Kids

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When does a baby become a small goat? Many of the issues surrounding kids can be found in the Parent & Baby section (oh, if only that were entirely true). Try also Clothes & Fashion or Food & Drink.

There is basically nothing important to say in this category that hasn’t been said elsewhere, so I have taken the chance to have a highly opinionated rant. Naughty, I know, but read on if you fancy the sound of it.

One thing that I think is important is to expose kids to fewer cleaning chemicals and more germs. Remember that anything that kills all known germs does so because it is a poison (more or less). A recent study found that giving a harmless parasite to allergy sufferers cured almost all their allergies completely. It appears that we evolved to battle parasites, bacteria, viruses and micro-assailants of all kinds, and now that we are replacing these with detergents, surfactants and bleach our bodies can’t cope. The result is allergies and pathetic immunity. Anyway, that’s what I reckon: so there.

In fact, while I’m on a rant, I’ll suggest that we should let our kids fall over more (metaphorically and actually). Over-cosseting and lack of exercise is very unhealthy. A friend in the forces told me that the training of new recruits has had to be toned down, as their bones can’t take it – apparently lack of knocks when growing up leads to weak bones. So let them get out there, get grubby and get bruised.

Of course, I might be completely wrong.

What to do

Kids grow fast, mentally and physically, so think about buying stuff second hand and pass it on again when finished with. A good start for this is the Market Place, or dedicated websites like Patched Elephant should be able to help.

Try to get toys that are locally manufactured or fairly traded and made from sustainable materials (such as FSC wood). Try and get stuff that will last. Toys without batteries are best, but otherwise use rechargeable ones and think about solar chargers.

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