Green Daily

(Photo by Fiesta Toys)

Kids love computers, right? Also animals. So what could be more perfect than a video game that teaches them about conservation, and even encourages action by letting them pick projects to support?

Tales 4 Tomorrow (there's music, click with caution!) is a video game collaboration between Conservation International and Kango, a new environmentally-focused toy company.

Educational video games, which are visually overwhelming for anyone over the age of 11, but perfect for stimulus hungry little ones, are paired with stuffed animals made from environmentally-friendly soy and cotton materials. Each stuffed animal has a tag (printed on recycled paper, of course) that explains its background -- where it lives, if it's endangered, and other conservation information.

By playing the video games, kids can earn "habitokens" that go toward building a new habitat for their endangered animal friend. They also learn about cause and effect -- that their actions can have an impact on the environment.

It's a great lesson, and one you know they'll enjoy because kids and video games go together like ice cream and hot days. If you need a reason to go for it, think of it as an Earth Day gift, and an investment in some future conservationists!