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Are you looking for ways to reduce your family's impact on the planet? Eco-friendly toy brands offer a great solution! Not only do these toys use sustainable materials and limit waste production, but they also prioritize toddlers' health and safety. Take a look at six of the best toy companies manufacturing toys using eco-friendly and sustainable practices. Shore Buddies Price | $15- $25 Eco-friendly Materials | recycled plastic bottles Best For | Marine & ocean life plushes Shore Buddies are a line of cuddly, eco-friendly, and beach/ocean themed stuffed animals! Each character has a small sound button. When kids press the button, they'll hear a sound recording of the animal provided by professional marine biologists. How Are Shore Buddies Made? The specific type of plastic used for Shore Buddies is PET. Each plush is created from six recycled plastic bottles. The bottles are cleaned and sent to factories where they are shredded into tiny plastic pellets. These pellets turn out to be super soft, soft enough to use as stuffing for Shore Buddies. Some pellets are also melted down and transformed into polyester yarn for stitching the characters together. Does Shore Buddies Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? The company reports that as of 2022, they've prevented over 2 million plastic bottles from entering our oceans. You can also find comfort in knowing that $1 from every purchase goes towards marine life conservation. ✨ Top Shore Buddy Recommendations Stephen the Seagull is Shore Buddies' most popular character. Ironically, the seagull is currently the brand's only plush toy that isn't a sea creature. Finn the Dolphin and Sammy the Seal are super adorable. If you have a budding marine biologist that's outgrown interest in stuffed animals, Shore Buddies also makes the characters in keychain form. Keychains make a fun addition to any backpack! Where Can You Buy Shore Buddies? You can purchase the plushes and keychains either directly from Shore Buddies or on Amazon. Do Shore Buddies Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? Their website offers no information on packaging but it's probably safe to assume they don't use any plastic in their packaging (their mission calls for reducing plastic usage to prevent plastic from ending up in oceans). Aurora Eco Nation Price | $13- $19 Eco-friendly Materials | 100% biodegradable pellets Best For | Animal Pushes Aurora Eco Nation is a sustainably based plush toy company that makes a wide selection of eco-friendly stuffed animals. Although their parent company, Aurora has been around since 1981, the company began transitioning to using sustainable materials for it's plush toys in 2018. Your little one will adore snuggles with these detailed animals. How Are Eco Nation Plushes Made? Similar to Shore Buddies, Aurora Eco Nation shreds plastic bottles into pellets. Some of the pellets go towards filling up the soft animal friends while some are used to create their charming fur. Does Aurora Eco Nation Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? Aurora Eco Nation highlights that they're saving over 400 million plastic bottles globally per year and contributing to a greener world by producing all of their plush toys using eco-friendly materials. ✨ Top Aurora Eco Nation Recommendations The Eco Nation line includes a large variety of animals to choose from. The wolf is one of my favorites. But, you can find such a wide range of animals, including farm animals, sea creatures, wildlife animals, mythical creatures, and even dinosaurs! Eco Ebba is their newest line of eco-friendly stuffed animals, designed specifically for babies! Where Can You Buy Eco Nation Plushes? Believe it or not, I discovered these little guys on the shelf of my local grocery store- Wegmans. You can also buy them directly from Aurora Eco Nation and on Amazon. Do Eco Nation Plushes Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? If you buy one of these plushes at the store, they don't come in any packaging, like most stuffies. If you buy directly from the Aurora Eco Nation, you'll find that all of their shipping boxes are made from recycled materials. In the future, Aurora is investing in using poly bags and sourcing recycled J-Hook and Dennison plastic tag pins. Sarah's Silks Price | $10- $30 Eco-friendly Materials | non-toxic dyes & natural silk Best For | open-ended play I’m obsessed with the toy scarves Sarah's Silks makes! But, you might be thinking, what on earth will my kid do with a silk scarf? Give your kiddo an hour with a playsilk and you'll quickly observe that the possibilities are endless! Sarah's Silks are such an asset and a must-have for open-ended play. I've watched kids turn scarves into capes, belts, dresses, and tablecloths. How Are Sarah's Silks Made? Commonly known as playsilks, these scarves are designed using non-toxic dyes and pure silk, which also makes them biodegradable. I know, pretty amazing, right?! ✨ Top Sarah's Silks Recommendations Playsilks make an awesome addition to any playroom because they enhance dramatic play and spark kid's imagination! The soft, silk texture of Sarah's Silks scarves, along with the variety of designs, truly sets the company apart from other playsilks. Sensory-seekers and tactile lovers will really enjoy twiddling the texture between their fingers. You can also pair the giant silk scarves with a fort building kit and wooden playclips to create a memorable experience for little ones! The company has recently expanded to selling a variety of wooden toys, including, wooden play houses, wooden rainbows, wooden balance boards, and versatile play frames to name a few. Does Sarah's Silks Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? Aside from producing the scarves with natural silk, the company reduces waste by holding pop up "Sarah's Silks Seconds" grab bag sales. During these sales, you can find scarves with minor flaws (like a misaligned hem) and other toys discounted for 60% off standard prices. Tip: You can only get notified of these sales if you subscribe to their email list Where Can You Buy Sarah's Silks? Sarah's Silks can be purchased at toy stores, children's boutiques, and museum shops worldwide. You can check their store locator for shops closest to you. The most popular scarves are sold on Amazon, but the widest selection of silk scarves can be purchased on their site. Do Sarah's Silks Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? All scarves purchased directly from Sarah's Silks are shipped in fully recyclable brown cardboard envelopes. The packing around individual scarves is made of paper that's also recyclable! Green Toys Price | $12- $20 Eco-friendly Materials | recycled milk jugs Best For | Fine motor & pretend play toys Green Toys is a well-known brand in the world of sustainable toys. The company's commitment to the use of eco-friendly materials throughout production has created an eye-catching line of toddler toys. Many of these toys include soft, inviting pastel colors, and are designed with an emphasis on simplicity. How Are Green Toys Made? Green Toys are made from recycled plastic milk jugs and sometimes yogurt cups. The process is explained as such, "all the plastic is collected by waste management, cleaned, shredded into flakes, reprocessed into our raw material (high-density polyethylene or HDPE), and mixed with food-safe, mineral-based coloring." Every toy is given an extra inspection to meet the company's high safety standards, before being packaged for customers. ✨ Top Green Toys Recommendations I've personally purchased and child-tested many toys from the Green Toys brand. Star Stacker Cups, Helicopter, and Build-a-Bouquet were a hit amongst toddlers I've worked with (ages 1-3) and even with my 4-year-old nephews! Does Green Toys Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? Green Toys are completely made in the USA, including the manufacturing, assembly, and distribution of toys. As a result, the company is able to reduce greenhouse gases, energy and save on transportation, in comparison to producing their toys overseas. The company also provides local jobs in their California based business and promotes recycling education in schools. Where Can You Buy Green Toys? You can buy these toys directly from Green Toys, at a variety of retailers, including Amazon, TJ Maxx, and Marshall's, or use their store locator. Do Green Toys Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? Green Toys practices green standards all the way down to their packaging- their toys are sold in 100% recyclable cardboard and they don't use additives like blister packs, annoying twist ties, or cellophane wrappers. Labels on the outside of the boxes are printed with minimal color using soy inks. Plan Toys Price | $10- $30 Eco-friendly Materials | rubberwood called Planwood™ Best For | Montessori style toys When you think of Plan Toys, think Montessori toys meet a watercolor palette. I hope that sounds as amazing as it actually is! This company makes a large variety of toys for everyday play, including fine motor, and water play toys. With over 500 items listed on the website, Plan Toys is fitting for babies and toddlers up until about 4 years old. How Are Plan Toys Made? PlanWood is created by grinding sawdust and wood chips leftover from production and using a thermal process to form them into shapes. Plan Toys uses non-toxic, chemical free, water-based paint to create their toys. They also use E-Zero glue in production because it doesn't contain formaldehyde (a toxic ingredient commonly used in wood adhesives). ✨ Top Plan Toys Recommendations Some of Plan Toys' best sellers are toys that focus on gross motor development (like pull-along animals) and dramatic play- checkout this set of realistic play food, or this original doctor kit. I gifted the Hopping Rabbit to a busy 1 year old and it was a hit (tip: the parents decided to make a small loop in the string for easier grasping and it was genius). The rabbit's tail goes up and down as the child pulls it along the leash. This gorgeous pastel mobile would make for a great piece of decor for any nursery or kid's room. Does Plan Toys Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? Plan Toys is involved in a number of community development projects, including the construction of toy libraries, a toy museum, and a playground in rural Thailand, where the company is based. Plan Toys also implemented a number of energy conservation measures within its factories, including the use of solar panels and energy-efficient lighting. The organization is taking many steps towards meeting their goal of being carbon neutral by 2025. This company is very transparent about its' sustainability practices and even has a full sustainability report for customers to view. Honestly, I wish all eco-conscious toy companies would share similar annual reports! Finally, Plan Toys has recently partnered with Toycycle to introduce the world's largest sustainable second-hand toy marketplace. This partnership helps parents with the problem of toy storage, while refreshing kids' toy shelves with quality toys. Where Can You Buy Plan Toys? Plan Toys can be purchased directly from the company's site, where you'll find the largest variety of their toys. You can also find the brand on Amazon and every now and again, you might find a few Plan Toys in the toy aisle of TJ Maxx or Marshall's. Do Plan Toys Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? For a while, Plan Toys boxes were produced with 4-color offset printing. They've since transitioned to a plain brown box made from recycled fiber that includes a printed label. Tegu Price | $20- $120 Eco-friendly Materials | Central American hardwood Best For | Junior Engineers Know a kid that's really into building with blocks? Tegu is a great place to find a gift for junior engineers. Their blocks help develop toddler's fine motor skills, pattern recognition, and balance. How Are Tegu Toys Made? Tegu blocks are made from authentic wood and sustainably harvested Central American hardwoods in the Honduras. Sustainably harvested wood simply means they never cut down healthy trees just to make blocks. Safe, non-toxic, water-based finishes are used for the colors and clear coating of the blocks. Does Tegu Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? Aside from sustainably sourcing wood, Tegu intentionally designs their toys to be high quality and durable. In fact, the company strives for the blocks to be heirloom toys that provide fun for generations of your family. Within the company itself, one of Tegu's missions is to foster a positive social impact on their community in Honduras. The founders also reside there and oversee production of the toys in their factory where they employ 200 local community members. ✨ Top Tegu Recommendations A set of these wooden blocks would make a perfect gift for kids that have mastered Magna-Tiles. With Magna-Tiles, kids can see the magnets around the perimeter of each piece. But, with Tegu blocks, the magnets are placed on certain spots inside of the blocks. The placement of the magnets vary depending on the shape. With that said, I've noticed that most 2 year olds just haven't developed the patience yet to pinpoint and memorize where the magnets are in each shape. However, I've seen 3 ½ year-olds play with these for hours! In case your kid hasn't reached toddler age just yet, Tegu also makes wooden toy cars that are fitting for babies as early as 18 months! The cars come with only 3 pieces- the base of the car/wheels, a triangular piece that goes on top of the base, and a wooden driver figure. This simple design engages young toddlers and they are able to explore and repair the toy independently. Where Can You Buy Tegu Toys? You can buy sets of these magnetic wooden blocks from Tegu, on Amazon, or possibly at a toy retailer near you. Do Tegu Toys Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? All Tegu toys are shipped in fully recyclable cardboard boxes. Eeboo Price | $8-22 Eco-friendly Materials | FSC certified paper, vegetable based inks Best For | Games & Puzzles Eeboo is a unique woman owned boutique most known for its puzzles, games, and paper based toys such as stationary sets. What really makes Eeboo a dynamic brand is the fact that they partner with independent artists/illustrators to design the pictures and characters on all their products— which naturally catch your eye. How Are Eeboo Toys Made? Eeboo uses Forest Stewardship Council° (FSC) certified paper to make all their toys. This certification confirms that the paper they use comes from forests that are responsibly managed. Through using FSC paper, the company’s goal is to “preserve biological diversity and benefit the lives of workers and local communities while sustaining their economic viability”. But Eeboo does go beyond using FSC paper, they also print with vegetable-based, non-toxic inks. The inks are made from easy-to-grow resources and are safer and more sustainable than conventional petroleum-based inks, yet the colors are still vivid! Does Eeboo Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? Recently, Eeboo became a certified carbon-neutral company. As a carbon-neutral company, this means for all the offsets and emissions the company produces, they basically make up for it through reforestation projects (like planting a tree). EeBoo is certified through ClimatePartner, an organization that calculates businesses' greenhouse gas emissions, provides advice on how to reduce them, and offsets unavoidable emissions through carbon offset projects. ✨ Top Eeboo Recommendations I Never Forget a Face: Memory & Matching Game I’ve never seen such a beautifully illustrated multicultural memory game. Children from 24 different countries are depicted in traditional clothing, accessories, hair styles, etc. There are 24 matching pairs (48 cards total), which makes the difficulty level a bit high for younger toddlers but challenges big kids When playing with kids ages 2-4, simply remove 8-10 pairs to make the game less overwhelming for littles When playing with various groups of kids, they all want to know “what country is this kid from?!” Either have the box close by to quickly identify their respective countries or have a picture of the list saved on your phone Story Cards: Fairy Tale Mix Ups Create a Story Cards (pictured above) Story Cards are basically imagination prompts that get the creative juices flowing. A kid says “I’m bored” or “I don’t know what to draw,” then I bring out the story cards. Great for independent play Beautiful illustrations Where Can You Buy Eeboo Toys? You can buy Eeboo toys directly from their website or on Amazon. I’ve also seen their toys in-store at Barnes & Nobles. Do Eeboo Toys Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? About 90% of the materials used for packaging Eeboo toys come from recycled post-consumer paper materials. In 2022, Eeboo switched to using puzzle piece bags made with plant-based, biodegradable, compostable, and non-toxic materials. Big Future Toys Price | $59- $175 Eco-friendly Materials | birch plywood Best For | Eco-friendly Magna-tiles Big Future Toys creates high-quality wooden toys that encourage kids to use their imagination. The founders of the minority-owned company designs their toys to be extra durable and open-ended. Such intentionality increases the life cycle, as well as the time kids spend playing with their products. While Big Future Toys’ line of toys has varied, they’re most well known for their Earthtiles. How Are Big Future Toys Made? To make Earthtiles, Big Future Toys uses sustainably sourced baltic birch plywood. The magnetic tiles are then finished with a non-toxic, water-based lacquer. All wood is sustainably sourced from FSC-certified forests and the toys are made in Indonesia. Does Big Future Toys Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? With every toy purchase, Big Future Toys plants a tree through a partnership with Plant with Purpose. To date, they’ve been able to plant over 8,000 trees! The owners are big on circularity and encourage parents to pass down or donate toys that kids have outgrown. Even though Big Future Toys is a smaller toy retailer, they’re committed to circularity so much that if you have a hard time finding a new home for their toys, you can email customer support for a return label and they’ll get them in the hands of a grateful kid. ✨ Top Big Future Toys Recommendations Currently, Earthtiles are the only non-plastic substitution for Magna-tiles (Tegu blocks are an alternative to Magna-tiles). While being made of wood prevents Earthtiles from being transparent, the window cutouts within each tile allows kids to carefully construct their build. The pastel set of blocks can add a muted, yet natural color scheme to any play space. Where Can You Buy Big Future Toys? You can buy Big Future Toys directly from their website, Amazon, and on Shopify (where you can buy a drawstring bag for storing Earthtiles). You can also find their toys at popular e-commerce sites, including Pottery Barn Kids, Rose & Rex, The Tot, and Babipur. Do Big Future Toys Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? Earthtiles come in a fully recyclable cardboard box and the prints on the box are made using natural ink. Gommu by Tiny Cottons Price | $36-89 Eco-friendly Materials | eco rubber (hevea tree sap) Best For | natural, biodegradable baby dolls Tiny Cottons has been around as a fashionable Barcelona based clothing brand since 2012. In 2020, the company expanded to kid’s toys and viola, the Gommu collection was introduced. The creators of the toy line were inspired by the simplicity of Japanese culture and decided to name the collection Gommu— which means rubber in Japanese. While their adorable baby dolls are the most popular toys, they also sell miniature dogs, bears, baby ring teethers, and gummu doll accessories. How Are Gommu Toys Made? Gommu toys are uniquely handmade (rare in the toy industry) from the white sap of hevea trees, also known as eco-rubber . Tiny Cottons claims that the dolls are actually 100% biodegradable, making Gommu toys the first line of biodegradable toys in the industry. Each toy is hand-painted with organic, food-grade paint and they're also free from PVC and BPA. All toys from Tiny Cottons are designed to be smooth to the touch and totally safe for the mouthing stage. Plus, they're water play friendly! In fact, each toy is hermetically sealed to prevent the build up of mold or bacteria inside. Does Tiny Cottons Participate in Other Sustainability Initiatives? As an overall brand, Tiny Cottons doesn't appear to be taking any other sustainability initiatives. They do use some eco-friendly materials, including recycled materials, organic cotton, and natural cotton to manufacture select pieces of their clothing. However, the pure fact that Tiny Cottons makes their toys from biodegradable materials demonstrates that they value sustainability and give a great deal of consideration to the life cycle of their toys. I mean, how long do you think it would take a plastic doll to degrade in a landfill?? It's also worth noting that all Gommu doll clothing- Gommu Looks as they call the clothing collection- is made of 100% organic cotton. ✨ Top Gommu Recommendations For babies, a Gommu Ring Bear or a Gommu Bear would make a simple gift that's easier for tiny hands to grasp. For toddlers into dramatic play and caretaking, I recommend a Big Gommu- these dolls fit the Gommu Looks that you can buy as an add on! For toddlers into pretend play, I'd recommend a Pocket Gommu— there's a line of miniature furniture, such as cribs and baby bouncers, that kids can use to create a storyline around! (Note: the furniture toys vary in materials, while tested for safety, they are not biodegradable) Where Can You Buy Gommu Toys? You can buy Gommu toys directly from their website or at one of their storefronts in Barcelona. Not to worry if you don't live in Spain— Tiny Cottons ships worldwide! Shipping to the USA is about $16 and free if you spend over $199. Do Gommu Toys Come in Eco-friendly Packaging? According to their site, all Gommu toys come in recycled packaging, but more details to come! FAQ I'd love your help expanding on this list! Comment below or send me a message sharing your favorite eco-friendly toys for kids! Stay Conscious + Curious, Sincerely, Briesh

You’ve probably heard how important it is to read to your baby– pediatricians are even participating in initiatives to stress the importance of new parents reading with their little ones. In the newborn days, a baby's color spectrum is still forming and caregivers are almost over advertised the importance of high contrast art cards and black and white books. But by 4 to 6 months, a baby's vision is fully developed, yet caregivers are left in the dark regarding which books are best for babies in their next stage. Well, Montessori style board books are a great resource for little ones. Keep reading to learn why. What makes a book Montessori? Montessori style children’s books feature real life experiences, which can include photographs and realistic drawings of everyday life. But, it’s no surprise that the books published during Dr. Montessori's life span looked a bit different than today’s children’s books. Let’s take a look at more current research that addresses this question. Before becoming a bestselling author with her book Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius, Dr. Angeline Lillard conducted a survey in 2011 to identify what Montessori teacher trainers in the U.S. considered to be authentic Montessori materials. Lillard's goal was to uncover if there was general consensus on the materials and to identify which materials are the most debated. Of the 100 AMI¹ and AMS² trainers surveyed, at least 85% of the trainers highly agreed that realistic books were a necessary material in the classroom. This gives us a basis of what to look for in Montessori books-- realistic images and story lines. But, is there science behind this Montessori philosophy or was it simply Maria Montessori's personal preference? Why read Montessori style books with babies? It turns out there is science behind why babies love looking at other babies and why the Montessori method advocates for realistic books! One study by developmental psychologists revealed that when it comes to teaching babies about the real world through books, the type of pictures have a significant impact. In fact, the psychologists found that 15-18-month-olds learn to associate pictures in books with objects in the real world based on iconicity. Iconicity is simply a fancy way of saying how realistic the pictures are. So, if you're aiming to teach vocabulary or build early literacy skills, cartoon-y images might not be the best fit. Instead, you'll want to go for board books with realistic images, such as photographs or realistic illustrations. The more life-like the pictures, the higher the chances that the information your baby learns from the book will stick with them (Ganea, Pickard, Bloom and DeLoache 2008). Now that we know there's science to support the use of Montessori style books, let's take a look at some of the best books for babies: Global Babies Publisher | Charlesbridge Global Babies was the first Montessori style baby book published from a multicultural lens. The vibrant colors within each photograph paired with cheerful baby faces from around the world, captivates the attention of tiny readers! Each photo highlights traditional clothing, daily life, and customs of babies across an impressive 17 countries. Through exposing kids to multicultural media in the early years, caregivers can teach little ones to recognize and honor our differences while also developing an appreciation for the shared values and connections that unite us as humans. Global Babies is part of the Global Fund for Children board book series. I also highly recommend Carry Me and Global Playtime. The photography is seriously top-notch throughout every book in the series. Special Note: when you buy any book from the Global Fund for Children, a percentage of each sale goes towards positively impacting children's lives across the world! Baby’s Best Friend Words & Photographs | Suzanne Curley Publisher | Tiger Tales Baby’s Best Friend is perfect for dog lovers- especially dog owners. Each page features a baby and a different breed of dog happily frolicking. The photographer, Suzzane Curley, does an unbelievable job capturing the most adorable photos. This short board book is a supportive aid in modeling how kiddos can gently interact with a pet dog, while also preparing them for interactions initiated by the dog. Peekaboo Baby! Words & Pictures | Ellie Boultwood, Hannah Cockayne, Kylie Hamley Publisher | Priddy Books As the publishing company behind the megapopular, First 100 Words (which I also recommend), Priddy Books is quite well-known for using real life photographs of babies and everyday objects in their books. The company has sold over 100 million books in over 35 different languages. Peekaboo Baby features a bunch of babies at play or engaging in daily tasks such as mealtime and bathtime. Although it’s a short board book, there are two concepts that make it stand out from similar books: the use of circle cutouts on each page allows babies to peek and predict what will happen next. Secondly, the Mylar mirror on the final page is a real mirror, not the warped type of mirror disappointingly found at the end of many board books. Baby Up Baby Down Publisher | Abrams Appleseed You can probably guess what Baby Up Baby Down is about from the title alone– pigs! Just kidding, it’s about opposites.The book uses photos of six different babies to gently introduce young readers to opposites. The “clean vs. messy” depiction is highly relatable amongst this age group based on the many “uh oh” responses I’ve heard from babies. The background throughout the book is all white and all children wear a different colored onesie in a solid color, which makes the pages less distracting and keeps the attention of kiddos. Making Faces is another popular board book from the same publisher, which I can also highly recommend! Baby Faces Words & Photographs | Margret Miller Publisher | Simon & Schuster Similar to Intrater, Margret Miller’s book features close-up photographs of baby faces (hope the title didn’t give too much away)! However, Baby Faces depicts photos of babies making various facial expressions, including yuck, yum, stinky, and a few more. Teaching babies and kids about various forms of emotions and expressions helps build a solid foundation for healthy emotional intelligence later down the line– books are a great tool for this! Baby Faces also won the Book of the Year Award by Parenting Magazine in 1998, which makes it an even more special addition to your little one’s bookshelf. Smile! Words & Photographs | Roberta Grobel Intrater Publisher | Scholastic Published way back in 1997, Smile is the oldest book on the list, but it’s a timeless gem in my opinion. The narration is from the point of view of a caregiver trying to get a baby to smile for a photo. (We’re all familiar with that struggle.) There are eleven different babies featured and each photo is a close-up shot focused solely on their facial expressions. Who Says Peekaboo? Photographs | Vanja Kraguli Publisher | Highlights for Children Designed to be a baby’s first hide-and-seek book, Who Says Peekaboo uses photographs of babies and animals, combined with clip art toys. Babies are introduced to three animal sounds, including a playful puppy, a musical kitten, and an outdoorsy duck. The high quality Mylar mirror at the end invites you to play your own game of peekaboo with the baby you're caring for. Lovevery Books The Lovevery board book collection is the latest addition to the Montessori style category. Their books are very well loved by parents and babies– they even make a few 2 ½ in board books that are a handy distraction during diaper changes. Parents were such fans of Lovevery books that the company used their feedback to roll out more books! The books are full of practical, everyday life experiences in real life photos, which support babies in building a foundation for language development. Plus, their inclusivity is impressive. Co-founder & President, Rod Morris, spoke on the impact of their book collection during a interview: "Our books give customers their first opportunity to have a children’s book that involves say, a ceremony for a First Nation’s family, or a child with a limb difference. They give an opportunity for families to have a conversation around a family that’s different from theirs, or often we hear back from a family that for the first time, they got to look at a book with their child that is reflective of their family." The only caveat is that you have to be a Play Kit subscriber in order to buy their books. Their website attributes the exclusivity to the fact that, “the Book Bundles complement the play essentials and existing books in the Play Kits and ship more sustainably by being included in The Play Kits box you’d already receive.” But, because I’ve found these books to be such a beneficial resource for babies- and so well made- here are a few workarounds without a subscription: Ask a subscribing friend with an older toddler if you can borrow their baby books; check Facebook Marketplace; join the Lovevery Resale Facebook Group. ABC Kids Words & Photographs | Laura Ellen Williams ABC Kids continues to be one of my most popular board books amongst babies. This isn’t just your average alphabet book– each page includes a real life photo of a carefree kid depicting the corresponding action or noun. Although published in 2000, Williams was quite ahead of her times in terms of diversity and inclusion. The board book is full of BIPOC kids at play. It’s unlikely that your kiddo will learn ABC’s so early on, but they will genuinely enjoy every photograph. Something else that makes this book unique is its size (think: vertical postcard). It’s less common to find Montessori style board books this size. ABC Kids fits snuggly into tiny hands allowing little ones to turn the pages with ease. All Kinds of People Words & Photographs | Shelley Rotner & Sheila M. Kelly All Kinds of People is the younger version of the popular picture book, Shades of People, adapted for baby board book form… but, it doesn’t disappoint! Kids from a large variety of different ethnic backgrounds are pictured on each page. As an adult, you might notice that the photos are a bit outdated, but your baby won’t. One of my favorite things about this Montessori style book, are the beautiful adjectives and phrases the authors use to describe other kid’s skin, such as, creamy, shade of gold, sandy, and cocoa. Which Montessori style board books am I missing? Please add a comment with other books titles so I can expand on a broader list for caregivers like you! FAQ Montessori Books Citations: ¹AMI: The American Branch of the Association Montessori Internationale, founded by Dr. Montessori to carry on her work ²AMS: Association Montessori Society, founded by Nancy Rambusch to represent Montessori in America ³Montessori, M. (1989). The child, society, and the world: Unpublished speeches and writings, p. 44-6 (Vol. 7). Oxford: Clio. ⁴Montessori, M. (1997). The California lectures of Maria Montessori, pp. 40-5, 1915. Oxford: Clio ⁵Montessori, M. (1989). Creative development in the child II (R. R, Trans.) p. 224. Madras, India: Kalakshetra Press.

Remember those fun little pedometers that you could clip onto your pants and they tracked your steps extremely inaccurately? Yup, I owned one too. Thank god we've come a long way in the advancement of pedometers since then! These days you don't even need a pedometer or wearable tracking device to begin racking in rewards for your steps. While I've sported my Fitbit religiously for the past 6 years and counting, you don't necessarily need one. All you really need is a modern smartphone! Read on to discover how you can begin reaping easy peasy passive benefits from pairing your phone or smart health device with two awesome apps! Androids and iPhones have pre-installed health software that automatically track daily steps. This is a convenient perk if you tend to have your phone on you at all times. Evidation Evidation (formerly called Achievement) is my absolute favorite passive app. Following the initial app installation, the app will automatically link with your step counter device and you'll begin collecting points. How to Earn Points: Points per Step: 10,000 steps = ~30 points/day Access to Tracked Heart Rate: 6 points/day Access to Tracked Sleep: 6 points/day Exercise Points: you can earn up to 80 points/day for exercising alone (I'm not an exerciser so I can't really speak to this, but I'm sure it's possible!) Short Surveys or Health Trials: between 25-150+ points depending on the survey Click to Read Articles: typically 3 points/click of article Rewards: Evidation is partnered with Tremendous, a very reputable payout platform. This integration allows you to redeem your award in a variety of ways. Your options include, donation to charity, prepaid VISA card, bank deposit, Paypal payment, or a gift card. Some popular gift card options are Target, Amazon, Starbucks, AMC Theatres, and Uber. How Many Points Do You Need for a Reward: You need a minimum of 10,000 points in order to cash out for any reward. 10,000 points = $10 Smartphone Compatibility Evidation is compatible with most smartphones, including Apple and Samsung products. iPhone Users: Find help linking your Apple Health data, here. You can link your Apple Watch to Evidation by syncing your Apple Health data which is automatically collected from Apple Watch users. Android Users: Find help linking your Samsung Health data, here. Fitbit Users: Find super easy instructions, here. If you're ready to get started with Evidation, feel free to use my referral link to receive 100 bonus points upon creating your account which also provides me with 100 bonus points! Dick's Sporting Goods I’ve been using the Dick’s Move rewards program for about 5 years! You can link the program with Apple Health, Samsung Health, and Fitbit. Every day that you take 10,000 steps, you’ll receive 3 points. After you’ve racked up 300 points, you’re given a $10 reward to use on a purchase. The best part is, you're not required to spend any minimum amount! How Does Monetizing Your Routine Help Make Mindful Memories? You can then use your $10 Dick's reward on brands like Patagonia, which is a Certified B corporation and makes a number of products from recycled materials! Most recently, I used a reward towards a Hydroflask water bottle. Even if you save up a couple Dick's rewards and use them towards holiday gifts, you'll still be saving money that you can then put towards your next sustainable purchase. As for Evidation rewards, your options are endless. You can donate your reward to a charity that aligns with your views or transfer the money to your account via Paypal and spend it at your next trip to a local business. Are These Apps Worth Downloading? The step tracking feature on the Dick's Sporting Goods app and Evidation are completely passive in design so you can stress a little less about finances or automate donations to charities. Ideally, this type of monetizing provides space for you to focus on making mindful memories in the present. Is it actually worth it to spend time saving up all these points? Absolutely! Will you get rich from it? No, not by any means. But, most people already own a step tracker; why shouldn't you profit off of the data your phone or health device is already collecting? Give these apps a try and let me know what you think of them in the comments below! Sincerely, Briesh P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious!

Since 2020, guns have been the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. We’re currently living in a time where it’s impossible to shield little ones from violence, it seems to be everywhere. Many kids witness violence at home, in their communities, on the news, and even at their own schools. How do we, as caregivers and parents, change this narrative? For starters, it’s now more crucial than ever before that we teach and model values of peace, empathy, acceptance, and kindness. One of the most underutilized resources in countering violence is through children’s books. Why Use Picture Books? I bet you can still vividly recall a few books from your childhood? Perhaps you remember feeling disappointed for Peter in The Snowy Day as he reaches into his pocket for his snowball only to discover that it’s completely melted away. Or maybe you sympathized with the tree in The Giving Tree as the main character took and took from the tree until it had nothing left to give. That, my friend, is the magic of picture books- when written and illustrated well, they stay with us forever! Today, there’s an increasing variety of children’s books available that cover an array of topics. Adults can utilize picture books to initiate meaningful conversations with kids on abstract concepts, including peace. By introducing toddlers to books that explore themes of peace, in an engaging, age-appropriate way, we can foster these values in little ones early on. The following stories allow kids to take a look at these values being performed by other kids or characters. Let’s take a look at the list! Peace Author | Baptiste & Miranda Paul Illustrator | Estell Meza Theme | Peace meets Nature Best For | Ages 2 and up You’ll quickly notice each page of Peace features kids of diverse backgrounds and abilities alongside animals. The authors, Baptiste and Miranda Paul, (power couple duo) provide various examples of what peace looks like in everyday practice. They use lyrical rhyming poetry to explain to young readers that peace is intentional. By choosing peaceful ways of interacting with others, we not only make our friends happy, but also cultivate an environment for wildlife to thrive. Estell Meza’s moody, yet colorful illustrations are incredibly well done and are sure to capture little ones attention. Readers are presented with a surprise expandable spread on the last page. A special author’s note at the very end explains how peace and violence impacts both animals and nature. Wild Peace Author | Irene Latham Illustrator | Il Sung Na Theme | Peace meets Mindfulness Best For | Ages 2 and up Wild Peace begins with a little girl feeling overwhelmed by chaos going on around her at home. Unable to physically escape, she finds solace in her imagination, envisioning a vibrant forest. The story explains to kids that when they find themselves feeling overwhelmed, they can always look towards nature to ground them in peace. From watching cold raindrops fall to the ground as they form into puddles, to listening to the soft melodies of birds, turning outwards towards nature is an amazing mindfulness skill toddlers can start learning early. Usha and the Stolen Sun Author | Bree Galbraith Illustrator | Josée Bisaillon Theme | Peace meets Communication & Vulnerability Best For | Ages 3 and up On the front book jacket of Usha and the Stolen Sun is a peaceful quote from renowned poet and theologian, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, which reads, “Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.” A young girl, named Usha, lives in a dark and gloomy community without sun. How come? Well, one day, the people who made rules for the community decided to build a huge wall to keep the sun only for themselves. Listening to stories from her grandpa about his childhood and the days when the sun existed brings Usha great joy. After sharing another story, Usha’s grandpa admits that he’ll probably never live to see the sun again. This sad admission motivates Usha to venture off and bring back the sun. The message of this one is that having conversations and being vulnerable with people that hurt us can actually be more powerful than taking physical action. Galbraith writes in prose without rhyming words, but makes sure to use words that 3 year olds can easily grasp. It’s also worth highlighting the intentional avoidance of divisive language, such as “bad guys, enemies, etc.” There are many gems in this book, including Bisaillon’s pictures, that make for a really important discussion with kids. Can You Say Peace? Author & Illustrator | Karen Katz Theme | Peace meets Multiculturalism Best For | Ages 1 and up Karen Katz is both illustrator and author of Can You Say Peace? This picture book was actually created in recognition of International Day of Peace, which is celebrated around the world on September 21 each year! Geared towards 1-2 year olds, it’s a vibrant introduction to multiculturalism. There are phonetic pronunciations for learning how to say, “peace” in each language. Katz shows a painted illustration of a child in 11 different countries going about activities in their community. Honestly, I was quite surprised to see a BIPOC kid on the page for Australia. While I was previously aware of indigenous Australians, I admittedly didn’t know that there are Afro-indigenous Australians, such as the Warnman people until turning to that page. Most children’s books depict kids from Australia only as white, since minorities make up such a small percentage of citizens. I loved seeing such a simple illustration challenge the norm. Sometimes we forget that, even as adults, we can still learn alongside kids as we read with them. On the last page, there’s a world map showing where each language is spoken. At the bottom of the page is a list featuring how to say “peace” in a bunch of other languages! The Peace Dragon Author & Illustrator | Linda Ragsdale Theme | Peace meets Fantasy Best For | Ages 3 and up Ready to introduce your kiddo to a new favorite dragon? This dragon loves something even better than tacos- peace! As toddlers grow into “big kids'', many tend to develop an interest in fairy tales and mythical creatures. Rather it’s their size, ability to fly, or the fact that they breathe fire, dragons captivate kids and are inarguably the most well-known fantasy creature in the world (followed by unicorns and mermaids, in case you were wondering). The Peace Dragon begins with a boy named Scherr that encounters a dragon named Omani. Each page keeps you on your toes, unsure what will happen next. Of course the moral of the story is centered on peace, so it has a peaceful ending. However, it’s also quite fun to read a kid’s book that’s less predictable than most. Without giving too much away, there are a couple clever illustration details Ragsdale includes that makes this book really stand out. Upon flipping through the first few pages, The Peace Dragon appears to be wordy, but it’s just the handwriting font fooling you. It actually takes less time to read than a Julia Donaldson book! At the end, Ragsdale shares her heartbreaking, yet heartwarming motivation for writing the book. You and your little one will be inspired to spread peace. Plus, you can head to The Peace Dragon website (also a nonprofit org) where kids can learn how to draw their very own peace dragon! Regardless of your personal views on issues such as gun control policy, we caregivers have agency in guiding kids not to become mass shooters! It’s our responsibility, as members of society, to supply children with media materials, such as picture books, that both allows them to envision peace and equips them with essential skills to cultivate it. Each time you sit down to read a book with a little one is an opportunity to nurture their imagination in a way that empowers them to be mindful contributors to a collective, peaceful future. I hope this book list supports you and your loved ones throughout your quest to make mindful memories!

Summertime is everyone’s favorite season to take advantage of the beautiful weather! But, it can be challenging to entertain a toddler on a hot summer day without a pool. Not to worry, there are tons of water activities for toddlers that are guaranteed to keep them busy and cool. Plus, all of these activities are jam packed with hidden educational skill developments! So, go check the expiration date on your kiddo’s sunscreen- you’ll definitely be inspired to send your kiddo outside after reading these activities! Note: Check out this post to learn more about the supplies needed for these activities. Water Themed Sensory Bins Wash Toys Toddlers really enjoy cleaning. Ever notice how your little one is always looking to help out with a chore? Lean into this interest by allowing them to clean their own toys! Here's a short list of hand washable toys to get you started: ✅ Baby Dolls, Barbies, or Action Figures ✅ Zoo Animals ✅ Hot Wheel or Matchbox Cars ✅ Toy Dishes Set Up: Grab a sensory bin or clear baking Pyrex dish, add dish soap or bubble solution, a small wash cloth, an old toothbrush. Hidden Developmental Skills Being Applied: Fine Motor Skills Teaches: Responsibility, Problem Solving (which toys are washable?), Buoyancy (sink or float) Clean and Observe Seashells Seashells are such a treasure, especially for kids. Rather you gather a collection from the beach or buy them from the store, your little one will be in awe. If your kiddo takes a liking to seashells, be sure to check out this list of easy crafts and activities to try with seashells. Hidden Developmental Skills Being Applied: Fine Motor Skills, Observation Teaches: Appreciation for Nature, Introduction to STEM topics Bring Out Reusable Ice Cubes It’s handy to have reusable ice cubes in the freezer all season long. This way, you’ll be able to pull them out whenever needed. Fill up a sensory bin with water and drop the ice cubes in. Let your kiddo explore the cold sensation of the cubes. Many kids take notice of the water inside the cubes as it begins to thaw out and even shake the cubes to see and hear the water moving around. Other kids actually like stacking and building with these on a tray without the water. I recommend trying both activities! Hidden Developmental Skills Being Applied: Fine Motor Skills Teaches: Introduction to STEM topics, Sensory Exposure, Buoyancy (sink or float), Cause & Effect (stacking) Explore Pom Poms in Water This activity actually comes from Susie Allison— I'm sure you know her, she's the teacher, business owner, and play advocate behind, Busy Toddler. Honestly, her kids made it look super fun and I already had lots of pom poms on hand. I tested it out with two groups of kids and I have to say, it was a hit! Set Up: Fill up a sensory bin with water. Then throw in lots of pom poms. Offer scoopers or any tool that can be used as a scooper. Clear containers like a clean peanut butter container or a clean vitamin container make great tools for collecting pom poms. Toddler size colanders are also perfect for this activity. Group 1, kids ages 2 and 6. Group 2, kids ages 2, 3, and 5. Both groups engaged in the activity way longer than I expected. At first, I wasn't really sure what they would do with all the pom poms. But once the supplies were added in, their creativity went wild! I think part of the appeal of this activity comes from using the pom poms in a completely unexpected way. To dry the pom poms, pour the water out from the sensory bin and dump the pom poms into a garment laundry bag. Then put them in the dryer for 1-2 cycles. Hidden Developmental Skills Being Applied: Fine Motor Skills, Sensory Exposure, Communication Teaches: Observation, Introduction to STEM topics such as Counting, Absorption, Buoyancy (sink or float), Vocabulary, Color Recognition Have a Toddler Style “Car Wash” Do you happen to own any toddler vehicles— ya know, one of those Little Tikes Ride-on Trucks? Great! Pull out a bucket, fill it up with water, then add dish soap or bubble solution. Throw in a couple old sponges and ask your kiddo to give their ride a wash. Did I mention that toddlers love cleaning things?! You can even turn up the fun factor by having them put on their bathing suite. You can also try this activity with a wagon or even a push trike. Hidden Developmental Skills Being Applied: Gross Motor Skills Teaches: Task Completion, Perseverance, Responsibility Spray Bottle Squirting The only set up required for this activity is to fill up a travel-side spray bottle with cold water and hand it off to your toddler. Send them outside with it and I guarantee they’ll come back to you later reporting all the uses they found for it. Over the years, I've used these spray bottles with 50+ toddlers, and they've come up with clever uses that keep their bodies moving, including: watering plants and flowers, spraying themselves to cool down, spray tag, cleaning play equipment, and erasing their chalk drawings! It could be the size of the bottles, maybe toddlers love these things because they look like they’re designed for kids their size? Whatever the reason, spray bottle squirting is also a unique option for caregivers looking for a lighthearted alternative to water gun play. Hidden Developmental Skills Being Applied: Gross Motor Skills, Fine Motor Skills, Cause & Effect Teaches: Autonomy, Independence, Mindfulness of Nature Paint With Water Did you know that toddlers can also use sponge brushes to create magic?? This activity works best if you happen to have a wooden fence in your yard or any structure that's made out of wood. Simply give your kid a small bucket of water and a sponge brush. Ask them to "paint" the fence using the water. On a hot day, the water dries fast- like in minutes. That's where the magic comes in- toddlers are puzzled at how this all works. Many toddlers like to use the sponge brushes to practice writing letters, words, and drawing shapes or pictures. It’s also common for kids to attempt to paint an entire surface area before any of it starts to dry up. I’ve yet to witness a kid successfully achieve this ambitious goal… but they have a ball trying and it usually keeps them busy for 40 min or longer! Hidden Developmental Skills Being Applied: Fine Motor Skills Teaches: Introduction to STEM topics, Creativity, Patience Turn on a Sprinkler or Try a Splash Pad Water play or any play doesn’t have to be complicated! Hooking up a sprinkler or a splash pad to a water hose can be enough to cool kids down. Plus, kids love chances to show off their bathing suits. If you’re introducing your little one to a sprinkler or splash pad for the first time, they might be a bit nervous or scared. Try running through the sprinkler yourself to show them how fun and refreshing it is. If they’re still scared, ask them if they want to hold your hand as you walk under together. If they’re still resistant, it’s okay, don’t push it. Leave the sprinkler running for a few min but give them some space to observe or get a hand wet without your eyes glued on them. Hidden Developmental Skills Being Applied: Gross Motor Skills Teaches: Adaptation, Sensory Exposure, Cause & Effect

You can create mindful memories with your kid using the simplest materials, including playsilks! In case you haven't heard of them, playsilks (sometimes known as scarves) are colorful fibrous wonders that can nurture countless hours of imaginative play for little ones— without cluttering your home. From baby play to fort building with toddlers, these dreamy fabrics help cultivate mindful play while nurturing timeless discovery. After exploring the activities listed below, you’ll soon find yourself and your kiddo unlocking a world of inventive activities! What is a playsilk? Sometimes referred to as play scarves, playsilks go beyond being pieces of fabric—  playsilks are vibrant, transparent toys that spark creativity! What are the educational benefits of playsilks? While all play is educational, playsilks are beneficial in developing toddlers creativity and problem solving. This makes them great tools for open-ended play. With babies, playsilks offer sensory exposure while allowing them to explore cause and effect. What ages are playsilks for? Playsilks are suitable for all ages! In fact, you can purchase them in various sizes based on your kiddos age. What are Sarah’s Silks? Sarah’s Silks is a popular brand of playsilks made from non-toxic dyes and naturally sourced silk. The soft, silk texture of these scarves, along with the variety of designs, truly sets the company apart from other playsilks. Parachute Play with Babies Babies can get bored in play gyms, especially if their hanging toys aren’t rotated. You can easily vamp up play gym time with parachute play. How to Play: Open up playsilk. Hold the opposite ends. Slowly lift the playsilk up and down a few times before settling it over baby's play gym for a couple minutes. Throughout the interaction, speak to baby aloud, smile, and laugh. What are babies learning through parachute play? Cause-and-effect Sensory exposure Through parachute play, babies are observing cause-and-effect. They begin to put two and two together— when their caregiver lifts up the playsilk, they begin associating your action with a really cool visual and the feeling of the air blowing on their skin (sensory exposure). If your baby has lots of hair, it's adorable to watch their big smiles or even hear them giggle as the playsilk blows their tiny strands of hair. Peek-a-Boo Peek-a-boo is one of the most classic games around and it's so simple to engage in. 🙈 How to Play: You can introduce Peek-a-boo to babies as early as you'd like (newborns won't quite understand it, but still a way to bond). Cover your face with a playsilk for a few seconds then pull it off. Some babies will begin comprehending the way the game works as early as 11 months, but by 18 months, many babies are able to replicate the game for themselves. If you catch your little one covering their face with a playsilk, take it as an invitation to engage in play. You can call out, "Where's Lincoln? Lincoln where are you?" When the child uncovers their face, you gasp in surprise and say, "hi, there you are!" What are babies learning through peek-a-boo? Object permanence Cause and effect Babies begin to develop an understanding of object permanence, which is the concept that objects, including themselves, continue to exist even when they're "out of sight" by their caregiver. When babies play peek-a-boo with playsilks, they're also experimenting with cause and effect. (ie: when they cover their faces, their caregiver plays peek-a-boo with them) Fort Building Playsilks are hands down one of the best additions to epic fort building. ⛺️ How to Play: In order to connect the playsilks to dining chairs or other items around the house, you'll definitely want to have a few sets of playclips. For young toddlers, it might be easiest to build the fort for them, but definitely include them in the process as much as possible. (ie: can you hold this scarf here? Which playsilk do you want at the top of the fort? Can you attach the clip?) With older toddlers, you can demonstrate an example of how your kiddo can connect the playsilks to chairs. Then, take a step back and see if they can do it by themselves. What are kids learning through fort building? Problem solving Fine motor skills Cooperation Through experimenting with design of forts, kids can learn basic STEM principles of engineering and physics. When using playsilks to build forts, children learn A LOT about load-bearing and weight distribution. Fort building happens to be a great activity for siblings or playdates since it encourages kids collaborate, problem solve, and communicate their ideas with one another. Additionally, attaching playsilks to household objects using playclips strengthens fine motor skills. Dancing with Playsilks Unfortunately, as a society, we don't encourage kids to dance anymore-- unless your kid is taking a dance class. Even then, there's little space made for kids to dance freely without structure or steps to memorize. Having props like smaller playsilks or scarves can prompt them to dance. How to Play: Turn on some tunes or let your kid pick a song they love and hand them a playsilk. This could also be an opportunity to expose kids to instrumental or classical music. If you can't stand classical music, try searching for a classical pop playlist (Lindsey Sterling is an incredible pop violinist). What can kids learn from dancing with playsilks? Gross motor skills Spatial awareness Mindful listening Dance helps toddlers develop gross motor skills, spatial awareness, and even self expression. While dancing with playsilks, toddlers practice mindful listening as they try to stay attuned to the melodies and rhythms of the music, the movement of the scarves, and the movement of their own bodies. Dramatic Play (dress-up) Dramatic play involves dress up, and with playsilks in your playspace, a playsilk can quickly turn into a superhero cape, a dress, a skirt, a belt, or anything else. 🦸🏽‍♀️ How to Play: No instructions really needed here. Your toddler will come up with ideas themselves, they may ask for help with tying a knot in the playsilk to attach it to their body. The important thing is to go with it and yes, that means even if your son pretends he's wearing a dress. What can toddlers learn from using playsilks in dramatic play? Innovation Social Emotional Learning Dramatic play allows kids to reimagine their abilities and express emotions. It also encourages creativity and imagination while improving communication skills. Imaginative Play Imaginative play is another area that should be encouraged more in the early years. Today, caregivers are too focused on "kindergarten readiness." This might be an unpopular opinion, but I think a kindergartener that can tap into their imagination and come up with unique stories or ideas will have far greater achievements than the kindergartener that had to spend everyday of summer filling out pages of those kindergarten readiness workbooks. 🌄 How to Play: If given the space, kids will feel comfortable engaging in imaginative play on their own. I've seen toddlers use playsilks as blankets for baby dolls and stuffies. I've seen kids use playsilks as tablecloths, and even as swords. Playsilk maps can also get the creative juices flowing. What can toddlers learn from using playsilks in imaginative play? Executive function skills like planning Storytelling, communication skills, and self-advocacy The playsilk maps are great story prompts. As long as caregivers nurture and encourage imaginative play, a playsilk can be anything! Is there a particular playsilk activity that your litttle one gets lost in? If so, I'd love to know more, feel free to share it in the comments below!

Ready for some heavy news? The average baby will go through 1,500-1,800 diapers a year! Traditional diapers are made out of society’s go-to resource, you guessed it, plastic. Many sustainability experts and eco-conscious parents suggest that cloth diapering is the best alternative to traditional disposable diapers. While cloth diapers are an ideal alternative to disposable diapers, they’re certainly not the only alternative. Some of you might not be interested in devoting the time to cleaning cloth diapers or perhaps the idea of cleaning pee and poop out of diapers grosses you out. I totally get it. Cloth diapers are just not for everyone and that’s okay! At the time of writing this, April 2022, no diapers on the market are 100% biodegradable, yet. Here’s a list of five of the best disposable diaper brands incorporating eco-conscious materials into their products. Coterie Materials | wood pulp & polyester Price | $95 for 4 week supply Subscription | $85/month What makes Coterie best for your baby? I’ve used these on a newborn in the past and I have to say, I wish I had my own child to use them on every day! The softness of these diapers is so lovely, it feels like you’re touching fabric. They’re also highly absorbent which tends to be an important quality for any diaper. No one likes leaky diapers. What makes their diapers eco-conscious? These diapers are made with 25% plant-based materials. That’s not a huge percentage but it’s considerably better than your average commercial brand diaper. What sustainability practices does the company have in place? Coterie donates 1% of all their diaper sales to Diaper Recycling Technology (DRT), a company developing technology with the ability to recover 95% of raw materials produced from a used diaper. DRT is also working to create a special camera that can identify diapers within waste steams. Where are Coterie diapers made? They are manufactured in Canada. Where can you purchase Coterie diapers? Currently, Coterie diapers can be purchased directly from their site. Their most popular sizes, 3-5, can also be found at your local Whole Foods. Does Coterie offer sample/trial packs? You can try out a trial pack of 10 diapers for about $14.50 ($7 for diapers, $7.50 for shipping). With their trial, you have the option of choosing two different sizes (5 of each size or 10 of one size). Eco by Naty Materials | wood pulp & plant-based materials Price | $10-15/pack Subscription | ~$40-70/month What makes Eco by Naty best for your baby? Eco by Naty is trending these days! Probably because these diapers are designed without plastic or harsh chemicals which creates an absorbent and breathable diaper for your baby. What makes their diapers eco-conscious? Eco by Naty creates diapers that contain 0% oil-based plastic. Instead, they use wood pulp and plant-based materials within each section of the diaper. What sustainability practices does the company have in place? What’s really impressive about Eco by Naty is that the company has been around since 1994 but they refuse to patent their diaper. Their reason is, they actually want more diaper businesses to adopt their model! The founder believes that the more eco-conscious diaper brands on the market, the better off the planet. Additionally, their diaper packaging is made with plant-based material that's certified by TÜV Austria. Where are Eco by Naty diapers made? Naty diapers are manufactured in China. Where can you purchase Naty diapers? Eco by Naty can be purchased directly on their website or on Amazon. Recently, the company established a partnership with Target. While their diapers aren’t sold in Target stores yet, you can add them to your online Target order. Does Eco by Naty offer trial/sample packs? A quick google search of ‘Eco by Naty trial’ suggests that they do offer a trial pack. However, it appears that this program isn’t open to U.S. residents currently. This is a Swedish based company so it’s likely the trial program is open to Swedish and EU residents. Dyper Materials | viscose fibers from bamboo & wood pulp Price | ~$25/pack Subscription | ~$80/month What makes Dyper best for your baby? Dyper prides their diaper in safety. Similar to other eco-conscious diapers, Dyper doesn’t use any perfumes, chlorine, latex, lotion, inks, alcohol, TBT or Phthalates. However, Dyper diapers have a Standard 100 certification by OEKO TEX to back up their claims. Upon checkout, you can choose either a regular or wide-fit diaper style. For the convenience of parents, Dyper has an SOS feature available to regular subscribers. This can come in handy if, say, you happen to underestimate the number of diapers your baby will go through as a newborn; the SOS button will deliver you a pack within 4 hours! How’s that for convenience? What makes their diapers eco-conscious? Both the top and back sheets of the diapers are 100% viscose made from bamboo fibers. What sustainability practices does the company have in place? Dyper’s, ReDyper Program, makes the company especially unique. Adding this feature to your subscription allows you to collect and ship your baby’s soiled diapers to Terracycle for proper composting. Like me, you might be thinking- is it actually better for the environment to ship heavy, smelly diapers full of pee and poop across the country just for composting? Terracycle says yes! Under the company’s service, dirty diapers are composted in 14 weeks. The resulting compost is then reused for landscaping projects and sod growing. Where are Dyper diapers made? Dyper diapers are manufactured in China Where can you purchase Dyper diapers? You can order Dyper diapers right from their website. They can also be found on Amazon, Thrive Market, or Grove. If you have a baby registry, Baby List, makes it easy for expecting parents to add Dyper diapers to their registry. Does Dyper offer sample/trial packs? They do have a sample pack which includes three diapers and a shipping fee of $6. Tip: I have used this brand on a couple kids in my daycare class and they worked quite well! I never noticed diaper rashes on any of the kiddos and they never soaked through their pants. The only time we experienced leaks was when a child was working on potty training and wore diapers just at nap time. For older toddlers, maybe consider an overnight diaper for periods of sleep. Andy Pandy Materials | bamboo fibers Price | ~$15/pack Subscription | ~$40/month What makes Andy Pandy best for your baby? Andy Pandy diapers use bamboo fibers that are highly absorbent and naturally wick away moisture, preventing diaper rash. What makes their diapers eco-conscious? The family-owned company states that due to their heavy reliance on bamboo fibers, their diapers are about 87% biodegradable. What sustainability practices does the company have in place? The main sustainability practice that Andy Pandy endorses is its participation in the Eden Reforestation Project. Under this partnership, Andy Pandy plants two trees per item purchased. It appears that the company also donates a portion of its profits to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, although it’s unclear how much. Where are Andy Pany diapers made? Andy Pandy diapers are manufactured in Canada. Where can you purchase Andy Pandy diapers? You can buy Andy Pandy diapers directly from their website or from Amazon. Does Andy Pandy offer sample/trial packs? They do offer a sample pack, which includes 6 diapers. But, this is a popular offer and it’s often sold out. For this reason, I’ve been unable to view the price of the sample pack. I will reach out to the brand for more info! Ecoriginals Materials | cotton, wood-pulp, non-GMO corn starch Price | $20/pack Subscription | ~$80/month What makes Ecoriginals best for your baby? Ecoriginals relies on its unique plant-cell technology to ensure absorbency and 12 hours leak free. Although, I hope most of you will change your little one’s diaper more often than every 12 hours. What makes their diapers eco-conscious? Ecoriginals diapers are made out of 90% plant-based and biodegradable materials. The only parts that aren’t biodegradable are the sticky tabs and the leg elastic. What sustainability practices does the company have in place? Ecoriginals proudly presents its brand as the world’s first plastic neutral diaper company. What that means is that with every order, they reclaim 25 plastic bottles from the ocean, plant a tree, and offset 10 kg of carbon emissions by installing solar panels. Additionally, Ecoriginals is the only diaper company that packages its diapers in home compostable packaging. Where are Ecoriginals made? Ecoriginals are manufactured in New Zealand using renewable energy. Where can you purchase Ecoriginals? You can buy Ecoriginals right from their site or from Amazon. Does Ecoriginals offer sample/trial packs? Yes. Their trial pack includes a full pack of diapers (actual number of diapers vary by size you select- newborn comes with 30), three packs of home compostable wipes, and a permanent 25% discount if you choose to subscribe. You get can get all of that for $20 and free shipping which is a pretty good deal! *definitely check out the size chart before ordering though because a pack of 30 diapers is a big trial commitment* Note on Diaper Sizing These are all great brands to choose from! Each of them has hundreds of positive reviews. The only critiques I’ve found with any of the brands have been around sizing. It’s important to keep in mind that every diaper brand is different. It’s natural for sizes to run differently from company to company. For any readers out there that have menstruated, think back to having to buy disposable sanitary pads at Target for the first time… trial and (possibly embarrassing or inconvenient) error taught you which brand carried the size that fit you best. (Post about sanitary pad brands using eco-friendly materials soon!) The trial offers or sample packs are a simple way to test out what works best for your family. Ideally, you want to avoid ending up with boxes of diapers sitting in the nursery for months because you: (a) never get around to exchanging them for the right size (b) feel guilty for spending the extra money on them/getting the wrong size so they just sit there even though your kid is now potty trained (c) both. An alternative to buying trial packs is to ask friends with babies if they use eco-friendly diapers. If they do, see if they’re willing to give you a couple to try out! Another option is to see if someone nearby is willing to spare a few diapers in your local Buy Nothing or parent-centered Facebook group. If you already know your friend is using eco-friendly diapers and you’re uncomfortable asking to bum one, try this: schedule a play date with them at their house. Pick up your baby and say, “wow someone needs a diaper change.” Frantically check your diaper bag and say, “shoot I forgot my diapers!” Why Are Eco-friendly Diapers So Expensive? Let’s be honest here, diapers using eco-friendly materials are notably more expensive than your average diaper. Well, 95% of conventional diapers are using large qualities of plastics to produce their diapers. Plastic is a lot cheaper to manufacture in large quantities than materials like bamboo or wood pulp. See where I’m going with this? Yes, you will have to dish out some extra money for these brands but I think it’s worth it for the sake of reducing diaper waste and diaper rashes! Frugal Tip: Cost should not deter your family from reducing waste or having safe diapers for your baby’s skin! All families should have access to eco-friendly resources. You can use apps like Shopkick, Evidation, Fetch Rewards, Ibotta, or Receipt Hog to rack up points that can be converted to gift cards (including Amazon and Target) or Paypal payments. I recommend stacking up as many points as possible on lots of these apps and budgeting all earnings towards your diaper fund. I might not have a child to purchase diapers for, but I personally use these apps and others to offset the higher costs of trying to be a sustainable consumer. If you’ve tried these brands, share your experience in the comments below or message me directly. Your thoughts will be sure to help other eco-conscious parents make mindful memories! Sincerely, Briesh P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious

Wanna feel less guilty on your next midnight shopping spree? Check out these awesome companies that follow the BOPO (buy one, plant one) business model with every purchase you make! Supporting these companies is a great way to help the environment and feel slightly better about those late night splurges. From clothing, to accessories, and even outdoor gear- there are a growing number of companies engaging in eco-conscious business models. Take a look at some brands practicing the buy one, plant one model below! How Do You Know if the Companies Actually Plant Trees? Seeing a blurb that says, "you just planted a tree!" after an online purchase might make you feel better about a splurge... but, you might find yourself thinking, "how do I know if the company really plants a tree with my purchase"? Fair question to have. Millennials and Gen Z have increased the demand for companies with missions based in sustainability. Consumer research company, First Insight, reported that Gen Z shoppers are even willing to spend an additional 10% more for eco-friendly products. In fact, 3 of every 4 Gen Zers prioritize sustainability over brand names when it comes to making a purchase! On the flip side, this has also caused a rise in greenwashing. If you're unfamiliar with the term, greenwashing, it's when companies mislead customers into thinking their company is eco-conscious just to increase their sells. Not cool. The only way to guarantee a company is being honest, is to research the companies first. You'll want to keep an eye out for authentic, trustworthy, and transparent companies. There are a ton of legit buy one, plant one companies out there, but it takes time to vet them all properly. Not to worry, I've done the research for you on this list (no greenwashing here)! PAPER PROJECT Features | Clothing Best For | Socks & Underwear Reforestation Partners | NFF Paper Project stands out from the crowd due to the fact that their clothing is made out of paper yarn. Paper yarn is composed of Manila hemp (a native plant in the Philippines), thin Japanese crafted paper, and recycled polyester or organic cotton. This process creates a unique fabric that is anti-odor, moisture-wicking, anti-bacterial, and dries significantly faster than traditional cotton fabric. The first product Paper Project launched was a sock collection in 2019 and has since expanded to sell underwear, t-shirts, and more. The company commits to donating one tree per pair of socks sold through its partnership with the National Forest Foundation (NFF). To date, they’ve planted 4,016 trees! SHOP PAPER PROJECT WOODCHUCK USA Features | Giftable & Customizable Wooden Products Best For | Stationery, Decor, Handy Accessories Reforestation Partners | NFF One click on the Woodchuck USA site and it’s nearly impossible not to find something you’ll love! Woodchuck seems to do it all- coasters, bottle openers, planners, candles, picture frames, and lots more. Their best sellers include wooden journals, phone cases, and bottle openers; all of which are customizable! Woodchuck’s motto is centered around connecting customers with nature. They pledge to plant one tree per item purchased on their site. The company partners with many planting partners, including the NFF. It’s fun to note that they have a “tree locator” system in place for customers. This type of transparency speaks to Woodchuck’s authenticity and commitment to environmental stewardship. SHOP WOODCHUCK USA KÜAT Features | Travel Gear Solution Best For | Bike Racks Reforestation Partners | NFF Küat designs car solutions for adventurers transporting recreational equipment. A car rack is definitely one of those things you don’t realize you need until you really need it. By then, it’s usually too late… there’s no way you could possibly pick out your rack, order it, and have it arrive before your road trip. I highly recommend you purchase a rack from Küat to avoid this situation. If you own a bicycle, surfboard, kayak, snowboard, or skis, chances are you’ll need a method for transporting your gear at some point, so you may as well invest in one now! When you make any purchase through Küat, the company makes a donation to support the future of our forests. SHOP KÜAT DYRAD RINGS Features | Accessories Best For | Rings Reforestation Partners | NFF Dyrad Rings is a bit different than the other retailers on this list since it happens to be an Etsy shop. It’s worth pointing out that it doesn’t matter if a business is a chain retailer or a small company with an Esty shop, any and every business can get involved in helping our planet! Enough of my soapbox- Dyrad makes the most beautiful and dynamic wooden rings! You can choose from a wide selection of wood options, including white oak, tent bentwood, walnut, maple, and many more. The rings that Joe, the shop owner, creates, are very well-designed and eye catching! Each ring sold funds the planting of five trees. The company has sold 457 rings since 2020. In June of 2021, Dyrad rings' Instagram post shared that the company was able to plant 1,750 new trees with the National Forest Foundation. That's a lot of tree planting in less than two years! Unfortunately, the shop is taking a break right now. But, you can signup to be notified when the owner is ready to take orders again! SHOP DYRAD RINGS TENTREE Features | Men, Women, & Kid's Clothing Best For | Neutral Color Clothing Reforestation Partners | Eden Reforestation Projects; Trees for the Future Tentree is a Canadian clothing brand that has been part of the BOPO model for over ten years and has impressively planted over 81 million trees since it's founding! The company uses recycled or organic materials in their clothing to help reduce the amount of water and emissions that are produced in standard clothing production. Some of these materials include TENCEL™ lyocell, organic cotton, REPREVE® recycled polyester, and recycled nylon. The company is very transparent about the details of their tree planting. Tentree recently released a new tool called the Impact Wallet, which allows customers to keep track of how many trees they've planted and where they are located around the world. If you need another reason to trust Tentree, they're also Certified B and Climate Neutral certified. SHOP TENTREE Paper Culture Features | Cards, Stationary, Photo Books Best For | Holiday Cards & Invitations Reforestation Partners | Arbor Day Foundation; Friends of the Urban Forest; Our City Forest; Trees for the Future Paper Culture specializes in holiday cards and wedding invitations (think: eco-friendly version of Minted or Shutterfly). Unlike most standard holiday card companies, Paper Culture prints all cards on 100% recycled paper. They use either 100% post-consumer recycled paper or alternative non-tree fibers. With every order placed, a tree is planted where reforestation is most needed. At checkout, customers are given the option to write a special tree dedication. I dedicate mine to my dad each year, who planted a tree before passing away- but the tree continues to thrive today. Paper Culture has planted over 1 million trees so far and as an added bonus to it's credibility, they are a Certified B corporation! SHOP PAPER CULTURE Oakywood Features | Home Office Essentials Best For | Airpod case, Vertical Laptop Dock Partners | One Tree Planted; Forever Forest While I've recommended Oakywood in the past, now you have another reason to check out their products! Oakywood practices the BOPO model in the U.S. and Poland. When you buy an item from Oakywood, the company uses a portion of the profit to plant a tree. Through One Tree Planted, the company has planted 79,334 trees. This comes out to be 1,983,350 kg of CO2 saved. SHOP OAKYWOOD So, there you have it, seven awesome companies to go checkout! Do you buy from any companies that give back through BOPO initiatives? Is this list missing any great companies? Leave a comment to let us all know! Sincerely, Briesh P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious!

Some people think of Halloween as just another commercial holiday! Okay, maybe that's partially true. But, Halloween is also one of the best holidays to explore sensory-based activities with kids. From carving pumpkins to chewing candy, Halloween is full of opportunities to expose little ones to festive senses. This has hands down become my favorite sensory bin and is one the top favorites amongst the kids I babysit. Keep reading to find out how you can recreate this easy Halloween sensory bin for your little one in no time! Why Not Dye Rice Halloween Themed Colors? In the past, I've dyed rice purple and orange, mixed in small Halloween themed toys, and through it all in a sensory bin- kids loved it! Months later, we ultimately ended up mixing the Halloween batch of rice with other batches of dyed rice in order to make rainbow rice. This year, I simply didn’t feel like investing the time to dye a new batch of Halloween rice. As cool as dyed rice is, I dread the process of actually dyeing it, even though it doesn't take very long. As a busy parent or caregiver, your time is precious. I'll bet you don't want to spend nap time dyeing rice if it's the only down time you get all day! While wondering the grocery store, I discovered an alternative to dyeing rice this Halloween. The best part? There's absolutely no prep required, which means you won't have to spend nap time prepping a toddler activity! Plus, the supplies are super affordable! If you're more of a visual learner or don't have time to read this full article, feel free to scroll to the end to watch a quick video of the setup process. Supply List Black Beans- $1.39 Price-Rite Red Lentil Beans- $1.29 Price-Rite Candy Erasers- $1 Small Buckets- $5 Party City Squishy Accessories- $2.99 Walgreens (I got them half off in-store) Extra Accessories- price varies (Wegmans, Amazon, Party City, Dollar General) *Note: I've tried this activity with kids ranging from ages 2-6. Keep a careful eye on 2 yr olds because items used can be choking hazards if ingested.* Step 1: Add Candy Erasers Target is notorious for selling these seasonal tiny erasers in the dollar section. Tip: You have to catch them at the very beginning of the season because I've noticed that once they sell out, they do not restock! I have no clue what the purpose of these tiny erasers actually is other than for sensory play... they make terrible erasers. Remember trying to use one of these things in elementary school and panicking because you ended up with a yucky dark smudge on your paper? That was the worst. I wouldn't recommend anyone pass these out for trick-or-treaters, because young children could easily mistaken them for edible candy. Target also sells packs of these erasers that are in the form of small pumpkins. I’ve found that toddlers prefer the candy shapes the most because it really brings to life the concept of trick-or-treating. Step 2: Add in Squishy Halloween Toys Kids seemed to truly engage with these squishy and stretchy toys. Some kids refer to the purple and blue figures as worms and some called them caterpillars. With that said, I have no clue why they have bear faces, but they are a hit! Toddlers love a variety of tactile toys in sensory bins- after all, it's kinda what sensory bins are all about! Step 3: Add Additional Spooky Accessory Toys Next, you're going to want to add in a bunch of random Halloween tinker toys. I bought the pom-poms from Dollar General during the previous year's post-Halloween clearance sale. The plastic spiders, bats, and finger puppets were in a pack that I found at Wegmans. I'm sure you can find something similar at Party City. If you can find a pack with little finger puppets, they are nice to have. I've watched kids place them on their fingers and make narrate story lines with them (read: they keep kids busy longer). Step 4: Pour in Halloween Color Themed Beans Did you know that red lentil beans appear orange uncooked? Personally, I was mind-blown to discover this out and stoked because it meant I landed on the perfect ingredient to mix in with black beans. One pack of red lentil beans and one pack of black beans is enough to fill one personal sensory bin. Now you're ready to rip open those black and "red" lentil beans and dramatically pour in the beans, covering all the toys. Depending on the age of your kiddo, they might be perplexed at where the toys went. Two-year-olds usually say, “where the toys go?” I respond, “they disappeared. Maybe they’re under the beans, can you find a [insert name of toy]?" They then spend 5 min sorting through the beans to find the object. Often, they forget what they're suppose to be looking for and get lost in their own play. Step 5: Add Mini Trick-or-Treat Buckets These buckets are optional but I like to offer them as an option for kids to collect the toys they find along the way. Challenge: Practice Counting the Treats If your child has been working on counting, you can challenge them to collect a specific number of candy erasers in each bucket. For more advanced toddlers, try asking them to collect specific amounts of each candy- example: 10 “candy corn pieces“, 5 “smarties”, and 11 “peppermints” or whatever your kid identifies the pieces as! Please let me know if you try this activity with your kiddo and what they think of it! Sincerely, Briesh P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious

Do you have a toddler that gets just as excited about going to the grocery store as they do about going to an amusement park? Then this the perfect fun and free dramatic play activity to recreate at home. Plus, this activity requires the use of recycled materials, which makes it a great opportunity to expose kids to eco-friendly practices. Eco-friendly dramatic play... is that a thing? Can I make it a thing? Anyhow, let's get started! Step 1: Consume contents of groceries per usual. Step 2: Save packaging of food products (items that come in cardboard boxes, plastic jars, milk jugs, etc) Step 3: Use your imagination to bring the empty packages back to life by making them look and feel realistic! Check out this post for a complete walk-through of that process. Step 4: Give kid small reusable bags to bag their groceries. *Note: you don't have to shop at Lululemon to find this size bag, I found a handful of them at my local thrift store for 50 cents each* Step 5: If you have any foreign currency- or know a friend that has traveled overseas and has leftover currency to spare- slap some clear contact paper over bills to prevent them from tearing easily. Then, give your kiddo their play money! The range of currency bills is a lot more fun for kids more than the boring grey bills at toy stores. Heck, the colors even excite me as an adult! Anyhow, the colors are also a way to throw in some color vocabulary and recognition. A few spare dollars from board games will also work. Next, lend them a wallet you're not using. Step 6: Look through your wallet and find any old gift cards (which, by the way, have to be recycled in specific places, NOT in your recycling bin). Give them to your kid to use as pretend credit cards. Step 7 (optional): If you have a few bucks to spare, hit up your local thrift store for a toy cash register. I actually found two at my local Savers and one of them still had working batteries! Voila! There you have it folks, now get going turning your living room into a grocery store! Drop a comment below, sharing what recyclables you're able to give a second life to! Sincerely, Briesh P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious

Maybe you can't afford to purchase your kid a set of play food? Or perhaps you don't like the play food options currently on the toy market. Here’s a simple solution: reduce waste and save money by repurposing recyclables into dramatic play toys! First things first, put yourself in a kid's shoes by asking yourself, what would make this package look or feel realistic from a child’s perspective? Creativity is key here. There are countless ways to repurpose recyclables. Stuck? Here are some ideas to get your wheels turning. Oreo Thin Bites Step 1: Eat a pack of Oreo Thin Bites. Step 2: Rinse and dry out package. Step 3: Fill package with small lids. I used contact case lids because I've accumulated so many and they’re difficult to recycle. Step 4: Zip seal the package back up and apply clear tape over seal. Shredded Cheese Step 1: Save clear cheese container or any clear food container similar to this one. Step 2: Cut up small pieces of yellow and white yarn. This is tedious and takes some time, at least ~15 min but worth it in the end. Step 3: Stuff all your pieces in the container. Step 4: Apply lid and clear tape. Juice Boxes Step 1: Drink and save 6-8 juice boxes, rinse them out and leave to dry for a day. Step 2: Line up juice boxes (the way you see them on the shelf of a grocery store) onto clear Con-Tact Paper. I found the contact paper to be helpful in holding the juice boxes together as I taped them together using clear Scotch Packaging Tape. Bonus: As featured in the pic at the top of the post, items like plastic sauce jars & dressing bottles can easily be repurposed by pouring respective paint into the bottles and shaking it up until the paint is evenly dispersed amongst the inside of the bottles. Then glue the lids close! Trust me, these simple recyclables are likely to be more memorable for your kid than cheap quality play food. Kiddos tend to mouth those products (which likely contain icky BPA) more than they do packaging- probably because they recognize that packaging is inedible. But, heads up, they will try to open the packages. So, do make sure you use lots of tape or glue to seal all contents properly. What kind of toys will you make? Share your creative ideas for recyclables in the comments below! Can’t wait to hear what you come up with! Sincerely, Briesh P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious!

Halloween can get ridiculously and unnecessarily expensive, especially when you consider the price of costumes. Here's a scary statistic for you- this year, it's estimated that Americans will spend about $3.3 billion on costumes alone! Not only are costumes pricey, but if you’re like me you might find it hard to justify spending anything over $20 (accessories included) on an outfit made with cheap materials that you'll wear for just ONE night. Sure, it might be tempting to rationalize a splurge on a super cute costume by saying to yourself, "I'll wear it again next year." Do not kid yourself. No, you won't wear it again next year, because you're going to want to post a pic of your "super cute" costume on social media and then the following year you'll say, "I can't post a pic of myself in the same costume as last year." Just try your best to resist the urge. Instead, check out this short list of simple DIY costume ideas that you can quickly put together with a single trip to the thrift store or your closet. Doing a DIY costume is a great way to save money this Halloween. It's also a convenient way to incorporate sustainable practices in your life. 1. Zombie Walking Dead fan anyone? I completely understand if you stopped watching when the show writers killed off Glen in that heartwrenching baseball bat scene! (yeah, I'm still not over it either) Nonetheless, zombies are always relevant in pop culture and you can honor poor Glen by dressing up as a zombie using the instructions in the graphic! 2. Pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Hook, Caption Jake of the Never Land Pirates, I'm sure you recognize one of these fictional but famous pirates! Pirates tend to captivate kids and adults alike. Maybe it's their daring, edgy, or outgoing personality depictions? Well, here's another reason to be drawn to pirates- their costumes can be put together quite easily. Dressing up as a pirate also gives you an excuse to pull out the fishnets and channel your inner Elizabeth (Swan) Turner! 3. Wednesday Addams (Addams Family) Dark, angsty, rebellious, emotional, meet the Wednesday Addams costume. This one seems to never go out of style. If you do a quick google search, you'll notice that there are many ways to mimic Wednesday's style. It's just essential that you wear two braids and the color black, of course! Plus, Wednesday comes from arguably the most iconic Halloween family of all time. If you have a family of your own, you can easily turn this idea into a family affair by assigning them characters from the Addams Family to be too. 4. Robber The contents of this mischievous costume are probably sitting in your closet already. If not, I'm sure you'll have little trouble finding a black and white striped shirt at the thrift store. Does this costume send the most professional or appropriate message to kids? Eh, probably not. But, it does the job and saves you money. The next idea on the list checks all the boxes. 5. Minnie Mouse If you’re looking for a quick kid-friendly costume, Minnie Mouse fits the bill! You're bound to find a Minnie Mouse shirt at the thrift store if you don't own one already. The hat I wore was not mine (Disney gift shops sell them for absurd prices), I just borrowed it from my sister that was gifted it when she was a kid- which brings us to an important note, always ask around to see what costume materials you can borrow from friends or family before running to the thrift store! Bottom line, if you want to participate in Halloween activities, you shouldn't have to go broke to do so! Creating a costume with thrifted clothing or shopping your closet are such accessible ways to include yourself in the fun while remaining a mindful consumer (mindful of sustainability and your finances)! Tip: Go to the thrift store ASAP. Thrift stores get major traffic around Halloween, so it’s best to go sooner than later to avoid slim pickings and large crowds. Bonus Idea: Here‘s a bonus idea from a clever 5 yr old: Me: what should I be for Halloween? Kid: Hmm, I know- you should be a tickle monster, you can dress up as a monster, then when kids come up to you, you just start tickling them! ☺️ How much money can you save by shopping for costumes at the thrift store or repurposing clothing you already own? Please share your experience in the comments below, we can all use more ways to save money and practice sustainability at the same time! Sincerely, Briesh P.S. Stay Conscious + Curious!