Kia ora koutou everyone,

This week I thought I would talk about using natural resources vs plastic toys in the early childhood setting. It is a common sight when we walk into early childhood facilities and see hoards of plastic toys and resources dominating the indoor and outdoor environment.

Often known as fantastic plastic in the early childhood world, it’s bright, big, plentiful and cheap to buy but is it necessarily the right choice for children?

Recently our team made a decision to try and eliminate as much plastic as we could from our infants and toddlers environment. The results have been encouraging.

Not only have the children enjoyed using the new resources, they have been observed to play, examine and explore these resources for longer periods of time.

Gone are the plastic dinner sets now replaced with ceramic plates, recycled steel espresso mugs and wooden coasters (made from the trimmed tree from outside)

Natural baskets from Trade Aid and op shops are now filled with various items such as wooden and cane balls, chains, sets of keys, scarves, wooden napkin holders and other house hold items salvaged, cleaned and reused from places such as the Super Shed (large shed full of 2nd hand goodies)!

Instead of plastic mobiles we have beautiful old parasol hanging from the ceiling and leaves from our ginkgo tree hanging above the changing mat.

In the outdoor environment we have made simple changes such as, replaced plastic spades with paua and clam shells, use flax branches as mixing utensils, tree stumps to sit on, use clay pots to store playing utensils and hung dried sea weed, shells, wood chimes and bird feeders from our trees.

Counting towers made from only wood

My colleague explains, “Plastic lacks stimulation for infants and toddlers, while each toy may look different each one smells, tastes and feels the same. We endeavour to provide play things that are ‘normal everyday objects’ that are made from natural materials or metal. The wonderful thing about these play resources is that they are ‘open-ended’. For example, to a child a tin lid can be anything; a plate, a boat, a hat – whatever can be imagined. A plastic toy phone, on the other hand, can only really be a phone”

These small changes that we have made has also made the environment a more pleasant place for the teachers to work, we have de cluttered and created open spaces for children to move, learn and grow without restrictions as well as give “breathing” space for the adults in the room!

Natural coasters made from wood

I hope this encourages you to think about how you can provide sustainable resources for the children in your care. Below are some simple resources that you could try out in your centre or home.

Hei konā mai, Amy.

source: http://www.my-child.co.nz/blog/enviroschool-natural-resources-vs-plastic/