Whether your family has been green for years or you are just starting as a New Year’s Resolution, there are many great simple ways to get children involved. I recommend starting in areas that children can actively participate in and see the immediate results of their sustainability. The idea is to make being green something that is easy, fun and an activity that the entire family can enjoy together. To get started this year, I wanted to share my favorite simple green ways for kids to go green in 2014 – and see immediate results.
If your garage looks like mine, it is packed full of sports gear that no longer gets used. Whether it is a baseball mitt, or soccer cleats that no longer fit or ice skates and hula hoops that were used once and forgotten. While your child may no longer use those pieces of sports gear, there are children all over the world who can not afford or do not have access to sports equipment and would love to give hula hooping, baseball or soccer a try. When your children is finished with or outgrown their sports gear, help them donate it to great cause like Sport’s for the World’s Children or take your child to your local women’s and child’s shelter to donate the items to someone who could really benefit from them.
Children really do enjoying walking or riding their bicycle to school – it gives them a chance to catch up with friends and observe nature on their way. If each child who lives less than a mile away, walked or biked to school it would save 60,000 gallons of gasoline a day. Now, imagine if children who lived over a mile away also walked or biked. Wow, what an impact that would have on the environment. However, the impact that it could make on the health of your child – especially if they don’t get a lot of exercise during the week – now that would be something to smile about!
Paraffin wax is a by-product of petroleum – ugh, need I say more? When it comes to school supplies that are full of paraffin such as crayons, help your child choose a great soy alternative. I recommend hitting your favorite eco-friendly supplier, online source or natural food store to pick up your child’s school and art supplies, and let them in on the experience of picking them.
If your home doesn’t already have a recycling center, create one. If your school isn’t recycling, make this your personal school project for year and ask for help from other parents and administrators. Recycling is probably one of the easiest ways to go green in your home – it doesn’t require a lot of time, energy or supplies, but the impact that it has on the environment is huge.
5. Reuse It
No comments yet.