Happy Earth Day

As a busy "green mom" of 3 sons, I am always looking for ways to get my kids "thinking green". Here are some tips and household products that adults and kids use that can be more mindful for the environment. I find that if I make it part of my life, my kids believe and understand that it's "normal" to do certain things and use certain products.

For example, I always encourage my sons to recycle EVERYTHING; from paper products to plastic containers. Then, I explain and show them how we can, in essence, "re-use" all of that recycled paper by using recycled paper products, such as the new Marcal Small Steps bath and facial tissue or paper towels. That's one easy way our entire family can go green without much effort at all. Let's face it, I don't have time to travel to and save the rain forest, but my family can use products that DON'T use up trees. It's estimated that each American uses approx. 700 pounds of paper each year and if we can lessen the load, wouldn't that be something.

Another easy way for kids to get involved in going green is to teach them about the importance of using CFL's (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs). If every American replaced just one ordinary bulb for a CFL Compact Florescent Lightbulb (Energy Star qualified bulb), we could save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gasses equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars. Kids love to get involved with "grown up" activities so one good way would be to have the kids be on the "look out" for burt out bulbs. When it's time to change a bulb, just opt for a CFL and you save TIME IN THE FUTURE by not having to change the bulb as many times as an ordinary bulb.

A clever product and idea that kids can use to help "green our world" is a reusable water bottle. It's estimated that it plastic water bottles take 1000 years to break down in nature. Instead, choose a (Klean Kanteen) stainless steel reusable water bottle (Stainless Steal, prevents harmful plastic or aluminum from leaching into the drinking water). Kids can decorate the outside with permanent markers or stickers, or you can purchase various color combinations.

Another "tree saver" tip would be to encourage children to use reusable grocery bags. I have my children keep a fabric bag (Chico Bag-complete with built in carrying sack) in their backpack or gym bag. That way, whenever we're out at the grocery or drug store, I have at least four bags on hand (one in my purse and three in their bags)! This saves using countless plastic bags from grocery or drug store; and it keeps our landfills free of plastic bags which take up to 1000 years to break down in nature. IN addition, Chico Bag recycles plastic water bottles to produce their products!

Either way, what ever you choose to do today--and every day--just get out there and enjoy this beautiful planet of ours!