Target has a "homeschool aisle"

[Wolfmeis]

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=398657

I tripped out. I couldn't believe what I saw. Truly.

[Attached Mama]

they are also carrying Seventh Generation products in select stores and next year hopefully in all stores. Kudos to them!!

[blbcHelvsme]

Cool! I really like Target.

[SRHS]

AWESOME!!! Thanks for pointing this out!!!

Susan

[UlrikeDG]

They have some great Organic fruit leather at my local Target, too.

[simple living mama]

Eeek. Not to put a damper on the love for Target but I thought you should know that they got a "D+" on a report card of box stores that buy from companies that use slave labor. This has been talked about either on "talk amongst ourselves" or the "Activism" site. Just thought you should know this especially since we all have kids ourselves.

http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/.../scorecard.cfm

[RiverSky]

In what way is that a "homeschool" aisle?

[Wolfmeis]

Assuming that you're not being snarky, I will answer by saying that several schools of thought about educating very young children include heavy doses of practical life play, dramatic play, analytical skills and scientific exploration, and creative pursuits such as knitting, painting, beading etc.

If you visit this particular aisle, perhaps you will have a better grasp on the volume of actual quality that I saw there. I couldn't believe it, truly. A hugely mainstream store like that now has cooperative games like River Crossing and Blokus; science kits that heretofore I could order only online or purchase at the educator's store a city away from us; Montessori-quality practical life equipment and Waldorf-suitable dolls and art supplies; this is what led me to call it "the homeschool aisle."

[supervee]

We hadn't been to Target in a while, but DS got a gift card for Christmas, so we visited it last week. I did see they have a bunch of natural wood and other kinds of toys we had only found in our local toy store.

My issue with it is that I can get the same toy from my local toy store, at the same price, and it doesn't have a ton of packaging on it, plus I am supporting a local business owner. We can also get science kits, etc. from our local school supply store.

BUT, if you live in a place without an independent toy store, it is great to have such a good selection of good toys and games now. Yay for them!

Related, Sam's Club now carries organic cotton clothing. All these big retailers are following the consumer trends well!

[nolonger]

I live in a small town in Northern CA and I've noticed that a lot of local businesses shut down when Target moved in. There was also a protest in front of the store right before Arnold Swarzennegger's expensive "special election" because Target contributes so much money to the governator's campaign fund.

Hopefully a more politically astute member has a link; if not, I'll have to come back when I have more time to google.

Anyway, I don't shop there or allow my children to buy so much as a pack of gum from that store.

I understand that in some small towns in the rural Midwestern US, there really aren't any alternatives other than WalMart. This makes me sad.

[indiegirl]

The reality of life is that super stores like Target are here to stay. Their hiring and employee practices, from what I understand, are more favorable than many other companies and are much better than WalMart in that regard. They are not going anywhere. I support local business when I can (heck, I'm a WAHM, I know that game!) but the reality for most people--and let's not even talk about people who don't have choices in that regard--is that they are going to pick a place like Target to save money and time.

The point I think the OP was trying to make is that mainstream culture (Target) has turned a corner on the toy market. Instead of mainly junk toys, they are taking the leap into quality. They are the first major retailer to do this on this level and it's AMAZING. It's inspiring. It makes me think something is working at the top levels. It makes me think change is afoot. And that is exciting.

And the post questioning what made it a homeschool aisle made me laugh. Isn't every aisle a homeschool aisle if you follow the "life has all the lessons we need" school of thought? Even on the crap junk aisle, I see homeschool lessons. I see a study of economics and work ethics, of quality vs. quantity, of budgeting, etc.

That post made me a little defensive.

Jesse

[simple living mama]

Originally Posted by indiegirl

The reality of life is that super stores like Target are here to stay. Their hiring and employee practices, from what I understand, are more favorable than many other companies and are much better than WalMart in that regard.
Jesse

I thought long and hard about posting the fact that Target stores are not much better than walmart because I was afraid of making waves and then I thought, well, if I don't speak out then I'm just as bad as Target. The beauty of this site is to pass on and share information so that as mothers we can make the world a better place for children and not just our own.

I was mentioning slave labor. Not hiring and employee practices. Whether they are here to stay or not it's still wrong. And Target is only just slightly better than walmart. That's not saying much.

As a mother and a with a great love for children and all life, I just wanted to pass that on. Going from cheap plastic to quality wood is a good thing but if the practices are the same (i.e., little kids working in sweatshops), it takes the sweetness out of it.

[MyLittleWonders]

We were just there this afternoon and I loved the new aisle! My mom thought the toys were rather cool and loved the little play wooden kitchen. I would love to be able to afford that and the pots and pans and food ... so much fun!

[Kim]

I was there just today and wholeheartedly agree: AMAZING.

Target, for those of us who live in MN, is a local business. My sis works for corporate, friends work for the retail store. It is a wonderful company on so many levels.

And Target is only just slightly better than walmart. That's not saying much.

I was unable to find the Washington Post article alleging the employee abuse from those particular vendors. If anyone can locate that article, please pass along.

Otherwise, I strongly disagree that Target is only slightly better than Wal*mart. Forbes named Target the most philanthropic company in the nation last year. The money you spend at Target is put back into your community.

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by simple living mama

I thought long and hard about posting the fact that Target stores are not much better than walmart because I was afraid of making waves and then I thought, well, if I don't speak out then I'm just as bad as Target. The beauty of this site is to pass on and share information so that as mothers we can make the world a better place for children and not just our own.

I think politely posting information the way you did is important. Once we have a full range of information, we can make our own informed decisions; but it would be a shame to not have all the input everyone has to give. Slavery is a very real and huge international issue - and there's all too little news about it. Here's an older article about it, and the problem has grown since: Child labour. And here's one that makes suggestions about what we can do to improve conditions: toys article in Social Action site.

Funny this conversation has come up, because just the other day I was thinking about how we're now surrounded by inexpensive things made in other countries, and how that's going to affect our own economy - but add the issue of slavery and child labor to it and it really gets to be a complex issue... - Lillian




.

[Wolfmeis]

I think it is both impolite and non relevant, frankly. I did follow the link; and using 4 year old information, which has almost certainly been corrected, to hijack a thread in a homeschool forum is just rude.

Slavery is an extremely important issue, of course it is. But the products we are discussing-- or ATTEMPTING to discuss-- are the same ones we have been purchasing from other online retailers for some time.

The beauty of this site is to pass on and share information so that as mothers we can make the world a better place for children and not just our own.

There are many supported forums for discussing your politics, activism and causes. This forum is for our discussions about homeschooling our children. I am taken aback by your tacit statement that if I choose to disagree with your assessment of and continue to shop at Target, that I am somehow making the world a worse place. This is your opinion.

[RiverSky]

Originally Posted by Wolfmeis

Assuming that you're not being snarky, I will answer by saying that several schools of thought about educating very young children include heavy doses of practical life play, dramatic play, analytical skills and scientific exploration, and creative pursuits such as knitting, painting, beading etc.

If you visit this particular aisle, perhaps you will have a better grasp on the volume of actual quality that I saw there. I couldn't believe it, truly. A hugely mainstream store like that now has cooperative games like River Crossing and Blokus; science kits that heretofore I could order only online or purchase at the educator's store a city away from us; Montessori-quality practical life equipment and Waldorf-suitable dolls and art supplies; this is what led me to call it "the homeschool aisle."

Nope, I wasn't being snarky. Our local Target's new wooden toys aisle is fairly small, only has some wooden toys (limited selection, all made in China) and nothing I would consider homeschool stuff, didn't see any Waldorf-suitable dolls, for instance and no science kits. We are in a smaller city with only one Target. We have a number of much better local toy and teacher stores in our area (plus a Learning Express, which I hope is ethically better than Target) and though it's interesting to see that wooden toys are becoming very mainstream and popular, I certainly hope that new aisle does not impact the business of those smaller mom & pop type businesses.

[Wolfmeis]

Originally Posted by RiverSky

Nope, I wasn't being snarky. Our local Target's new wooden toys aisle is fairly small, only has some wooden toys (limited selection, all made in China) and nothing I would consider homeschool stuff, didn't see any Waldorf-suitable dolls, for instance and no science kits. We are in a smaller city with only one Target. We have a number of much better local toy and teacher stores in our area (plus a Learning Express, which I hope is ethically better than Target) and though it's interesting to see that wooden toys are becoming very mainstream and popular, I certainly hope that new aisle does not impact the business of those smaller mom & pop type businesses.

Your target probably carries our Target's former selection. I guess one of the reasons I am so darn tootin excited about this is that I moved from SC to a very urban area in Washington State, and I can't find here the selection of educational supplies I found back home. It's driving me batty.

This was my former, completely local ed supply store: http://www.the-learning-center.com/

Were I still there, I'd still be pleased to see the new aisle at Target, but it wouldn't have me flipping out.

[blbcHelvsme]

Just went to Target, and the one we have didn't even know what I was talking about. I guess the homeschool isle is only in certain Targets.

[GoodEats]

Originally Posted by Wolfmeis

I am taken aback by your tacit statement that if I choose to disagree with your assessment of and continue to shop at Target, that I am somehow making the world a worse place. This is your opinion.

Well, taking it a step farther (and by no means trying to hijack, just pointing out), if you also might want to shop at Hecht's, Strawbridge, Lord & Taylor, Filene's, Marshall Fields, Foley's, Kaufmann's, Meier & Frank, Robinson-May, Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Sears, or JCPenney, you are also making the world a worse place because, with the exception of of Sears and JCPenney, the other department stores are owned by May or Federated, which merged last year. So, yes, I'm sorry, department stores of any bent are out and you should have any wedding/formalwear custom made because May also owns David's Bridal, After Hours and Priscilla of Boston. Well, ok, you can shop at Nordstrom. (Of course, the majority of these stores are listed as purchasing garments made in now-closed factories... I wonder where their current inventory is made?)

And, yes, I absolutely will be on the lookout for the improvements at Target. I DO vote with my wallet. Target is responsive to "we're very happy, but you could do better". They're also clean and pay/treat their employees decently and do not appear to be trying to take over every available piece of land in the US. I think "mainstreaming" quality, meaningful toys is a good thing. Perhaps the other big toy chains will take notice and devote part of their Barbie aisle to something more worthwhile. Alas, I won't hold my breath, since Zany-Brainy actually felt the need to add Barbie, Bratz and other horrible things before finally going out of business... I've wondered if they would still BE in business if they'd kept their original focus. I know I stopped going in, even to look around, after the first time the blinding-pink aisle appeared.

This does not mean I will be taking my business from my tiny, not-so-local, local toy store. Shopping at an honest-to-goodness toystore is a different experience than shopping in a "megamart". If I'm taking my kids to buy toys or if I go for gifts, I'm definitely going there. But, when I go to Target, it will be nice to know that there is something to look at besides the mountains of plastic crap and, perhaps, find and pick up something.

Thanks for the heads-up. I usually go in with a very specific list of things I need and don't spend much time wandering (and try to avoid the toy area, if the children are with me).