So there it is. The plastic toy that I hate. I don't want to knock all plastic toys - I'm sure there are some really super ones out there (are there?) but this one has been on my hit list for some time now. And it is partially my fault.
While I was doing my homework (a hypothetical lesson plan on slavery and chocolate), I came across this article about Teun van de Keuken and his slave-free chocolate movement. Van de Keuken tried to prosecute himself because he knowingly ate chocolate that involved the slavery of children.
The filmmaker's first act of protest was personal. One day he ate 19 chocolate bars and then turned himself into police for knowingly buying a product made with slave labor, something he says is criminal under Dutch law. "At first, I just called the police and said I did a terrible thing. They said, 'Don't worry, we all eat chocolate, good-bye.' Then I hired a lawyer."
His attempt to prosecute himself was dismissed by the court, but Van de Keuken launched an appeal. In the meantime, he took his TV show to Burkina Faso to find some of the children forced to work on the cocoa plantations — kids, he says, who had never tasted chocolate until he gave them some. (They liked it.) Van de Keuken says recruiters from the Ivory Coast cross the border into the destitute country and lure children over with promises of money or even bicycles. Once they get there, he says, "they're forced to work, not paid, and not allowed to leave — the U.N. definition of slavery."
When I read about his "act of protest" I instantly thought of that plastic train station in the photo above. I can't quite call it my own act of protest but it has now become my constant reminder of how I want to live my life and shape my choices. It reminds me of what I don't like about these types of toys - that they are designed to entertain. The toy requires very little imagination - everything is laid out in bright colors with the finest details and it even includes sounds and music. It's flimsy and you can tell that it was designed to head to the dumpster. But the worst part, for me, is that I bought it.
And that is what is at the heart of this reminder. That one day, last year, I had an impulse to buy this. I saw it and thought, "Oh! Toy! Fun! Trains! Plastic! Colors!" and I bought it. All the pieces were there. It looked shiny and new but it was used! I just had a strong desire to buy it.
As I walked away from the stand at the brocante, it hit me. I didn't want this thing. This is exactly the kind of thing I don't want to buy. I schemed for months trying to figure out how to get rid of it - I felt too guilty giving to friends or even re-selling it. So I shoved it in a box and pushed it into a corner so I could pretend that it didn't exist. And, now here it is again, brought back to life before my eyes, sitting there reminding me.
I take some comfort in this though. We've made a lot of efforts in moving towards a more sustainable and creative lifestyle that involves very little consuming but we still have a ways to go. This little plastic toy is one of my partners in the fight against the shopping impulses that are still somewhere inside of me.
Wow, powerful. I have the same issues with plastic, I'd much rather by thing for the girls like books or art supplies. But living the unschooling life as we do I also feel the pull to let them decide what to use their money for. Perhaps it's all about educating them so they make smart choices. But it is hard for a kid to resist the pull of the sparkly plastic fantastic.
Posted by: Hay | March 17, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Hay - I think it makes sense to let your children learn for themselves how they want to spend their money! That is the key - earning money and then figuring out what you want to spend it on and only experience can help you develop that. Do you talk to them about making wise choices? Have they been disappointed with purchases they made?
Even though I really hate that toy, I can push that all aside and get down on the floor and play with it. And he loves it. So there is joy associated with this piece of junk too and that definitely gives it value.
Posted by: Sarah | March 17, 2008 at 10:15 PM
I hear you. I love that this post is about something you yourself chose that you wish you hadn't. No one is completely rational or pure -- myself so very much included. You don't often get a chance to be privy to someone else's wrestling with what they want to be, how they want to live. I too want my children's toys to be less directive, more open-ended. But I don't always follow my own beliefs. Right now I want to go on a phase of not buying *anything* for my kids at all. We have so many toys and projects that rotation is what we need, not "more."
Posted by: MamaBird | March 18, 2008 at 02:39 AM
I'm right there with you. I feel a constant struggle to avoid toys that do all the creating for the child. Instead of no assembly required they should say no imagination required. The problem is so much thought went into how to get you to want to buy that toy. They've got it down to a science.
That said, we do have many such toys and Seth does have fun with them. One of my goals this year is to reduce those purchase impulses and attempt to provide more open ended toys: play silks for dress up, collage materials for art projects, a puppet theater & a felt board. The same goes for my own hobbies. Do I really need another kitchen gadget?
I could go on, but I'll hold myself back. You just get me so riled up.
Posted by: Anna | March 18, 2008 at 04:47 AM
I was just going through these same thoughts last week. Alder just started to use my old Fisher Price Castle from the Seventies, which I am fine with. But then when we were out and happened by a toy store and I was feeling guilty about how few toys he has, a strange thought, so we ended up coming home with a Playmobile dump truck and farmer. But now he has it out all the time, and unlike the castle and it's people there is no long term connection.
I am by no means a purest and would happily by recycled plastic toys for him, but the idea of using a limited resource for a disposable toy seems so wrong. As if in response while grocery shopping yesterday I went into a natural toy shop and ended up ordering a certain wooden toy for his birthday (in July), I don't want to overload him.
Thanks for such stirring post.
Posted by: Stacey | March 18, 2008 at 11:54 AM
I was just going through these same thoughts last week. Alder just started to use my old Fisher Price Castle from the Seventies, which I am fine with. But then when we were out and happened by a toy store and I was feeling guilty about how few toys he has, a strange thought, so we ended up coming home with a Playmobile dump truck and farmer. But now he has it out all the time, and unlike the castle and it's people there is no long term connection.
I am by no means a purest and would happily by recycled plastic toys for him, but the idea of using a limited resource for a disposable toy seems so wrong. As if in response while grocery shopping yesterday I went into a natural toy shop and ended up ordering a certain wooden toy for his birthday (in July), I don't want to overload him.
Thanks for such stirring post.
Posted by: Stacey | March 18, 2008 at 11:56 AM
When I have to buy something nowadays, I make sure that it was at least made in France. That makes choosing a whole heck of a lot easier...
Posted by: meredith | March 18, 2008 at 12:10 PM
I had the same issues about colorful plastic toys - and then my dad bought some for my daughter.
And we would go on play dates and my daughter would be mesmerized by the bright colorful toy-filled homes we'd go to.
I try not to be too hard on myself ~ the love of plastic toys is hopefully just a phase. But then I wonder, aren't most dolls made out of plastic? I wonder if my daughter will want those. Ultimately, or personally to me I suppose, there will be larger battles than her wanting a barbie.
You might like to see this cool house: http://www.simondale.net/house/
Posted by: Amy | March 18, 2008 at 04:27 PM
Totally agree with you. For Christmas this year, we put a halt on all plastic toy buying and told our family no more plastic! Of course, there are a few that snuck in there somehow but it wasn't as bad as previous years. I got so frustrated with all of the plastic kitchens out there that I made Louise a wooden one. That being said, we do have a minimum of plastic toys, some of which I am guilty for their purchase because of brocante shopping. The worst purchase I made was a plastic airplane that Gab fell in love with at a brocante a year ago. I could have shot myself after buying that- not only did it take up a lot of room, but we also got ripped off on it. Now, it's at my MIL's- I don't want to see that thing again!
And, when it all comes down to it all, the only things Gab really plays with are his wooden train, his cars and his coloring supplies, Louise plays with her kitchen and doll and Gab's cars and they both love books. So, I bet they wouldn't even notice if we got rid of the rest! Maybe that will be part of my spring cleaning! There are so many other things to keep them occupied. Good post.
Posted by: andie | March 18, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Mamabird - I love your rotation idea and I too dream of being organized enough to pull it off. I think as my children get older it would be so neat to pull different books and toys out by season.
Anna - I want to make a felt board too! The possibilities are endless with this tool! Collage materials is another great idea. Do you have ideas about how you would store or display them?
Stacey - Don't you think there is a different feel to the plastic toys from the seventies and the plastic toys made now. I know the notion of "easily disposable" was already at play then but there is a softness to these toys that I don't find with more modern ones. Perhaps it is just the aging of the plastic? I'd like to think that they may have been just a bit better made.
Meredith - There are many French companies that I love! That is a great rule to follow.
Amy - Right now while it's me who makes most of the toy choices (except for those renegade grandparent purchases) I feel a strong drive to set the tone but like you, when Felix starts to play more of a role I can see myself allowing him to make purchases that don't necessarily jive with my values. He's gotta figure out his values for himself the best I can do is model and talk about it with him! I'd be kinda psyched if he wanted a barbie though :) (He has a plastic baby doll that he loves...) Oh! And thanks for the link...I'm looking at it with my husband right now!
Andie - I remember your airplane story and it was HUGE! Do they play with it at your MIL's? I've definitely purged some plastic toys from our collection and Felix did not seem to notice. I just got rid of the ones that I never saw him play with...I did save ones that he liked when he was younger so that we can use them again the next time around!
Posted by: Sarah | March 18, 2008 at 09:29 PM
We went far less commercial this holiday season and it was nice, but exhausting, the pressure to comply with the traditional stuff is so relentless. I admit that I am far better in steering us all to eating healthier and acting kinder than I am at eschewing commercialism. Sigh. Baby steps.
Posted by: amanda | March 19, 2008 at 10:32 PM
what an excellent post. i am so glad that you are back and blogging again big time! Also glad that you brought up the chocolate and child slavery as well because that is really important.
Posted by: Riana | March 20, 2008 at 12:18 PM