Helping Your Kids Be "Green"

Teaching your children to think "green' can be fun and well worthwhile. Even the young preschooler can start learning ways to be healthier and help our environment. The earlier children are introduced to certain routines, the better chance of those children continuing on those same routines, as they get older. So why not start out with routines that are healthier and more natural and environmentally friendly? Here are some easy to remember suggestions for going "green" with your kids.

Using The Water

Kids love water. But water can be wasted very easily and kids can learn early on some ways to use the water carefully. When they wash their hands at the sink, show kids how to keep the water turned down to a stream-like flow. While this is not as fun as having it flow at full force and splashing it around, it is a good habit to start early. When kids are brushing their teeth, the water does not need to be running the entire time. Try having them keep the water off until its time to rinse their pearly whites! Little kids, like my three-year-old son, love water. It is really why he will brush his teeth and wash his hands at all...playing with the water opportunity. So, it may be challenging to restrict or limit water flow with little ones, but starting now is one way to eventually get the idea to stick.

Older kids that may be helping out in the kitchen can try washing fruits and vegetables in a bowl instead of running water to help with conservation.

Toxic Chemicals in the home

It is not a good idea to use antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers in your home. These contain chemicals that could possibly be harmful after prolonged use. These soaps actually kill good bacteria as well as the bad, and could be encouraging growth of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Kids hands can get clean with natural soap and warm water and good old scrubbing their hands together and rinsing well.

Try using organic shampoos for family members, and your pets. Instead of chemically treating for bugs, fleas, and flies, use non-toxic solutions. The Internet has lots of resources for nontoxic remedies you can make and use in your home for pest control.