Why “Play-Again” Toys Matter


The Conscious Classroom

Simple, sustainable STEM projects that reduce waste, spark curiosity, and inspire young minds.

Hi friends,

As we head into gift-giving season, I’ve been thinking about the toys our kids actually return to over and over again. So many toys end up in the “play once and forget” category, but creativity-driven tools with long-term use are worth the upfront investment.

One of the best examples in our home is our Toybox 3D printer. We’ve had it for four years, and my son still uses it regularly. Recently he printed a guitar keychain for his guitar teacher. This week, he 3D printed all the game pieces for a board game he designed for a school project based on Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume.

The Toybox is kid-friendly, easy to set up, full of ready-to-print designs, and gives kids the option to create their own designs. I also love that the filament is PLA, a plant-based material that can be industrially composted.

Because we’ve gotten so much value out of it, I became an affiliate. If you use my link, you’ll receive an additional 10% discount, and I’ll earn a small commission that supports Thoughtfully Sustainable at no extra cost to you.

If you’d like to explore more:

Sustainably yours,
Jess
Founder of Thoughtfully Sustainable

Thoughtfully Sustainable

Are you a parent or teacher that’s looking to integrate science and sustainability concepts into your learners’ lives? I’m here to help! My name is Jessica and I’m a science teacher and mom that creates hands-on sustainability and STEM lessons for grades K-8 to cultivate critical thinking skills and foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

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