By Jenn Savedge, Author of Green Parenting Books
Did you catch Annie Leonard’s The Story of Stuff video? That video, as well as its sequels, The Story of Bottled Water, The Story of Cap and Trade, and The Story of Cosmetics have set the Web ablaze over the past few years, thanks in part to Leonard’s incredible knack for breaking down complex subjects into witty, easy-to-understand information. And the quirky animation is fun to watch, too.
Now The Story of Stuff’ founder is bringing her message of sustainability to kids. She has teamed up with PBS Kids and WGBH to create eight short, animated videos to show kids how to think more deeply and creatively about the world they live in, and how to make choices based on what they discover. The goal is that as kids look at objects and activities in their daily life, they will begin asking: Where does it come from? What is it made of? What happens to it when it’s thrown away?
It sounds a little heavy for kids, but Leonard and PBS do a good job of introducing these concepts without burying kids under a mountain of worry. The eight videos look at the “stuff” in a kid’s life such as electronic gadgets, juice boxes and magazines. One video focuses on how much happiness these kinds of things bring to our lives anyway.
