Comments on: My Kids — The Joy and the Plastic: A Guest Post from Amber Strocel http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/05/my-kids-joy-and-plastic-guest-post-from/ Learn to live life with less plastic... for the health of our bodies, our oceans, our planet. I don't buy new plastic. Join me on my plastic-free journey. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:55:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: Strocel.com | Where Have all the Honeybees Gone? http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/05/my-kids-joy-and-plastic-guest-post-from/comment-page-1/#comment-31970 Strocel.com | Where Have all the Honeybees Gone? Sun, 16 Jan 2011 05:06:45 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/05/my-kids-the-joy-and-the-plastic-a-guest-post-from-amber-strocel/#comment-31970 [...] Oh, you guys, I’m so excited! I have a guest post up at My Plastic-free Life! It’s Beth Terry’s blog all about reducing the plastic in her life, and it’s awesome. Please stop by and say hello. [...] [...] Oh, you guys, I’m so excited! I have a guest post up at My Plastic-free Life! It’s Beth Terry’s blog all about reducing the plastic in her life, and it’s awesome. Please stop by and say hello. [...]

]]> By: Mike http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/05/my-kids-joy-and-plastic-guest-post-from/comment-page-1/#comment-7960 Mike Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:21:43 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/05/my-kids-the-joy-and-the-plastic-a-guest-post-from-amber-strocel/#comment-7960 I love this article I love this article

]]> By: Meaghan http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/05/my-kids-joy-and-plastic-guest-post-from/comment-page-1/#comment-6193 Meaghan Thu, 28 May 2009 15:07:26 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/05/my-kids-the-joy-and-the-plastic-a-guest-post-from-amber-strocel/#comment-6193 I have 3 kids and am surrounded by plastic. Despite almost never buying toys. To the comment about metal shovels & buckets for the beach -- my grandmother used to have a couple of buckets and shovels in the garage and we would use them whenever we visited her. They lasted at LEAST 20 years... and it's a fond memory. I haven't seen any metal buckets at the store though. Maybe an indie toy store?<br /><br />About the lunchboxes -- after one year in which backpacks were destroyed before the year was over, I resolved only to buy backpacks at LLBean. I used my LLBean backpack throughout school and it never got a hole in it. This year, we have one Bean lunchbag and 2 from Target. Gah! Guess which ones are splitting apart and which one has no wear at all? True, the stuff from LLBean costs a little more, but they guarantee it for life. I have 3 kids and am surrounded by plastic. Despite almost never buying toys. To the comment about metal shovels & buckets for the beach — my grandmother used to have a couple of buckets and shovels in the garage and we would use them whenever we visited her. They lasted at LEAST 20 years… and it's a fond memory. I haven't seen any metal buckets at the store though. Maybe an indie toy store?

About the lunchboxes — after one year in which backpacks were destroyed before the year was over, I resolved only to buy backpacks at LLBean. I used my LLBean backpack throughout school and it never got a hole in it. This year, we have one Bean lunchbag and 2 from Target. Gah! Guess which ones are splitting apart and which one has no wear at all? True, the stuff from LLBean costs a little more, but they guarantee it for life.

]]> By: heather t http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/05/my-kids-joy-and-plastic-guest-post-from/comment-page-1/#comment-6149 heather t Fri, 22 May 2009 14:32:15 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/05/my-kids-the-joy-and-the-plastic-a-guest-post-from-amber-strocel/#comment-6149 Parenting without plastic is a huge challenge! I think the key is to not give up and keep looking for areas to reduce plastic use.<br /><br />Fast food toys: One of my friends used to offer her kids 25 cents if they would skip the "meal" and let her just buy the food. This is a great option. Personally, I just tell my kids no most of the time, lol.<br /><br />Packed lunches: this is tough! Every school year I focus on eliminating one category of plastic from the kids' lunches. Two years ago it was juice boxes -we used plastic squeeze bottles last year but switched to stainless thermoses this year. This year it was sandwich bags - I use cloth napkins to wrap sandwiches or send leftovers in reused plastic containers.<br /><br />I also pay my kids $5 each if they keep their lunchboxes in good enough shape to reuse the next year. Their lunchboxes are two years old will probably last through at least a third year. I pay $10 for backpacks too, but they don't last as long.<br /><br />Some plastic is unavoidable with kids, but make Freecycle and garage sales your new best friends and you'll at least give some plastic a second life. Parenting without plastic is a huge challenge! I think the key is to not give up and keep looking for areas to reduce plastic use.

Fast food toys: One of my friends used to offer her kids 25 cents if they would skip the “meal” and let her just buy the food. This is a great option. Personally, I just tell my kids no most of the time, lol.

Packed lunches: this is tough! Every school year I focus on eliminating one category of plastic from the kids’ lunches. Two years ago it was juice boxes -we used plastic squeeze bottles last year but switched to stainless thermoses this year. This year it was sandwich bags – I use cloth napkins to wrap sandwiches or send leftovers in reused plastic containers.

I also pay my kids $5 each if they keep their lunchboxes in good enough shape to reuse the next year. Their lunchboxes are two years old will probably last through at least a third year. I pay $10 for backpacks too, but they don’t last as long.

Some plastic is unavoidable with kids, but make Freecycle and garage sales your new best friends and you’ll at least give some plastic a second life.

]]> By: Cheap Like Me http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/05/my-kids-joy-and-plastic-guest-post-from/comment-page-1/#comment-6124 Cheap Like Me Thu, 21 May 2009 17:58:33 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/05/my-kids-the-joy-and-the-plastic-a-guest-post-from-amber-strocel/#comment-6124 Great comments and insights. One suggestion I have is to at least buy as much *quality* plastic as you can ... something that can be handed down through many kids. We bought a secondhand plastic slide (weren't on an anti-plastic kick then), but I bet it is at least 15 years old and still sturdy. Our little neighbor has it now. <br /><br />And take heart that your message will get through to your kids. My daughter basically gave up Barbies solely because they are plastic and come wrapped in so much plastic packaging that she started to get mad about it. (She's 8 now.) Great comments and insights. One suggestion I have is to at least buy as much *quality* plastic as you can … something that can be handed down through many kids. We bought a secondhand plastic slide (weren’t on an anti-plastic kick then), but I bet it is at least 15 years old and still sturdy. Our little neighbor has it now.

And take heart that your message will get through to your kids. My daughter basically gave up Barbies solely because they are plastic and come wrapped in so much plastic packaging that she started to get mad about it. (She’s 8 now.)

]]> By: Jen G. http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/05/my-kids-joy-and-plastic-guest-post-from/comment-page-1/#comment-6117 Jen G. Thu, 21 May 2009 16:24:05 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/05/my-kids-the-joy-and-the-plastic-a-guest-post-from-amber-strocel/#comment-6117 I definitely agree w/ getting the kids on board and explaining WHY its important. Kids are great little environmentalists once the issues have been explained to them! You could explain there is a lot of plastic that isn't appropriately taken care of (the gyre situation, marine life dying due to entanglement or ingestion). Then you have an excellent ally in your quest.<br /><br />It tough with loving relatives who only want to make their grandchild, nephew etc etc happy on his/her birthday or special times. We have made it really clear that we do NOT like plasticy toys and also have asked for a communal gift (i.e. a wooden road set from plan toys). This is not foolproof but has prevented a lot of crap from coming through the door. And yes, I have been branded the kooky parent in our greater family but I also have the highest awareness and therefore I think the highest duty around this.<br /><br />Finally, we get reused goods as much as possible. Thank goodness for Craigslist and local secondhand shops. It feels easier in a lot of ways, taking a lot of the consumer stuff out of our lives. Our child doesn't particularly love TV and so isn't too vulnerable to product tie-ins when we go out. The marketing of goods (plastic and low quality) to children is the subject of a whole other post. There are, however, times when my husband and I have to say NO and spend a few moments being unpopular. <br /><br />We are not perfect but strive everyday toward a lower impact lifestyle. I definitely agree w/ getting the kids on board and explaining WHY its important. Kids are great little environmentalists once the issues have been explained to them! You could explain there is a lot of plastic that isn’t appropriately taken care of (the gyre situation, marine life dying due to entanglement or ingestion). Then you have an excellent ally in your quest.

It tough with loving relatives who only want to make their grandchild, nephew etc etc happy on his/her birthday or special times. We have made it really clear that we do NOT like plasticy toys and also have asked for a communal gift (i.e. a wooden road set from plan toys). This is not foolproof but has prevented a lot of crap from coming through the door. And yes, I have been branded the kooky parent in our greater family but I also have the highest awareness and therefore I think the highest duty around this.

Finally, we get reused goods as much as possible. Thank goodness for Craigslist and local secondhand shops. It feels easier in a lot of ways, taking a lot of the consumer stuff out of our lives. Our child doesn’t particularly love TV and so isn’t too vulnerable to product tie-ins when we go out. The marketing of goods (plastic and low quality) to children is the subject of a whole other post. There are, however, times when my husband and I have to say NO and spend a few moments being unpopular.

We are not perfect but strive everyday toward a lower impact lifestyle.

]]> By: Amber http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/05/my-kids-joy-and-plastic-guest-post-from/comment-page-1/#comment-6107 Amber Thu, 21 May 2009 04:11:39 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/05/my-kids-the-joy-and-the-plastic-a-guest-post-from-amber-strocel/#comment-6107 I just want to say thanks again to Beth for having me. You rock! :)<br /><br />I'm reading all the suggestions so far and loving them. Some of you have some really creative solutions, and you're all making excellent points. I'm really glad I'm not the only mom who struggles with the kid-related plastic. I really hope that as more of us become aware of the issues the non-plastic options open to us will improve.<br /><br />I'll be checking back in for more of your suggestions. I hope they keep coming! I just want to say thanks again to Beth for having me. You rock! :)

I’m reading all the suggestions so far and loving them. Some of you have some really creative solutions, and you’re all making excellent points. I’m really glad I’m not the only mom who struggles with the kid-related plastic. I really hope that as more of us become aware of the issues the non-plastic options open to us will improve.

I’ll be checking back in for more of your suggestions. I hope they keep coming!

]]> By: Carla http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/05/my-kids-joy-and-plastic-guest-post-from/comment-page-1/#comment-6105 Carla Thu, 21 May 2009 01:43:45 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/05/my-kids-the-joy-and-the-plastic-a-guest-post-from-amber-strocel/#comment-6105 It is definitely a challenge to be a plastic-free parent of small children. My 3 year old and 11 month old have a good number of plastic toys. Sigh. We don't buy any new plastic, I stick to wooden toys or activities (like gymnastics classes as a birthday present), but then sometimes people given them stuff. Like the time my brother gave them a huge 'little people' set, and he was so proud of it. Sure, they play with it, but they play with anything, ribbons, scarfs, labels, so I don't think that means much. I have been slowly purchasing, partly second hand, metal and glass containers for food, though I find the glass at least are much heavier, so still mix and matching. I stick to second plastic items when these are really needed (or we pick them up from the curb, I love the curb! regifting).<br />I've also taught my oldest to say "I like this" when we go to a store and she finds something she likes, rather than "I want this". It's a wonderful change, and so much more satisfying for her and less annoying for me. <br />We don't eat fast food. We pack our own foldable plate (orikaso brand) and cutlery in a toothbrush holder in the diaper bag, for unplanned snacking. <br />But every day, I still think that child-related plastic is taking over my life. Just today I rotated toys and wondered how we ended up with all this stuff. It multiplies when you're not looking! It is definitely a challenge to be a plastic-free parent of small children. My 3 year old and 11 month old have a good number of plastic toys. Sigh. We don’t buy any new plastic, I stick to wooden toys or activities (like gymnastics classes as a birthday present), but then sometimes people given them stuff. Like the time my brother gave them a huge ‘little people’ set, and he was so proud of it. Sure, they play with it, but they play with anything, ribbons, scarfs, labels, so I don’t think that means much. I have been slowly purchasing, partly second hand, metal and glass containers for food, though I find the glass at least are much heavier, so still mix and matching. I stick to second plastic items when these are really needed (or we pick them up from the curb, I love the curb! regifting).
I’ve also taught my oldest to say “I like this” when we go to a store and she finds something she likes, rather than “I want this”. It’s a wonderful change, and so much more satisfying for her and less annoying for me.
We don’t eat fast food. We pack our own foldable plate (orikaso brand) and cutlery in a toothbrush holder in the diaper bag, for unplanned snacking.
But every day, I still think that child-related plastic is taking over my life. Just today I rotated toys and wondered how we ended up with all this stuff. It multiplies when you’re not looking!

]]> By: knutty knitter http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/05/my-kids-joy-and-plastic-guest-post-from/comment-page-1/#comment-6104 knutty knitter Thu, 21 May 2009 01:18:47 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/05/my-kids-the-joy-and-the-plastic-a-guest-post-from-amber-strocel/#comment-6104 We did the train set thing too. Works really well. I say no to as much plastic as possible and dispose of it too if possible. I just wish we could dispense with all unnecessary plastic but that just isn't going to happen at present. (I don't own a cow or a soy bean field).<br /><br />viv in nz We did the train set thing too. Works really well. I say no to as much plastic as possible and dispose of it too if possible. I just wish we could dispense with all unnecessary plastic but that just isn’t going to happen at present. (I don’t own a cow or a soy bean field).

viv in nz

]]> By: Anonymous http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/05/my-kids-joy-and-plastic-guest-post-from/comment-page-1/#comment-6102 Anonymous Wed, 20 May 2009 22:02:42 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/05/my-kids-the-joy-and-the-plastic-a-guest-post-from-amber-strocel/#comment-6102 I have a 2 year old and I am also trying to reduce plastic use at our house. I recently came up with a plastic solution to a plastic problem! I really like those water and sand tables, but they represent a whole lot of plastic. I would like to build a sand box for little miss, but I don't have time and we are moving soon anyway. I found that she loves to play with water and sand so I give her some with a bunch of misc plastic to play with from the kitchen (measuring cups, spoons, yogurt containers). It keeps her occupied for a long time and I don't have to buy any new plastic! I have a 2 year old and I am also trying to reduce plastic use at our house. I recently came up with a plastic solution to a plastic problem! I really like those water and sand tables, but they represent a whole lot of plastic. I would like to build a sand box for little miss, but I don’t have time and we are moving soon anyway. I found that she loves to play with water and sand so I give her some with a bunch of misc plastic to play with from the kitchen (measuring cups, spoons, yogurt containers). It keeps her occupied for a long time and I don’t have to buy any new plastic!

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