Have a new baby (or know someone who does)? There are so many decisions to make, from car seats to sleeping arrangements and feeding schedules—why not take one off your plate! We all want to give our child the best start possible and that’s why we are beyond excited about The Play Kits by Lovevery: toys delivered every few months to help them develop their skills in a stage-appropriate way!
Experts design The Play Kits by Lovevery for your baby’s developing brain. They deliver each Play Kit for your child’s exact learning stage, so they have the right toys at the right time. Read on to learn why these kits are so popular with parents, family and caregivers just like you!
So simple, it can be summed up in one sentence: Every 2–3 months, Lovevery delivers a Play Kit to your home that’s matched to your child’s development stage and what they’re hungry to learn at this very moment.
What Makes These Playthings So Perfect
The Play Kits are filled with playthings and activities designed by experts who link brain science and Montessori philosophy. Each Play Kit includes The Play Guide, packed with expert tips, ways to play and DIY at-home activities. Even better: their social media and blog deliver loads more science-backed and stage-based fun which means no guessing what’s good for your kiddo!
Toys don’t need to clutter up your space. Lovevery toys are designed to make every detail to be engaging, which means zero space wasted and less clean up for you. They believe that simple is better and prioritize Montessori-inspired elements. Their play essentials are designed to look at home in your home. Plus, their durable play products stand up to plenty of play. Their playthings are even made with sustainably harvested wood, organic cotton, and baby-safe plastics!
Play That Grows With Them
We all know that learning a new skill takes time. Lovevery intentionally packages its Play Kits to bring your child new play experiences that build specific skills as they grow. These innovative and creative playthings are tailored to your child’s stage—providing challenge, confidence and belly-laughs. No throw-away toys here: As your child grows, you’ll see them revisit and repurpose playthings for new, open-ended and more advanced play.
Watch your child take the lead on their learning as they connect with playthings that are rooted in the real world. Lovevery’s Montessori influence brings you seemingly simple toys that capture your child’s curiosity while they’re learning. Their products help your child connect with play, connect with you and connect with the world around them.
Many industries are switching to more eco-friendly practices, and the toy industry is hopping on board. VTech has announced that it has plans to launch a variety of green electronic learning products throughout 2021––working towards the company’s goal of replacing fossil-based plastics with sustainable alternatives by 2030.
Both VTech and LeapFrog will be dropping a combined seven new eco-friendly products this year. In addition to green alternatives for toy construction, VTech packaging currently is made up of 94 percent recyclable materials and the company is committed to getting rid of fossil-based blister packaging by 2025.
Kids will soon be able to play with three new vehicles in the Go! Go! Smart Wheels line made from plant-based plastic, and the Sort & Recycle Ride-on Truck made from reclaimed plastic. Looking for LeapFrog products? Keep your eyes peeled for a new Choppin’ Fun Learning Pot with vegetables and accessories made from plant-based plastic, and two new wooden toys that include a Touch & Learn Nature ABC Board and Interactive Wooden Animal Puzzle.
Dr. Allan Wong, Chairman and Group CEO of VTech Holdings Limited states, “VTech’s sustainability vision is to create sustainable value for the lives of people and protect the planet for the future generations. We are committed to using sustainable materials in our products and packaging and recycling them in a responsible way, using eco-friendly transportation modes in our supply chain management, increasing the use of renewable energy and reducing the consumption of natural resources in our production process.”
So how else is VTech changing the toy landscape? The company is taking part in post-consumer packaging recycling programs in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, included packaging recycling labels like “How2Recycle®” its packaging to promote awareness and has partnered with recycling companies like TerraCycle® as an easy avenue for consumers to recycle products.
You can learn more about VTech’s sustainability efforts and achievements at vtech.com.
Don’t forget to call out, “UNO!” The world’s most popular card game just went sustainable. UNO Nothin’ But Paper is the same matching game everyone loves, but it’s the first UNO deck that has removed cellophane from its packaging and is now 100% recyclable.
UNO also plans to remove the cellophane from 100% of standard, paper-based decks entirely in 2021 – on its way to achieving Mattel’s 2030 commitment to achieve 100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastics materials in our products and packaging.
UNO has always been committed to creating a low-waste and reusable card game for all people to enjoy, and as of 2020, all decks and packaging are made with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified materials and feature soy-based ink for the paper cards that are non-VOC (volatile organic compounds), more efficient for recycling and made from soybeans, a renewable resource.
UNO Nothin’ But Paper retails for $5.99 and is available on Amazon for ages 7Y+.
You don’t have to cross the country to witness kitschy roadside Americana. The Bay Area hides a few treasures of its own, including a house designed after a sea creature and a museum dedicated to Bigfoot. When you are looking for something free to do this weekend with the kids, scroll through this list and plan your local road trip full of Bay Area roadside attractions from Sebastopol down to Santa Cruz!
San Francisco
Cupid's Span
Amber Guetebier
Right next to the Ferry Building you'll find the totally awesome, giant bow and arrow known as Cupid's Span. This 60-foot sculpture sits on a grassy spot that's fun for both picnics and Bay Bridge photo opps. Bonus: right next door is the home of SFFD's fire boats.
Location: The Embarcadero & Folsom Street, San Francisco
Take a picture of the fam in front of this pagoda-topped southern entrance to San Francisco’s iconic Chinatown. Then check out this story for more things to do in this oh-so-fun area of the city.
The hot dog and hamburger chain closed in 1986, but this seven-foot-tall fiberglass grinning dachshund mascot was moved to Sloat Avenue and now it’s a city landmark.
Despite Berkeley’s reputation for eccentricities, this structure looks more suited for Bikini Bottom, the underwater hometown of Spongebob. Built in 1995 and designed after an indestructible sea-dwelling microorganism called the tardigrade, Ojo del Sol (which means Eye of the Sun, but Fish House works just fine for most locals) was built by architect Eugene Tsui who specializes in biomimicry, the practice of applying the study of nature to human issues. Tsui claims the house is one of the world’s safest dwellings. Tsui also designs cool futuristic apparel that would be right at home in the closet of any Star Trek villain.
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure at this landfill-cum-anarchic artist hub full of fun sculptures and graffitt\ied decay. There’s a large wooden sculpture of a man riding a dragon, the concrete (and be careful — possibly unstable) Mad Mark’s Castle and much more.
Location: Foot of Buchanan St. (next to San Francisco Bay), Albany
Giant portrait of Ronald Reagan made out of jelly beans? Check. Jelly bean-shaped pizzas and burgers? Check. Bags of discounted Belly Flops jelly beans in odd shapes and sizes? Check check and check. The visitor center which includes the cafe, retail store and chocolate shoppe recently reopened to visitors, but there are no factory tours at this time.
Who’s a good mayor? Who’s a good mayor? Black lab Bosco is the only dog to ever serve as an American mayor. His term in the hamlet of Sunol lasted from 1981 until 1994 when Bosco crossed the rainbow bridge to eat t-bone steaks, liver treats and homework forever.
Muffler men are the smirking, larger-than-life roadside barkers that were manufactured en masse in the 1960s and 70s by SoCal-based International Fiberglass. Numerous characters were created, but they were all based on one mold. Over time, they have been passed down by successive businesses and co-opted to suit any setting. But wherever they go, they earn the collective affection of their community.
A Hayward hometown boy, Big Mike started out hawking car washes by brandishing a giant scrub brush. Big Don began life as The Missouri Cowboy from Boonesville, MO. Both were bought and lovingly restored by Bruce Kennedy of Bell Plastics. Bruce encourages visitors to stop by and snap a pic in front of the two benevolent giants. You can even take home a bobblehead replica of each character as a souvenir (the advantage of owning a plastics company). Come in October when Big Mike gets in the Halloween spirit by donning a black cloak, hatchet and demon skull.
Location: Bell Plastics, 2020 National Ave., Hayward
You can visit two other Bay Area muffler men at the following locations:
Riverbend Resort, 11820 River Rd, Forestville
Babe’s & Lightning Muffler, 808 The Alameda, San Jose
Peninsula/South Bay
Google Android Lawn Sculptures
Kathleen Mikulis
These fun sculptures of sweet treats represent the code names of Google’s different Android operating system versions, from Cupcake and Donut to Jelly Bean, Kit Kat and beyond. Unfortunately the sculptures aren’t in the best of shape now, but it’s still fun to poke your head through the honeycomb for a picture.
Discover this quirky attraction hidden in the redwood trees of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Are you *sure* you’re taller than your kids? That might not be the case at The Mystery Spot. Don’t forget a classic yellow and black bumper sticker when you leave. Public tours are currently being offered following COVID-19 guidelines, but there are some narrow areas where keeping six feet of social distance may prove difficult so be sure to wear your masks.
Location: 465 Mystery Spot Rd., Santa Cruz Online: mysteryspot.com
Bigfoot Discovery Museum
Garrick Ramirez
This museum (currently closed due to COVID-19) wears the love of its namesake furry cryptid proudly. There are Bigfoot videos, foot casts, a local sighting map, and more. Admission is free but a $2–5 donation is requested. There’s a nine-foot-tall Bigfoot sculpture in the back for a can’t-miss photo op.
Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Wed.-Mon. for main museum. Location: 5497 Highway 9, Felton Online:bigfootdiscoveryproject.com
Winchester Mystery House
Winchester Mystery House
Visit this 19th century architectural marvel owned by Sarah Winchester, where a staircase leads to a ceiling and a door leads to a 15-foot drop to an outdoor garden. Did a psychic really instruct her to never stop building to help evade the spirits of those killed by her family’s Winchester rifles? Take the tour and find out. (Spoiler alert: The answer is . . . maybe?). The Sarah Winchester Garden Tour is available Wednesdays-Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every week until further notice.
Here's a chance for San Franciscans to raise the rents in Silicon Valley. Built for a 1992 San Francisco Landscape and Design Show, the monumental Monopoly board is now a permanent exhibit in San Jose’s Discovery Meadow. Guinness World Records acknowledges the 930-square-foot board as the largest permanent outdoor version in the world (the qualifiers hint at a much larger board in Qatar). The designers made fun nods to local landmarks by subtitling the board's addresses. For example, Boardwalk is also known as the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. And mind your ethics or you'll end up in the Santa Clara Department of Correction. Bring a group and rent the space: you'll roll jumbo dice while wearing giant thimble, wheelbarrow and Scottie dog hats.
You may be tempted to park at the Golden Gate Bridge Vista View Point next to Highway 101 to get your official Golden Gate Bridge photo (which is still a nice spot so don’t let us stop you). However, if you journey down the road along the Marin Headlands you can get that ideal woodsy shot. (Bonus! It’s less crowded.) For a little more effort (and your photographer lying low to the ground) you can get a picture of you jumping over the Golden Gate Bridge that everyone will think you Photoshopped even though you didn’t.
Location: Lots of great viewpoints along Conzelman Rd. in the Marin Headlands, Sausalito
Yoda and Indiana Jones Statues in Imagination Park
George Lucas donated Imagination Park along with these life-size statues of Yoda and Indiana Jones to commemorate the town where he began creating both movies. Tip: Nearby at 331 San Anselmo Ave. is where Lucas and his team created the entire Star Wars soundtrack.
Location: 541 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo
Recycled Art Characters by Patrick Amiot & Brigitte Laurent
It's impossible to drive through Sebastopol without spying the cartoonish, metal sculptures that line its streets. There’s a moped-riding moose, a hybrid car that’s half-truck and half-shark, and a retro spaceship rocketed by a robot that could easily be the cousin of Futurama’s Bender. That's just a tiny sampling of the massive collection of recycled artwork by self-styled folk artists Patrick Amiot and Brigitte Laurent that is displayed all over town. Patrick sculpts the scrap and Brigitte paints the pieces. At night many of the art pieces are lit up, which makes them even more arresting.
July, officially labeled “Plastic-Free July Month” is a great time to assess what you have around your house and decide just how many plastic items you have laying around. And while plastic is inevitable in our world, single-use plastics do not have to be.
During “Plastic-Free July Month,” let’s gather our kids and ask them what it means to have a cleaner world. Why? Because as adults, we eventually have to leave the world to our children, their children, and so forth. So why not get them talking about how to keep our planet clean?
Let’s start with the basics: Why is single-use plastic is so dreadful for our precious planet? To put it simply, single-use plastics are plastic products that can only be used once and then thrown away to end up in our pollution mainstream. Single-use plastics, when not disposed of properly, can lead to the eventual buildup of waste floating into our streets, into our beautiful oceans, and end up causing drastic pollution that will affect everyone’s health and well being.
Below are 7 easy steps you and your children can take to reduce single-use plastics and maybe eventually remove the need for them in the future.
1. Buy consciously. Think about how many times you’re going to use that product. If it’s a plastic sandwich bag, skip it and buy reusable bags such as ones made from silicone, cloth, or a stronger plastic that will last for many years. You can also use paper sandwich bags that will break down when wet and can be disposed into your recycling bin or compost bin.
2. Use natural materials. Natural materials and materials that are sustainable include bamboo, organic cotton, wood, and glass. Natural materials are a lot safer for children as they are usually manufactured without toxic by-products.
3. Bring your own lunch containers. There are tons of cool looking lunch containers for your kids. The best materials are stainless steel and glass.
4. Choose Reusable straws. Reusable straws are great for reducing plastic waste. Reusable straws can be stainless steel, glass, or made from bamboo.
5. Use Reusable water bottles. You can find reusable bottles almost anywhere. Pick some up made from stainless steel, glass, or BPA-free plastic.
6. Bring your own utensils. When packing lunch for your child, be sure to pack reusable utensils. They can easily put the used utensils back into their lunch bags/containers to bring home.
7. Look at brands and websites that offer sustainable products. Then, find easy and doable solutions for you and your family. You can find more ideas here.
I am a mom first and foremost. I might not be a supermom, but I am constantly learning and growing.Topics I stand with are parenting, the environment, and living a healthy and happy lifestyle. I work at an elementary school and I have 30 years experience in the health industry.
Pittsburgh International Airport recently unveiled a very special space—a sensory room for children and adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental needs!
The room, named Presley’s Place, is the brainchild of airport employee Jason Rudge. Rudge, who works as a heavy equipment operator, got the idea from his son Presley. The four-year-old is on the autism spectrum and, according to his parents, struggles with changes in his routine which certainly doesn’t make flying easy.
The new space includes a realistic cabin experience (courtesy of American Airlines and Magee Plastics), private soundproof spaces, adjustable lighting, a transitional space between the concourse and room, a sensory-friendly restroom, adult changing stations, adjustable sinks, calming activities and comfortable seating.
The Pittsburgh International Airport’s website describes Presley’s Place as, “A calming respite for travelers with sensory processing issues and their families to de-escalate prior to getting on a plane or even after landing.” The web description also adds, “To best understand the needs of the community, we brought together advocacy groups, individuals and caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental challenges to share their experiences and offer suggestions for the room’s design.”
Presley’s Place isn’t the only way Pittsburgh International Airport makes traveling easier. The airport also has a Military Lounge for members of the military and their families and a nursing lounge!
You worry about pesticides, herbicides and all other kinds of -cides that pop up in your kiddo’s lunch. But what about plastics? According to new research, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, Americans eat somewhere in between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastic particles a year. But before you ditch grocery store life for 100 percent homegrown eats, read on for more info on what you can do to reduce the risks.
Before you start stressing (or freaking out) over this study’s stats, take a look at what the numbers mean. The researchers looked at foods/beverages that make up 15 percent of most Americans’ diets. And while they did find significant plastic contamination, there are steps you can take now to potentially minimize this issue.
If you’ve never heard of microplastics—these are super-small (sesame seed-sized_ particles of plastic that get into food, water and the air. Humans ingest the plastic particles while eating and drinking. We also inhale these particles just by breathing.
After reviewing data from 26 studies (representing 3,600 samples) the researchers found that air, bottled water and seafood were the largest sources of microplastics.
Switching from bottled to tap water is another way to reduce exposure to microplastics. According to the data review, people who get their daily water intake completely through bottled water may ingest an extra 90,000 microplastic particles each year. In comparison, tap water drinkers ingest 4,000.
Reducing the number of plastic products you use, making a dent in the microplastic particle problem.
Across the country, plastic straws are becoming increasingly less popular due to the known damage they can cause wildlife, including sea turtles. Now another major retailer joins a growing list of companies saying goodbye to plastic straw: Whole Foods is eliminating plastic straws from its stores.
Whole Foods Market has just announced that it it will stop offering plastic straws in all of its locations in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom by July. Customers ordering drinks and smoothies at the store’s Allegro coffee bars will be offered recyclable, compostable paper straws instead. Customers with disabilities can still request a plastic straw.
photo: Whole Foods
“For almost 40 years, caring for the environment has been central to our mission and how we operate,” Whole Foods president A.C. Gallo said in a statement. “We recognize that single-use plastics are a concern for many of our customers, team members and suppliers. We will continue to look for additional opportunities to further reduce plastic across our stores.”
Whole Foods also announced that its rotisserie chickens will be getting a revamp. The stores will replace the hard plastic containers the chickens were previously sold in with bags, which contain 70 percent less plastic. The company will also be making its plastic produce bags smaller.
Get ready for a new way to help the planet, while shopping for the brands you know, love and use pretty much daily. Loop is a new service, providing Kroger and Walgreens customers with an eco-friendly option that doesn’t involve hauling packed-to-the-lid recycling cans to the curb.
So what exactly is Loop? It’s all in the name! This circular service (get it—like a loop?) lets you buy your fave products, use them and send the packaging back. The packaging is then cleaned, refilled and reused. And it all comes straight to your doorstep in a reusable shipping tote.
Loop recently launched a pilot program in select states. If you live in the Mid-Atlantic region of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland or Washington, D.C., you’re in luck. These states are the first to get the the green goodness that comes with this low- to no-waste shopping option.
Jessica Adelman, Kroger’s group vice president of corporate affairs, said in a press release, “We believe in giving our customers sustainable packaging choices they can feel good about. As the exclusive grocery retail partner for Loop in the United States, Kroger is taking another big step toward a world with zero waste.”
Lauren Brindley, Walgreens group vice president of beauty and personal care, echoed Adelman’s statement, saying, “Innovative collaborations with partners like Loop are critical to solving the complex issue of reducing single-use plastics. Our customers look to us to innovate so that together we can reduce waste and increase re-use.”
Currently well-known (and well-loved) brands such as Proctor & Gamble, Unilever, Nestle, The Clorox Company, The Body Shop, Colgate-Palmolive, SC Johnson, The Honest Company, PepsiCo and a growing list of others are on board with Loop. To start “looping,” visit Loop, Walgreens or Kroger online. Click on “Join Loop” to start the application process. After filling out the online form, Loop will let you know if you’re in an area the program serves and when a spot opens up.
During the pilot phase Loop only has a select number of openings—so it’s possible you’ll end up on a waiting list. But that shouldn’t stop you from trying this eco-awesome idea!
The European Union has officially said “Bye, Felicia!” to plastic straws, voting to implement a single-use plastic ban—and glitter could be next on the chopping block.
In a nearly unanimous decision, the European Parliament recently voted for the ban on plastic straws and other single-use plastics, such as plastic cutlery, stirrers, plastic plates and balloon sticks. E.U. Countries have until 2021 to comply with the new standards. The ban also requires countries in the European Union to ensure that 25 percent of the content used to make plastic bottles must be recycled by 2025.
Other plastic items that won’t be banned—such as the packaging for wet wipes—must include a label warning consumers that the product contains plastic that can be harmful to the environment.
Environmental advocates are pushing for the ban to extend to other items including glitter, as most glitter is made with plastic. Scientists support this move by noting that glitter is a microplastic that not only ends up being ingested by marine animals, but it can in turn be consumed by humans eating seafood.
