In need for toy to educate about equality / social issues

[plumlynch]

My son is turning 5 and I would like to find a toy that is appropriate for his age (no screens please!) but that can somehow teach him about important current topics like equality in the work place, climate change, bullying?

Other than books, is there anything out there that I am missing?! Any ideas please?

I do not want to influence him too much but think is an appropriate age to start thinking about some of this issues, he is a very smart kid!

Thank you all

[BackforGood]

I think you are getting a bit ahead of yourself.
'Equality in the Workplace'???? What 5 yr old even knows what a workplace is ?

You can make sure, when you are buying books, jigsaws, or anything else with pictorial representation, that the pictures reflect the multicultural world of today, with both sexes represented in different roles, and people with visible SEN/Ds represented, same with dolls, and small world figures etc., but a ball, a paddling pool, a tub of construction a toy kitchen, a toy lawnmower, playdough, a trainset, etc etc etc are just that - toys!. Not really climate awareness raising propaganda

The A Mighty Girl website might give you some pointers, particularly of books and stories about some truely inspirational women that never got the credit, not publicity they deserved.
If you like them on Facebook, you get regular stories into your feed of inspirational scientists, astronauts, and war heroes that you will most likely have not heard of before.

[Lynne1Cat]

Instead of worrying about him knowing about equality etc., you should teach him things he actually NEEDS at his age.... (if he doesn't already know these things) tying his shoelaces, using a knife and fork properly, knowing his address, being kind to people and animals, washing himself in the bath, reading well, writing well, doing sums.


Mum to adult sons (in their 30s now, and both could do ALL those things before they started school)

[Painting345]

Hey, as mentioned above make sure your son is at his level in other areas before adding extra ideas into his busy brain (literacy & numeracy). If that's the case, like my daughter, she learnt about equality through conversations and charity work. She recently walked 5 miles for charity and raised over £300 and learnt where it went, who it helped, why it helped etc
Maybe you could take him to look around some charity bases near you?

[corythatwas]

The toy to teach him about these things in an age appropriate way is you
Yes, you can use time when you're playing together with dolls and teddybears, but the teaching has to come from you.

Ans remember anything you teach has to be age appropriate and take his emotional level into account. Children this age have to believe that problems are fixable and that they, or at least their mum and dad, can make a difference, so climate change is a tricky one. Frame it as "we are looking after the earth" instead. And do little jobs together. Absolutely not about global warming or plastics filling the sea unless you actively want him to be a climate change denier by the age of 11, out of sheer self preservation.
The same with bullying and equality:teach him how to be nice to his friends and how to negotiate in an age appropriate way. Live your own values every day until he reaches 18 and beyond.
My 18yo is fiercely independent and in many ways we have little in common. But I know he believes in me as a - on the whole - decent person and that that influences his behaviour even when he knows I'll never find out. No clever educational toys, just a lifetime of observing how his dad and I behave to people around us, to his friends, when somebody is in trouble.

[rainingcatsanddog]

If he has action figures/dolls, you could pick an ethnic minority version rather than the default white person. (I'm assuming that you're white)

Equality in the workplace - do you mean not assuming that a Dr or lorry driver will be male? That's life experience. He will make less assumptions if he meets female mechanics or a female firefighter etc I'm 40 and was pleasantly surprised when a female plumber turned up so I think this is a life long thing.

Assuming that you live with his father then living by example is the best thing to do. Dads should sew on name labels and mum should do DIY etc

[plumlynch]

Thank you, this is all very helpful. It was actually my first time using this forum and I am learning quite a bit. In the end it comes down to the same... get your child to learn from how you act, what you do, how you behave towards others, and hopefully I am doing that correctly!

I guess I was just hoping to find something age appropriate out there he can play with when I am not around, but it doesn't seem to exist and now I see why!