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Wooden Toy Recalls: More Thomas the Tank Engine
2007-09-28 02:02:00
There have been a flurry of recalls yesterday and today, and although I planned to post on a different subject, I can't ignore the wooden toys included in the recall. I have always been such an advocate for wooden toys, that it breaks my heart to see lead in their paint.Wooden toy recalls:Additional Thomas and Friends (200,ooo) due to lead paint-All-Black Cargo Car, Toad vehicle with brake lever, Olive Green Sodor Cargo Box, Green Maple Tree Top and Green Signal Base AccessoriesGuidecraft Children's Puppet Theaters due to lead paint. I usually love Guidecraft toys and have similar puppet theater in my preschool room. Here are the other current recalls:Kolcraft Play Yards : A 10 month old child died when becoming entangled in the straps of the changing table.Children's Toy Gardening Tools and Chairs due to lead paint-sold at Target.Knights of the Sword toy due to lead paint-made by RC2, just like Thomas the Tank Engine .Toy Rakes sold at Jo-Ann Fabrics due to lead paint.Spinning...
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How to Clean Toys Naturally
2007-09-26 15:46:00
When reviewing our stats to see how people find Eco Child's Play, I've discovered that many parents are looking for ways to clean their children's toys naturally. I thought I would share a few of my tips with you for soft, wooden, or plastic (ugh) toys. My methods are gentle for the earth and your family, as I don't use harsh chemicals like bleach water, yet they may not kill viruses such as HIV and RSV.Should plastic toys have crept into your home from well-meaning relatives, many of them can be cleaned in the top row of the dishwasher. This is the suggested method in a preschool curriculum I used to follow. This is a simple manner of cleaning them, but it may not lighten your impact on the earth. Washing them by hand in a sink full of soapy water may be a better option.For wooden toys, I usually just wipe them with a damp rag to remove the dust. If other children have been over, and I am concerned about germs, I will wash them in a sink full of warm water and dish soap. ...
More About: Toys , Clean , Naturally , Natura , Ally

Homeopathic Poison Oak/Ivy Relief
2007-09-26 00:32:00
One of the things I love about fall is the poison oak turns red, making it easy to identify while hiking. I am one of those lucky ones (I'm being sarcastic here) that can get a very severe allergic rash from poison oak. Luckily, I live in the poison oak capital of the world! I have tried every remedy under the sun, including taking internally rhus toxicodendron (poison oak) to build up my immunity. The only relief I have found is the homeopathic Tecnu Extreme.Tecnu Extremeis homeopathic, with the active ingredient being Grindelia Robusta, common name wild sunflower or gum plant. If you are not familiar with the principles of homeopathy, homeopathic treatment involves giving extremely small doses of natural substances that mimic the symptoms of the same illness in healthy people when given in larger doses. The idea is that "like cures like." I have successfully used homeopathy with all members of my family, including pets, but it is important to seek medical care when needed (no...
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Mom, the World is Getting Greener
2007-09-24 18:19:00
My six-year-old daughter has become quite observant to greening/green washing efforts around her. Her optimism is something to be cherished, when news of climate change, politics, etc. can be quite the opposite. She sees changes, and she tells me, "Mom, the world is getting greener."Out of the mouths of babes astute observations occur. On a recent shopping trip where we purchased 100% organically grown bed sheets from a major retailer, my daughter said, "Target is really going green." When we noticed that they sold California Baby products, she exclaimed, "That's fabulous!" In another local store, I purchased a pair of organically grown pants that were manufactured using wind power. Once again, my daughter exclaimed, "Mom, the world is really going green." As her awareness of what it means to be green grows, she comments and asks questions to further her understanding.The constant questioning typical of toddlers ("Why?", "Why?", "Why?") does not go away as children grow. As ...
More About: World , The World

Preserve Flowers From Your Garden with the Root Children Flower Press
2007-09-22 00:57:00
My daughter has her own "garden", which amounts to a flower bed in front of our house. We used to press flowers in a large art books with wax paper to protect the pages, but when I saw Root Children Flower Press , I thought she might enjoy pressing flowers without adult assistance. The Root Children Flower Press is a nice way for children to preserve a little bit of nature for their own pleasure.The Root Children Flower Press comes with cardboard to place between flowers when pressing. The large red knobs are perfect for smaller hands and are great for fine motor practice. They also provide a hands-on method for learning which way to turn a screw to tighten or loosen it, without needing to hold onto a screwdriver. Instructions are included with the Root Children Flower Press, which give great tips for what types of flora and fauna works best for pressing. Like many young children, my daughter has to learn her lessons herself, so she has experimented with rose buds and other fl...
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Practical Wisdom for Parents
2007-09-21 01:22:00
Practical Wisdom for Pare nt s is a parenting book devoted to the preschool years and early childhood education. I have not read this book cover to cover, as it is rare to read a parenting book in this fashion, but it strikes me as the first book I have seen solely about "demystifying the preschool years". Written by two preschool directors, Practical Wisdom for Parentsis full of practical information.Many children today are simply "overscheduled". Nancy Schulman and Ellen Birnbaum write, "Many well-meaning parents have fallen into the trap of imagining that by signing their children up for multiple activities they are being better parents and therefore will "produce" better children...We cannot stress this strongly enough: It is counterproductive for your preschool-age child to be doing too much. Children who do too much too soon tend to be stressed, anxious, and susceptible to feelings of low self-esteem." I have witnessed this overscheduling phenomena with my friends. Their ch...

Five Ways to Green Your Child's Hospital Stay
2007-09-20 05:43:00
My son was born with a congenital heart defect, which thrust my green living family into the not-so-green world of Western medicine. We were blessed to have a natural home birth assisted by caring midwives before entering the world of surgeons and intensive care. Throughout this process, including our most recent stay in the hospital, I have looked for ways to make the experience greener, and to minimize the toxins my son is exposed to while getting the medical care he needs. Not only will these suggestions green your hospital visit, but they will also provide your child with comfort by providing familiarity to the hospital stay. Please note that this post is not intended to give medical advice, and all changes you make to your child’s care should be discussed with the doctor first. 1. Bring Your Own Organic Food When my son first had open-heart surgery, breastfeeding supplied his nourishment, although pumping was required. If you are concerned about Bisphenol A (BPA), be sure t...
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PVC Free Shower Curtains!
2007-09-19 00:24:00
I want to thank our reader Mary Anne for suggesting a review of this product. I have not tested this product myself, and I am always very hesitant to review something I have not touched, but I thought that it was important to tell our readers about PVC free options for the bathroom.EVA Vinyl Shower Curtainsare PVC free. According to the the manufacturer, "Many shower curtains are made from PVC vinyl material, which may have negative effects on your health and the environment. Therefore, we made sure all our products are environmentally friendly with PVC free materials." PVC has been called the "Poison Plastic". According to CHEJ, "PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic, commonly referred to as vinyl, is one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. PVC is dangerous to human health and the environment throughout its entire life cycle, at the factory, in our homes, and in the trash. Our bodies are contaminated with poisonous chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle, such a...
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The Real Toy Soldiers
2007-09-17 18:08:00
The real toy soldiers are children, and it is estimated that 250,000 children are exploited every day by paramilitary, guerrilla, and state-run military groups. Nine countries have been identified as using child soldiers, and eight of those countries receive US military assistance. How could this be?It is obvious that being a child soldier is detrimental to children's social and emotional development. It is bad enough to live in a war zone, let alone become a fighter for whatever cause at a young age. This is no longer the age of Sparta, children have a right to be children. “Early on when my brothers and I were captured, the LRA explained to us that all five brothers couldn’t serve in the LRA because we would not perform well. So they tied up my two younger brothers and invited us to watch. Then they beat them with sticks until two of them died. They told us it would give us strength to fight. My youngest brother was nine years old.” - Martin, recruited by the Lord’s R...
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It's Time to Make a Call for Peace
2007-09-15 00:11:00
Well, I apologize for being so political this week,but I can't help it. At a recent United Nations summit meeting there was special session focused on improving the lives of the world's children. It was agreed that no authentic progress would be made until one fundamental question had been addressed: how do we get the people of one nation to actually care about the children of another nation? From (M)other, MAU Live: Theatre for EmpowermentMother's Acting Up is calling on Americans to telephone every day for the next week our senators and representatives to demand we stop funding the war. A sample message suggested by Mother's Acting Up is:"My name is ______, I am a Mother Acting Up and I passionately urge the Senator/Representative to vote NO on the Iraq War supplemental spending bill. One of many reasons to Vote NO is: _______________. This war is not making our children safer; vote NO on more war funding. Thank you." (If you want to add a Mama Grizzly Bear growl to ...
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Tibetan Mandala Coloring Book
2007-09-13 23:55:00
I could not wait to have children so that I could buy the Tibetan Mandalascoloring book by Tatjana Blau. For some reason, I could not justify buying this book for myself, but once I became a parent, this was one of my first purchases. Now, I have a coloring book both my children and I enjoy.The Tibetan Mandalascoloring book features some complex and some more simple designs that I find meditative when coloring. The mandala designs include simple explanations and excerpts from Buddhist texts. For example: Pay no attention to the mistakes of othersnor to their acts and behavior!It is your own deeds and your own negligenceyou must focus on!-Dhammapada verse 49This verse is especially important for school age children who are distracted by other's behaviors and prone to tattle tales. It also speaks to children about how we are in control and responsible for our own behaviors. Children can also learn to forgive and have compassion for others by contemplating such verses.
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SCHIP Update: Our Children's Health
2007-09-12 14:49:00
Almost every day, my inbox is filled with more information our our president's failure to provide for children's health. As you can tell by the length of this post, this issue is one I feel strongly about. Here are a few links and excerpts of the recent discussion on SCHIP , which expires on September 30.From Families USA:The additional funding provided by the CHIP bill would lead to a substantial reduction in the number of uninsured children. As currently approved, the Senate bill would cut the nation's rolls of uninsured children—estimated at more than 9 million—by about 4 million, a 44 percent drop. The House version, with a higher proposed funding level, would reduce the number of uninsured children by about 5 million, or 55 percent.To view a special report, click here and find out how many more children would be covered in your state. For example, in my state of California, the new House bill would reduce the number of uninsured children by 56%!From Common Sense:Last m...
More About: Health , Update , Heal

Bamboo Towelettes
2007-09-12 00:45:00
Bamboo has been touted by the eco community for its sustainability, and I was excited to stumble upon Shirts of Bamboo. I contacted the company, as I have yet to venture into bamboo textiles for my family, and Shirts of Bamboo was gracious to send us two compressed bamboo towelettes. The towelettes are a very interesting, green product that may be useful for families.Bamboo is a soft fiber, softer than cotton, which makes it perfect for young, tender skin. It is breathable, absorbent, and fast drying. The compressed bamboo towelettes are very small, about the size of a silver dollar, and they would fit nicely in a small purse or diaper bag. When placed in water, the towelettes expand to 14" x 23". It is truly amazing to watch! The compressed bamboo towelettes would be perfect for spills, babies, eyeglasses, camping, etc. and last for approximately one to three weeks before disintegrating. This may be a disposable product, but it is not a one time use disposable. The only d...
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Food Additives Linked to Hyperactivity in Children
2007-09-10 19:24:00
This is not new news, but it was reported on our local news recently that artificial food additives and coloring consumption affects children's behavior. In fact, in the 1970s, allergist Benjamin Feingold, MD, advocated a diet free of more than 300 food additives to treat hyperactivity, although his research had not been substantiated until now. Whether this information is new or not, the old adage "You are what you eat" rings true when it comes to artificial ingredients. What is new information is that this has finally been proven scientifically.It is not only children with ADHD who are affected by additives, but all children's behavior changes as a result of these substances. According to a 2004 WebMD report,British researchers found removing food additives from the diet of a group of 3-year-olds caused a reduction in the children's hyperactive behavior reported by their parents. And when the food colorings and preservatives were added back into the children's diets, the pa...
More About: Children , Food , Additive , Hyper , Additives

Kid Powered Toys
2007-09-07 15:49:00
If you have children, you know that they have boundless amounts of energy. It only makes sense to use this energy to power toys, and Zen Design Group has come up with a line of toys that does just that. These "environmentally friendly," kid-powered SEE Toys will be available online September 15. SEE Toys has created five different kid-powered toys: Dyancar, Dynatiger, Dynafly, Dynashark, and Dynadolphin. SEE stands for safety, ecology, and economy, and all of the toys are designed for children five years and older. SEE Toys are powered by a dynamo, which is a power-generating motor; children energize by turning a crank. The dynamo charges the rechargeable batteries that make the unbreakable LED lights and sounds emit from the toy. According to Sun Yu, president of Zen Design Group, "The introduction of self-sustainable SEE Toys carries an important message of responsible living to our youth." Our family tested the Dynafly, which my daughter affectionately called "Buggy." Buggy po...

Our First Kiva Loan from Eco Child's Play
2007-09-06 15:12:00
If you read our very busy sidebar, you will notice that we have pledged to donate/loan 10% of any profits through advertising, google ads, and affiliate programs to Kiva . Thus, we have invested in our first natural business. It was hard to pick a business, but we looked for the one that would help to support a family and was green minded. Thus, we chose, Dembele Mariam, whose business is natural medicines in the Cote D'Ivoirie. Dembélé Mariam is married. She has 9 children. Her husband is a retired domestic electrician. Mariam is today the main resource contributor to her family. She is a traditional medicine products seller in Marcory, a suburb in the south of the Abidjan District. She is 51 years old, and her business has flourished since she started receiving microcredit from AE&I. That allowed her to buy a store in which she could do her business in a better and more hygienic environment. She will use the loan to diversify her products offered with cosmetics products. Mar...
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US Maternal Deaths on the Rise
2007-09-05 15:32:00
Shockingly, US maternal deaths are rising. In one of the richest countries in the world, women are dying in childbirth. The blame: obesity and the rising rates of Caesarean sections. The government contends this figure is still small; however, any rise demonstrates another reason why our health care system needs fixed. According to SF Gate, "The U.S. maternal mortality rate rose to 13 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2004, according to statistics released this week by the National Center for Health Statistics. The rate was 12 per 100,000 live births in 2003 — the first time the maternal death rate rose above 10 since 1977. To be sure, death from childbirth remains fairly rare in the United States. The death of infants is much more common — the nation's infant mortality rate was 679 per 100,000 live births in 2004.Maternal deaths were a much more common tragedy long ago. Nearly one in every 100 live births resulted in a mother's death as recently as 90 years ago."Althoug...
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And the Winner Is Jan Barker!
2007-09-04 15:10:00
Congratulations Jan Barker ! You won our random monthly drawing for an Eco Child's Play hemp bag! Jan left a comment in August about reusable bags, and she gave us all a good warning about the danger of balloons. Jan has a family blog at Barker-Family.info. And yes, we have another international winner, as Jan resides in Scotland!Don't forget, to enter September's drawing for an Eco Child's Play hemp bag, all you have to do is leave us a comment. We love to learn from our readers and share in the discussion of raising children in green, sustainable ways. Thank you to all our readers and their comments!
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How to Freshen and Deodorize Your Rugs Naturally
2007-08-31 15:46:00
If you have pets in your house or an older carpet (such as in a dorm or apartment), your flooring may need freshening and deodorizing. Although there are many natural carpet fresheners available in health food stores, it is much simpler and cheaper to make your own. You probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen. To make your own carpet deodorizer, combine one cup of baking soda with 1/2-cup cornstarch. Next, add your favorite herbal scent or essential oils, and sprinkle on your rug. I prefer to sprinkle lavender flowers from the garden into my homemade carpet freshener, but using eucalyptus or citronella oils will get fleas hopping just before vacuuming. This natural, homemade deodorizer works best when left on your carpet for several hours (optimally overnight). If you do have fleas, be sure to empty the vacuum canister or bag immediately, in order that the fleas do not crawl out of the vacuum and return to your home. Commercially-made carpet fresheners come with many...
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Yoga Benefits All Children
2007-08-30 15:41:00
If you practice yoga, you know personally the benefits to all aspects of your life. Children can also reap these benefits from regular yoga practice. No matter what form of yoga children practice, they will increase their well-being, reduce stress, and purify their little, physical bodies. There is evidence that special needs children may especially benefit from yoga. For example, often children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cerebral Palsy have poor muscle tone. Practicing asanas offers a gentle method to build strength. In addition, yoga calms the mind, eases tension, and teaches children coping methods. These skills are especially important for children with special needs. Joshua Betts, a child with Asperger's Syndrome, writes of his yoga experiences: My mom loves yoga. Since she loves me so much, she wants me to do yoga too. She says that yoga keeps her happy and not stressed. I learned some yoga poses. I must say they are not as bad as I thought they would be. My body f...
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The Great Recall of China-Words of Wisdom from Jon Stewart
2007-08-29 15:45:00
For another, more serious perspective, see today's NY Times article "After Stumbling, Mattel Cracks Down in China " and the Green Guide's "The Lowdown: The Latest on Lead Recall s".Only 3 days left to leave a comment and enter our monthly drawing for a hemp Eco Child's Play bag.
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Outdoor Fun with Tetherball
2007-08-28 15:21:00
When I was a child, I loved to play tetherball! I ruled the playground, and my parents made a tetherball game for me in our backyard. I would spend countless hours practicing. When I saw Magic Cabin offered a tetherball game, I had to get it for my children's birthday. As I mentioned before, our cabin is small, and outdoor toys are very appealing. I believe children should spend as much time outside as possible, so the tetherball game offered my children another opportunity to play in the shade. When our tetherball game first arrived, only one part of the pole was in the box. I called Magic Cabin, and they were very kind and quickly remedied the problem. When we installed the tetherball game. which does involve a little concrete, the fun began. The pole is very tall and a little wobbly, but it works. My daughter loves to play the tetherball game, and she has taught her little brother to hit the ball too. The tetherball game is not very natural. The pole is made of galvaniz...
More About: Outdoor , Herb

It's Alright to Play With Your Veggies (if they are organic)
2007-08-27 15:46:00
Only 5 days left to leave a comment and enter our monthly drawing for a hemp Eco Child's Play bag.
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Rope Ladder Gross Motor Fun
2007-08-24 16:00:00
A Rope Ladder is a great eco toy for outdoor fun. This Rope Ladder, available from Magic Cabin, is made of sanded hardwood rungs. The nylon rope is the least eco-friendly part of the toy, but a more natural fiber would not hold up to outdoor weather. The Rope Ladder is rated for children 5 years and older; however, we have had a rope ladder hanging from a tree since my daughter was three-years-old. Our ladder came from Ikea, but it appears it is no longer available.Climbing on a Rope Ladder is more challenging than climbing a stationary ladder, thus it helps continue the gross motor development of older children. A Rope Ladder swings as a child climbs making the task more challenging. A Rope Ladder could be hung indoors, as well, but we are always looking for outdoor toys that don't crowd our small cabin.
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Resources for Environmental Education
2007-08-23 17:07:00
This post originally appeared on Green Options. Back to school time is rapidly approaching, and it is a good time for parents and teachers to make plans for environmental education (EE). EE involves teaching children about the natural world and the way ecosystems work. According to the US EPA, Through EE, people gain an understanding of how their individual actions affect the environment, acquire skills that they can use to weigh various sides of issues, and become better equipped to make informed decisions. EE also gives people a deeper understanding of the environment, inspiring them to take personal responsibility for its preservation and restoration. Whether your child is homeschooled or attends public/private school, EE is an important part of education. Many school districts feel that they fulfill their EE requirements by sending sixth graders to outdoor camp, but EE should occur throughout the year. Concerned parents should ask their children's teachers what their plans f...
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One More Reason to Hate Wal-Mart
2007-08-23 03:53:00
I don't care how green Wal-Mart attempts to be, I hate this store. Recent news from Workers.org describes how 4,000 teenagers in Mexico work for tips only at Wal-Mart , even though full time employment of 14-year-olds is banned by International Labor Organization. According to Workers.org, "Just like the U.S. military, which ignores the economic draft and calls its troops “voluntary,” Wal-Mart claims that the teenagers who work only for tips at their Mexico stores are “volunteer” workers." MSNBC reports,Wal-Mart is Mexico’s largest private-sector employer in the nation today, with nearly 150,000 local residents on its payroll. An additional 19,000 youngsters between the ages of 14 and 16 work after school in hundreds of Wal-Mart stores, mostly as grocery baggers, throughout Mexico—and none of them receives a red cent in wages or fringe benefits. The company doesn’t try to conceal this practice: its 62 Superama supermarkets display blue signs with white letters that ...
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Prayer for Our Son
2007-08-21 16:06:00
You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. BuddhaPlease send your thoughts, prayers, positive space, light, etc. for our son today. He is undergoing treatment for his congenital heart defect.
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Ahoy Matey! Wooden Pirate Ship Fun!
2007-08-20 16:12:00
Another great toy by Plan Toys, the wooden Pirate Ship is made of natural rubber wood and comes with a multitude of accessories. Offered by Magic Cabin, the Pirate Ship is made in Thailand and comes with: A wooden pirate figureFour crew membersTwo laddersTwo cannonsAnchorBarrelTreasure chestSmall rowboatPlankCrow's nestFelt sail My son received the Pirate Ship for Easter two years ago. This natural toy is still a favorite and great for the imagination. Our Pirate Ship did not come with the bottom of the treasure chest (just the lid), and the mast is broken. The mast can be repaired by purchasing a new dowel and attaching the sail and crow's nest, but even without the mast, my children enjoy playing with the Pirate Ship
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Iraq War Jeopardizing Children's Mental Health
2007-08-17 20:13:00
Imagine losing your only brother to a shooting incident, and then having your parents fear for your safety so much that you are not allowed to leave your home. This is what is happening in Iraq to children and their families. Children are being raised in a climate of fear and violence, and in my opinion, this upbringing will fuel further hatred of the United States. According to an article in IRIN, "Children have become prisoners of their own families," Dr Fua'ad Azize, a psychologist in Baghdad, said, but he warned that keeping them locked up inside could seriously affect their development. "Children need to move, read, learn and play but today in Iraq such normal things might lead to death or injury," he said. "Some children and youths are being manipulated and brainwashed into helping militias and insurgents - sometimes with the blessing of their families."Abdallah's mother is sure that keeping her child at home is the best way to save his life but she knows he is not happy:...
More About: Health , Mental , Iraq War , Mental Health

A Cooperative Game for Young Children: Snail's Pace Race
2007-08-16 16:54:00
Snail's Pace Race was first recommended to me by a fellow preschool teacher. This cooperative game allows very young children to work together moving snails across the board. Two colored die are rolled, and depending on the color showing, the appropriate snail is moved. Snail's Pace Raceteaches turn taking and color identification, and it is fun! The large wooden pieces are easy for little hands, and only the die pose choking hazards. Snail's Pace Raceis a game my six-year-old and three-year-old can play together without adult assistance. For a very thorough review of Snail's Pace Race, visit Thingamababy.Snail's Pace Raceis made by Ravensburger, a company I have always liked.
More About: Children , Young , Game