro will be willing to do something similar for his next birthday.
The gist: buy used when possible; forgo material goods entirely at least sometimes; a new toy on rare/special occasions is ok.
Want to learn more about 7 trashy items to avoid? http://www.takepart.com/photos/wasteful-packaging?cmpid=ait-fb
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