Chicago, Illinois - Parents who want to impart a love of nature to their children take them for walks in the park, ask the children to provide loving care to family pets, go camping together for vacations, take them to zoos and other nature exhibits to teach them about common and rare animals and plants, and teach them about recycling and not to litter. Now these parents can use a new soft-form teaching toy to help children love the Earth and the elements that make it beautiful: Ki™, made for children ages 6 months to 6 years.

Aware Toys' Ki is actually six detachable toys that little ones can easily remove by Velcro tabs and reattach. Ki, pronounced with a long "i" and which means Earth Spirit in the Native American language of Taino, is made of a huggable, lovable blue Earth for its body. A bright, happy sunshine face is its head. Two dolphins make its arms. Two floppy trees make its playful legs. Each of the components can be enjoyed independently, or put together as a whole "doll." Children ages 2 to 3 years particularly are attracted to the toy.

"In focus groups and with families who have purchased Ki, we've seen that kids truly love playing with Ki," says designer and inventor Cindy Click. "It's so gratifying to me to see children genuinely embrace this toy as it's intended. I created Ki out of happy childhood memories of days spent at my grandmother's Minnesota lake cabin, and from later experiences on Native American reservations and powwows."

Ki is a non-racial, non-violent toy that transcends gender, cultural, religious and national boundaries. It is for sale on the company's website, www.awaretoys.com, and at specialty retail stores for $25.99. Aware Toys has plans for additional products related to Ki, such as books, music and coloring books, along with other new products.