Want to recycle your tubby toys containing phthalates?  Unless they’ve been stamped on the packaging as ‘phthalate free’, I would recommend staying clear of having your kids bath with them and mouth them.  Refer to my previous article ‘Protect Your Family From Phthalates In Your Home’. Here is a great activity from National Geographic Kids that promotes early science type learning for a young child and keeps a phthalate filled rubber ducky from sitting in the land-fill.  Try creating a Motion Ocean!

Source: National Geographic Kids

What does this project accomplish? 

Teaching kids about density with liquids. Water is denser than oil and the two materials never mix. So when the water moves, it pushes the oil around, making shapes like waves.

Materials:

♦  Clear jar with lid
♦  Water
♦  Blue food coloring
♦  Glitter
♦  Baby oil
♦  Plastic floating toys

1. Fill the jar halfway with water.
2. Add drops of food coloring until you like the color you see. Shake in a little glitter.
3. Pour in baby oil until the jar is three-quarters full.
4. Place a floating toy on top of the oil, then screw on the lid tightly.
5. Shake the jar gently to set your ocean in motion.