Green Dollhouse - Using Dollhouses to Teach Values for the Future

I've spent a lot of my life working on environmental issues when I'm not working with miniatures. How refreshing it is to see a book about a project that combines both of my interests. The Green Dollhouse project was conceived as a means of giving children and adults the opportunity to learn about and discuss environmentally sustainable housing. Children become familiar with ecologically responsible materials and systems through play, while adults get to learn about the systems and jargon in a playful manner.

The book is the story of the Green Dollhouse Project held in San Mateo California in 2005. Following on from that project, this book leads children and adults into a discussion about environmentally sustainable housing, greywater, roof gardens, solar energy and many other topics, by showing and discussing fifteen of the dolls houses entered in the projects dollhouse competition. Best of all, the book has sidebars which give instructors and adults lots of opportunities to explore what children know about sustainable housing. Several projects in the book introduce children to planning and building their own green dollhouse or furniture projects, complete with discussions about systems, energy, recycling and re using.

This is a great book for anyone contemplating exploring buildings with children. It makes me wonder why more of us don't sit down with the children in our lives and create the house of tomorrow, before we gift them with another segment of our past. Have you ever thought about planning an environmentally responsible home as a project with a child or group you know? Leave a comment below or in the forum.

Photo Courtesy Ecotone Publishing Company,Used with Permission