Parenting comes with a lot of responsibility. But let’s not forget our other responsibility, i.e., saving our planet. Not only for the environment, but also for a healthier future for your kid, here are 10 tips for parenting the eco-friendly way. Go Green!
1) Start early!
Why wait to start a good deed? Start exposing your kid to a greener life while they are still in the womb. It is a proven fact that the environmental exposure of the mother affects the fetus. So eat organic food, opt for safer (and greener) chemicals like cleaners in your home, and open the windows of your room to cleanse the air.
2) Organic baby food
Studies have shown that due to their size, fast metabolism and less-varied diet, babies are more prone to developmental disorders due to exposure from pesticides. So, why not cut out the pesticide by giving them safer organic baby food and fresh juices?
3) Put a dapper on plastic diapers
Disposable plastic diapers contain chemicals harmful for your baby and create a 3.6 million ton dump every year! And a lot of water is needed to wash cloth diapers for reuse. The best bet is to try some of the new non-chlorinated and biodegradable diapers. Even flushable/compostable gDiapers seem to be a good idea. Also, lessen your reliance on wipes by using cotton fabric squares or at least half-cut disposable wipes.
4) Don’t ‘toy’ with your kids’ health
All modern toys contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a harmful chemical which releases toxic fumes into the air. And kids make it worse by putting the same PVC toys into their mouths! A much healthier option is to encourage your kid to play outdoors. The outdoor air is much healthier than indoor air, and also, your kid is bound to fall in love with nature! As for toys, try the wooden ones coated with non-toxic paints.
5) Reuse and recycle your way to health
Toys, clothes, shoes… kids outgrow everything very quickly. Although all of us want to provide our child with the best, buying or borrowing well-preserved items may not be a bad idea at all. It is bound to save you oodles of money and also save the planet. The only precaution you need to take is to check whether the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled the borrowed item for safety reasons. But the chances of this happening are pretty rare. Most of the items that you will find will be in good condition due to short-term usage.
6) Bag your way to grocery shops
As a parent, one buys a lot of grocery. So make sure you always carry a bag with you when you go for shopping. In fact, you can start off with a ‘fun’ activity for your kid by helping them decorate the bag. That way they won’t let you forget to carry the bag along with you.
7) Carpool ahoy!
Spend a lot of time on the road making small errands for your child, or dropping them off to classes? Imagine the huge environmental impact you must be making! Minimize the damage by carpooling often. Also, keep your vehicle’s tires inflated to make your vehicle more fuel-efficient. And plan out your trip and errands before you start your road-trip to avoid making roundabouts.
Of course, the greenest (and healthiest) way to commute is to encourage your family to walk or cycle their way to short distance destinations.
8) Stop power vampires
The toys in your house soon give way to electronic appliances; iPods, laptops, Tvs, DVD players… all these are ‘vampire appliances’ as they suck out power even when they are not in use because of their standby modes. Teaching your kids (and yourself!) to unplug these appliances after use can save you a lot of money and save the environment from an additional load of carbon dioxide to deal with!
9) Bring nature into their life
I’m sure you want your children to carry on your legacy of being an earth-friend. The best way to further their love for nature is to expose them to its beauty. School schedules and other activities may not allow to do this on their own, so arrange hikes, backyard camping or fishing trips just to show them the wonderful gift they have all around them.
10) Make a group of earth-lovers
Spread the word! Discuss these issues in the monthly PTA meetings. Make your kid a part of the ‘Go Green’ drive by helping him/her write letters to the mayor for cleaning up a favorite fishing pond or maybe preserving parkland.
