Toys, toys everywhere! Rex and I were fed up with all the toys. Nothing we tried, no amount of organization kept those toys from taking over our entire house...so we did the unthinkable...we boxed up all the toys and put them in the storage shed outside. It ended up being about 6 plastic totes full. The kids (ages 6, 4, and 2) were allowed to keep only two toys each. Did they notice? Not for many days. Did they cry? Not one tear. Did they beg us to bring back their toys? Not one peep.
Here I thought this would be a huge ordeal taking out the toys. I guess it was only a big deal for mom and dad. My only guess is that the children are actually relieved to be free of the burden that so many gifts had created for them.
So what has been the results of our Great Toy Experiment? By removing the toys, we have opened up a whole new world for our children.
The results have been amazing. The kids make sure they hold on to the toy they've got and take care of it. They also have been WAY more creative in their playing. They have made many paper dolls and scenes together to play with, they create what they want to play with. They read more, they dance more, play the piano more, explore their surroundings outside more, help mom cook, do dishes, ask to do chores with happy hearts, learn in school better without distractions, etc. etc.
They also do their chores more readily and aren't overwhelmed with toys they have to put away. Justus puts the toys away (there are only like 5 toys), Brooke puts clothes away and Hailey makes the beds. It's done, the room is clean. I am seeing more and more what a waste of money these made in china toys are. You probably think I've gone off my rocker... But I kind of like this experiment! The kids do too, really.
My husband and I have talked about it and have decided to ask our friends and family NOT to send anymore "toys". If they still wanted to send something we suggested things that are educational for the kids or help them to learn a handicraft like:
*Handicrafts:
Beading
Calligraphy
Carpentry
Carving
Ceramics
Chalk drawing
Charcoal sketching
Clay sculpturing
Crocheting
Cross-stitching
Embroidery
Finger painting
Flower arranging
Gardening
Iron sculpturing
Knitting
Latch-hooking
Leather tooling
Loom weaving
Macrame
Oil painting
Pencil sketching
Photography
Picture framing
Pottery
Quilting
Robotics
Rubber stamping
Scrapbooking
Scroll sawing
Sewing
Spinning fibers
Spool-knitting
Videography
Watercolor painting
Weaving
Weaving pot holders
Whittling
Woodworking
*Life Skills:
Auto mechanics
Baking
Canning
Checking the car’s oil
Cleaning: mirrors, sinks, toilets, tubs and showers, baseboards
Cooking
CPR
Dusting
Electrical wiring
First Aid
Organizing: closets, cupboards, sheds, attics
Painting a room
Plumbing
Vegetable gardening
Wallpapering
Washing: clothes, dishes, windows, car
Welding
Life Skills but also Business Skills
Computer skills
Keyboarding/Typing
Tracking personal finances
Educational items like kid's science magazine subscriptions, crayons, etc. were ok too.
Of coarse, keeping within their compass as not to frustrate them (I wouldn't have Justus welding just yet for example!) We have just seen such dramatic improvement that we plan on keeping it this way. I let them exchange one toy for another, probably about once a month, if they want to. So far, they haven't asked. I will add to our handicrafts list as I get time and write more on what the children are doing with their newfound freedom!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Farm Fresh Eggs Are Safer than Commercial Eggs
A recent study from the British Government has revealed that organic laying hen farms have a significantly lower level of Salmonella, a bacteria that is one of the most common forms of food poisoning worldwide.
The British Soil Association study showed that 23.4 per cent of farms with caged hens tested positive for salmonella compared to 4.4 per cent in organic flocks and 6.5 per cent in free-range flocks. The highest rate of salmonella occurred in the largest holding size of 30,000 birds or more.
Some commercial egg operations have as many as half a million birds. Most of these cages house four or five birds, each with about as much room as an letter size sheet of paper. In contrast, animals on organic farms must have access to outdoor ranges and pasture, with an emphasis on enabling the animals to express their natural behaviour. Unlike intensively reared birds, organic chickens can’t be given routine doses of antibiotics which weaken the animal’s natural immune system so increasing reliance on drugs, as well as being linked to creating antibiotic resistant ‘superbugs’ with serious human health implications.
Research confirms yet again that the cramped, windowless, unnatural conditions these animals are forced to endure have serious health implications for humans as well. Salmonella food poisoning can be avoided through proper cooking of eggs and meat, but purchasing free-range organic eggs will definitely reduce your risks.
In addition, the health benfits of organic, free-range eggs are many times greater than commercial eggs.
Eggs are one of the healthiest foods in the world.
From the November 2007 issue of Mother Earth News the results from their second egg testing project was published. The results showed that compared to official U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data for commercial eggs, eggs from hens raised on pasture contained:
1⁄3 less cholesterol
1⁄4 less saturated fat
2⁄3 more vitamin A
2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
3 times more vitamin E
7 times more beta carotene
When deciding what kind of eggs to buy, Dr. Mercola recommends avoiding eggs that are labeled as omega-3 eggs. The quality and freshness of these eggs has shown to be poor, making them even LESS healthy than regular commercial eggs.
From they grocery store, eggs labeled Free-Range Organic are a good purchase. The best eggs are those purchased directly from a local farmer, where freshness and quality are highest.
We love having our own chickens that provide such wonderful eggs for our family and also for friends who purchase eggs from us.
Sources:
Natural Choices, February 2008
Mother Earth News, Nov. 2007
Dr. Mercola, February 2008
The British Soil Association study showed that 23.4 per cent of farms with caged hens tested positive for salmonella compared to 4.4 per cent in organic flocks and 6.5 per cent in free-range flocks. The highest rate of salmonella occurred in the largest holding size of 30,000 birds or more.
Some commercial egg operations have as many as half a million birds. Most of these cages house four or five birds, each with about as much room as an letter size sheet of paper. In contrast, animals on organic farms must have access to outdoor ranges and pasture, with an emphasis on enabling the animals to express their natural behaviour. Unlike intensively reared birds, organic chickens can’t be given routine doses of antibiotics which weaken the animal’s natural immune system so increasing reliance on drugs, as well as being linked to creating antibiotic resistant ‘superbugs’ with serious human health implications.
Research confirms yet again that the cramped, windowless, unnatural conditions these animals are forced to endure have serious health implications for humans as well. Salmonella food poisoning can be avoided through proper cooking of eggs and meat, but purchasing free-range organic eggs will definitely reduce your risks.
In addition, the health benfits of organic, free-range eggs are many times greater than commercial eggs.
Eggs are one of the healthiest foods in the world.
From the November 2007 issue of Mother Earth News the results from their second egg testing project was published. The results showed that compared to official U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data for commercial eggs, eggs from hens raised on pasture contained:
1⁄3 less cholesterol
1⁄4 less saturated fat
2⁄3 more vitamin A
2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
3 times more vitamin E
7 times more beta carotene
When deciding what kind of eggs to buy, Dr. Mercola recommends avoiding eggs that are labeled as omega-3 eggs. The quality and freshness of these eggs has shown to be poor, making them even LESS healthy than regular commercial eggs.
From they grocery store, eggs labeled Free-Range Organic are a good purchase. The best eggs are those purchased directly from a local farmer, where freshness and quality are highest.
We love having our own chickens that provide such wonderful eggs for our family and also for friends who purchase eggs from us.
Sources:
Natural Choices, February 2008
Mother Earth News, Nov. 2007
Dr. Mercola, February 2008
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