fair trade children's gift
Not too long ago, I was looking for a fun, creative and all-inclusive activity to do with the youngsters in my family. I decided we should start our own family band. And after assessing the talent pool, I purchased the Fair Trade Wooden Paintable Pond Animals Instuments for my band members to begin with. Thus, The Fair Trade Rock Group was born. The boys took to the instruments with ease and were quickly jamming to the beat of their own pond animal.
Well, now it’s time to upgrade the sound! I noticed on the Good Gifts Naturally web site there is one more music pack that we can use. It is the Handmade Children’s Musical Instruments Rhythm Bag. With these fun and exciting instruments The Fair Trade Rock Band will take fair trade rocking to a whole new level–Level eleven!
The Children’s Rhythm Bag is a musical instrument package which includes: a set of three different simple rhythm instruments; a music cd to play along with; and a musical ‘guide’. The instruments are a drum, a shaker and a set of claves. Like the Paintable Pond Animals, each of these instruments was also handmade and the artisans who crafted them were provided with fair wages. The claves are made in Java, Indonesia out of coconut trees. I was concerned about cutting down trees to create children’s toys, but to my delight I found the trees are cut down after their ability to produce coconuts has declined. When this occurs the growers cut the tree down and plants a new one in its place.
The drum and the shaker are made in Peru. The shaker is made by drying a gourd that grows from a climbing ivy in the valley of the Andes. After the gourd has dried they design the outside. At first glance you would think that the shaker is painted, but it is actually burned. The talented artisans bun the wood into abstract shapes and then carve and futher define the shapes giving it a beautifully finish. The drum is made of goat skin stretched over a wood bark frame. Aside from the instruments this pack contains an audio compact disk which greatly helps when teaching the youngsters songs to jam to. Another great feature of this packaged set is the book of games, “The Road to Jamtown”. This book is great for teaching children how to play in rhythm and provides fun games that promote creativity. The whole set of wonderful things comes in a reusable draw string tote bag, ideal for travel or just to keep things together!
All in all this is a very entertaining children’s instrument pack. I know our boys are going to have some fun for sure! The Fair Trade Rock Band is pumped, primed and ready to unleash the rhythms of Jamtown! Thanks to Good Gifts Naturally I was able to find an additional source of creative entertainment (and just plain fun) for my family while providing sustainable incomes for other families in Peru and Indonesia.
So if you or somebody you know is also looking to make a difference and provide creative outlets and encouragement for young musicians, you should send them to Good Gifts…..Naturally!
