Helping Your Kids Go Green
There are many changes you can make in your household to reduce your overall environmental impact by reducing your energy usage, choosing sustainable goods, and cutting down on waste.
It can be difficult to give your lifestyle a total makeover and try to make your whole household and all of your choices environmentally responsible. However, you can start by making small changes or by focusing on one specific part of your life in order to move toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle. One of the best places to start is with your children. Choosing greener options for their belongings and their environment can help to reduce your family’s carbon footprint and encourage a healthier atmosphere for your children. Here’s how you can help you children be “green:”
Use Cloth Diapers
If you have an infant or other small children, choose cloth diapers over disposables. The materials used in disposable diapers are not biodegradable, and the chemicals used in them are harmful for the environment (and your baby!). Choosing cloth diapers can help reduce the number of these diapers that end up in landfills. Cloth diapers can also reduce the incidence of diaper rash and infection in your baby.
Choose Lead-Free Paint
When you are painting your child’s nursery or bedroom, make sure you use lead-free paint. Traditional paints with lead in them are both harmful for the environment and for the health of your child. Lead is a heavy metal that is harmful to the soil and to groundwater. Breathing it in or ingesting it (in water, for example) can cause a number of health problems, including nerve damage and developmental delays in children.
Buy Organic, Sustainable Fabrics
Children go through a lot of clothes in their early years, as they quickly outgrow outfits, shoes, and more. Help reduce your environmental impact by choosing fabrics that contain organic or sustainable materials. Organic cotton and bamboo (a sustainable fabric) are quality choices. Look for these fabrics when purchasing linens, blankets, curtains, and other fabrics that will be in your child’s room.
Skip Plastic
Many children’s toys are made of cheap plastic and other synthetic materials. Pass over toys made of this harmful, non-biodegradable material and choose those made of wood or metal instead. Cut out other plastic items that your children use, as well, including bottles, cups, utensils, and more. Choose glass, metal or wood — all of which are recyclable. Even when items are made of wood, glass, or metal, you should still be mindful to choose items that are not covered in lead-free paint. If you must purchase an item that includes plastic, look for items that are BPA free.
Buy Local, Organic Foods
This is a step you can take to help the whole family. The production and shipping of traditionally grown food uses quite a bit of natural resources and non-biodegradable materials (for packaging). When you buy local, you cut down on the energy required to ship the products.
You also ensure that you are purchasing fresher foods that do not require the use of harmful chemicals to preserve them. Choosing local, organic foods is not only better for the environment, but it is better for your family’s health.
There are many more ways that you can help your children and your family to go green. Starting with these simple steps can help you do a lot to reduce your family’s environmental impact and to improve the health of your family. What other ways do you help your children be “green?” Share your ideas in the comments!
About the author:
Amanda Tradwick is a grant researcher and writer for CollegeGrants.org. She has a
Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Delaware, and has recently finished research on grants for masters degree and scholarships & grants.
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