With summer drawing to a close in just a few weeks it’s time to start getting kids ready for the new school year which is just around the corner. There are so many considerations from supplies to clothing to books but through it all try to keep one thing in mind. The school year usually brings with it lots of unnecessary waste that harms the environment and in the end we are the bearers of that responsibility.
That being the case, wherever possible try being a little more Green-minded so what impacts the world the most this year is all the knowledge flowing into our children’s brains.
Some tips include the following:
1. Clothing swap: One of the things many parents have to deal with at this time of year is purchasing new outfits for kids which even when shopping for bargains can often run up large bills. To avoid some of these costs set up a clothing swap with other parents and trade selections from your child’s wardrobe. If you’re worried about kids feeling strange about seeing other kids wearing their clothing arrange for the swap to be with friends who live in other towns.
2. Reusable containers: An incredible amount of waste is produced from packed lunches kids bring to school. The best way to deal with this is replace those plastic and paper bags with reusable containers. Purchase a few of different sizes for holding food so there’s enough to last through the week. Also, get a lunch box-type bag or container to put the lunch in and make sure it’s something which won’t get crushed in a backpack.
3. Healthy meals: Once you’ve settled on some containers think about the contents of those lunches and what you want your kids to be eating on a regular basis. One way to do this is find out which fruits and vegetables contain the most pesticides and buy those organic. Furthermore, it may be easier said than done but try making healthy snacks at home for them to take to school so they don’t get addicted to junk food.
4. Water bottle: Food is one thing, drink is another. In order to cut down on plastic bottles and cups have two or three reusable water bottles ready for school for your children to use. Try and get ones that attach to back packs so they don’t get lost easily.
5. Car pooling: When everyone drives their own kid to school it means each car is spewing emissions into the atmosphere. If possible try setting up a carpooling plan with other parents or get kids on an early schedule to go on foot if walking is an option.
6. Paperless: It surprising to many adults how much kids know about computers but the truth is in some ways they are faster than we’ll ever be because of how early they’ve been exposed to them. Since they know so much encourage teachers to be as digitally oriented as possible when it comes to home work and other assignments so less paper will have to be used.
7. Light bulbs: Utility bills are not cheap, especially electricity. That’s why to cut down on energy usage replace incandescent light bulbs where kids do homework with compact florescent lights (CFLs). NOTE: Ask any electrician and they will tell you CFLs definitely save but they also contain a trace of mercury so as a precautionary step keep them in closed fixtures so if a bulb breaks the clean up is a lot easier.
8. Compost leftovers: When your child didn’t finish his entire lunch if it’s something appropriate encourage them to bring it home to compost. It’s a great way to teach them about composting and how good it is for the earth. Through seeing how even lunch scraps can have a purpose they may gain a greater appreciation for the world around them and how all of these little efforts at being more eco-friendly truly pay off.
Jakob Barry is a home improvement journalist for Networx.com. He blogs about Green topics for pros across the U.S. like Pasadena, TX, electricians and electrical contractors in Sacramento, CA.
 |
| image |
Some tips include the following:
1. Clothing swap: One of the things many parents have to deal with at this time of year is purchasing new outfits for kids which even when shopping for bargains can often run up large bills. To avoid some of these costs set up a clothing swap with other parents and trade selections from your child’s wardrobe. If you’re worried about kids feeling strange about seeing other kids wearing their clothing arrange for the swap to be with friends who live in other towns.
2. Reusable containers: An incredible amount of waste is produced from packed lunches kids bring to school. The best way to deal with this is replace those plastic and paper bags with reusable containers. Purchase a few of different sizes for holding food so there’s enough to last through the week. Also, get a lunch box-type bag or container to put the lunch in and make sure it’s something which won’t get crushed in a backpack.
3. Healthy meals: Once you’ve settled on some containers think about the contents of those lunches and what you want your kids to be eating on a regular basis. One way to do this is find out which fruits and vegetables contain the most pesticides and buy those organic. Furthermore, it may be easier said than done but try making healthy snacks at home for them to take to school so they don’t get addicted to junk food.
4. Water bottle: Food is one thing, drink is another. In order to cut down on plastic bottles and cups have two or three reusable water bottles ready for school for your children to use. Try and get ones that attach to back packs so they don’t get lost easily.
5. Car pooling: When everyone drives their own kid to school it means each car is spewing emissions into the atmosphere. If possible try setting up a carpooling plan with other parents or get kids on an early schedule to go on foot if walking is an option.
6. Paperless: It surprising to many adults how much kids know about computers but the truth is in some ways they are faster than we’ll ever be because of how early they’ve been exposed to them. Since they know so much encourage teachers to be as digitally oriented as possible when it comes to home work and other assignments so less paper will have to be used.
7. Light bulbs: Utility bills are not cheap, especially electricity. That’s why to cut down on energy usage replace incandescent light bulbs where kids do homework with compact florescent lights (CFLs). NOTE: Ask any electrician and they will tell you CFLs definitely save but they also contain a trace of mercury so as a precautionary step keep them in closed fixtures so if a bulb breaks the clean up is a lot easier.
8. Compost leftovers: When your child didn’t finish his entire lunch if it’s something appropriate encourage them to bring it home to compost. It’s a great way to teach them about composting and how good it is for the earth. Through seeing how even lunch scraps can have a purpose they may gain a greater appreciation for the world around them and how all of these little efforts at being more eco-friendly truly pay off.
Jakob Barry is a home improvement journalist for Networx.com. He blogs about Green topics for pros across the U.S. like Pasadena, TX, electricians and electrical contractors in Sacramento, CA.
No comments:
Post a Comment