Take a Stand Against the Toy Industry Recalls: Teach Your Children How to Be Creative

With all of the recent toy recalls due to lead and other contaminants, parents are left wondering what is safe for their children. Of course safety is the first thing that comes to the mind of a parent, but further thought on the situation brings anger and hostility against a greedy industry who cares more about profit than quality. Poor business practices made by irresponsible conglomerate toy companies effect not only the children, but also the entire country. More likely than not there will be future recalls and more dangerous toys brought into the market since the United States continues to both outsource their toy productions as well as import foreign products. This creates more health hazards for children and continues to take jobs away from Americans while supporting poor labor practices in other countries.

It seems there are two issues at hand here. Firstly, how can we teach our children to use their creative thought processes to engage in new and fun activities? Secondly, how can we raise children that are not avid consumers of products that are both potentially unsafe and support outsourcing and low wage paying companies?

Teaching children how to be creative may be second nature for many parents, but for others it can be a struggle. This fact contributes to the American consumption process by making products that do the creative thinking for you. Society is constantly looking to stimulate our children with new and innovative products that either need tons of batteries or need avid supervision. Instead of purchasing these products and supporting the toy companies that manufacture them, why not look at your own childhood for ideas?

Looking back at the things you did as a child will surely produce a wealth of ideas for your own children, since overproduction of frivolous toys was not as big of a problem back then. Some ideas may seem too simple to be true but may provide hours of play for your child as well as encourage him or her to use their imaginations. Take out the pots, pans and wooden spoons and let your child bang away. Make some homemade playdough and scent it with different flavored extracts. Create a homemade dress up bin with some of your old clothes. Whip up some Ivory Snow and let your kids explore it on the kitchen table. Set up scenarios for them to take part in, such as playing post office with paper and envelopes or keeping house by cooking and cleaning. Whatever you do, remember to keep it simple in order to encourage your child's creativity.

Most importantly, ask a lot of questions while your child is playing with non-traditional "toys". What is she doing? What did he make? Where are they going? Help them create a play theme that will invite them to request it again in the future. You don't have to be creative yourself to express creativity with your children. By simply asking questions the creativity will pour from their mouths like water from a spout.

The other issue at hand, raising non-consumers, comes with the practice of homemade creativity. By teaching your children to think for themselves and create their own enjoyment, you will be simultaneously creating children who grow up not needing to purchase everything prepackaged and already thought out for them. This idea should be carried over into other aspects of their lives, such as making homemade meals instead of buying frozen ones, in order to truly create a child who does not grow up feeding into the insane world of consumption we as Americans are so enthralled with.

When your children see the latest toy on the television screen and inquire as to why they can't have it be as truthful as you can be. Explain to them as best as you can why some toys aren't good for them, and quickly redirect them to a similar task. Redirection is a key factor when dealing with a despondent child. For example, if the child is upset over losing her favorite Aquadots toy, see if you can encourage her to create her own. Show her how to roll little balls of playdough and build with them. Or, ask your child what else could be like an Aquadot? Many children will not even know the difference between the real thing and the homemade counterfeit. Before you know it, your child will be asking to play Aquadots when all they really want to do is mold playdough.

Encouraging creativity and creating well-rounded,minimally consuming children can be easier than you think. Remember my method or create your own to use as a checklist during times when your children are a little more difficult to encourage.

Reflect - on your own childhood to come up with ideas.
Create - use old ideas or find new ones on the Internet or in books.
Ask questions - creativity will develop even if you yourself are not creative.
Redirect - when a child is discouraged or seeking new stimulation.