In recent years, the boxes Do It Yourself (DIY) have invaded the shelves of toy stores. Painting, sewing, pottery, jewelry making, paper figurines… These kits promise children to develop their creativity and dexterity while having fun. An attractive idea on paper, but which also raises questions, particularly about its environmental impact. So, are these DIY boxes a good or bad idea?
For creativity, YES. For the planet, NO. We explain why these kits are a dream for children... and a nightmare for the environment.
The good side of DIY kits: a real imagination booster
DIY boxes have the merit of stimulating imagination and fine motor skills children. Unlike ready-made toys, they encourage manipulate, cut, glue, assemble, in short, to use their hands and their head. Result: children gain self-confidence, experiment and learn by creating.
Another positive point: these kits allow children to get away from screens and focus on a manual and artistic activity. It is an excellent way to develop patience and perseverance, valuable qualities in a world where everything moves very quickly.
And let's be honest, seeing your child proudly make something with their own hands is pretty rewarding, right? :-)
Then yes, Imaginatively speaking, it's all good. Except that…
On the ecological side, it's much less fun.
Where it gets tricky is the environmental impact of these boxes. Because behind their fun and educational appearance, they are often synonymous with overconsumption and unnecessary waste.
1. XXL packaging, XXS content
A pretty huge box for tiny contents, plastic bags for each item, colorful over-wraps to catch the eye... In short, a ecological nightmare. Most of these kits generate a crazy amount of waste, a good portion of which not recyclable.
2. A record-breaking lifespan… of short duration.
Let's be honest: once the activity is over, the manufactured object often ends up forgotten in a drawer... before mysteriously disappearing one day during a big tidy-up. It's sad to say, but it's true.
Unlike a reusable toy, these kits are disposable disguised as educational. They have a very short lifespan and encourage people to consume more and more.
The smart compromise: magnetic games Ma Cabane À Rêves
If you are looking for an alternative that combines creativity, free play and eco-responsibility magnetic games Ma Cabane À Rêves are a great option!
(I.e. Infinite creativity without waste
With their stackable and repositionable magnets, children can invent stories, characters, settings, again and again, without ever throwing anything away.
???? A sustainable and responsible choice
Made in France, our games are designed to replace stickers and labels. One says bye-bye to one-shot games and hello to a game that lasts years!
🧠 A free game
Like a DIY box, our games stimulate imagination and fine motor skills, but with a freer approach: no fixed instructions, just a space for experimentation where children build their own stories.
???? Less clutter
No glue that turns your fingers into superglue, no paint that ends up as a work of art on the cat, and most importantly, no glitter that reappears six months later ;) Parents say thank you (even if they don't always shout it out loud). Any tips for storing magnets? It's by HERE]. .
In conclusion: DIY yes, but not just any old way!
DIY boxes are a great idea for encourage children's creativity, but their environmental impact is far from trivialSo before you fall for a kit that will end up in the trash, you might as well opt for a more sustainable and equally stimulating alternative.
And finally, magnetic games Ma Cabane À Rêves tick all the positive boxes of DIY kits… without the drawbacks!
✅ Our magnets stimulate imagination and fine motor skills : manipulating, superimposing, associating shapes and colors, it activates the brain and little hands!
✅ Our magnets are like DIY… We detach (with love), we stick (well, we magnetize), we assemble... and we start again endlessly. All this without scissors in the curtains or stickers stuck on the coffee table.
✅ Our magnets keep screens away and offer an activity that keeps children intelligently occupied.
✅ Our magnets develop patience and perseverance, because a universe is not built in the blink of an eye!
✅ Our magnets are more economical : instead of accumulating one box, then two, then three (because yes, it encourages consumption), A single pack of magnets offers endless possibilities… and lasts for years!
With Ma Cabane À Rêves, we keep fun, we say bye-bye to the waste, and we leave imagination expressing itself again and again.
So, ready to swap disposable DIY for responsible gaming ? 😏
Photo credit @evi.