Have you seen this very compelling video made by former Greenpeace employee Annie Leonard? Yes it may be a bit of a bummer, in the way that big business, pollution, and global warming are, but it may get your kid to stop asking for new plastic toys every time they turn on the TV. I first read about it in the New York Times last May, when it made the front page, where they called it a “sleeper hit in classrooms across the nation.”  Since then, Annie has created several more videos, which you can watch on her site. While these aren’t necessarily appropriate for your 5 year old (there’s just a lot to explain), they could be good for kids probably 7 and up.