In today’s day and age, eco-friendliness is a trending topic just about everywhere you look.

However, kids might not understand the importance of eco-friendliness. For that, we present to you a wonderful list of websites, games, and creative imagination that will help you teach your children how to go green.

Planet Pals
This is an interactive and colorful website designed to help educate your children on what conservation means. There are games, crafts, cool activities, and a wealth of information formatted for your child’s understanding. There are resources for parents and teachers alike, so visit Planet Pals today.

Amazon Green Toys
Online retailers such as Amazon often have entire pages dedicated to toys either built with recyclable materials, or toys created for promoting eco-friendliness. You can visit Amazon’s green toys page following the link we’ve just provided.

Family-Built Compost Bin
Take your kids out back and build a family compost bin. This will encourage them to explore their surroundings and develop a new appreciation for nature(though, as kids with vivid imaginations, we usually appreciate nature quite a bit!) Make the outdoors a fun life lesson for the whole family.

Plant A Garden
Buy some seeds, dig a few holes in front of your house, or out back, and plant flowers, trees, or vegetables. Help your children water and care for their new garden until they get the hang of it themselves. This will help them become responsible and disciplined, and will instill knowledge they will pass on to their future kids.

Buy Them A Bicycle
Bikes promote eco-friendliness, and getting your kids to bike places rather than driving them in the car will help them understand energy independence at an early age. They’re also great for exercise and building healthy bodies, which is a win from every angle you look at it.

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We have come a long way from the notion of knowing where our food comes from.

In America especially, there seems to be a drive-through for nearly everything. You don’t even have to leave your vehicle to have a full meal. Things like fast food restaurant signs are everywhere, and so begins the connection that this is an option where food can be obtained.

Concurrently, when you have budding readers, every opportunity to read is important. Things like environmental print, or printed words that are in everyday surroundings, provide reading material when children are out and about.

One study showed that 102 out of 228 children in early reading stages were able to recognize the majority of recurring labels in their environment.

The top read logo, which 210 out of the 228 were able to identify was a large, golden-arched restaurant chain.

Although environmental print on its own does not cause the onset of reading as concluded in this study, but rather it depends more on other associations with the labels, or contextual clues (Masonheimer, Drum & Ehri, 1984).

Researchers may disagree on the level that logos and this type of printed word plays in reading development. While it is a wonderful stage in early literacy when children are able to put together associations and build on them as they learn to read, it should be somewhat eye-opening that fast food signage is among the most recognized.

Since environmental print is such a readily available source, it brings up a question of how much marketing and an ‘all things now’ attitude has changed the nature of food in our fast paced society.

Although I have rolled through the food service window my fair share of times, when you are in the role of nutrition provider, you try and choose healthy options most of the time. Teaching children about agriculture and smart food choices is needed more than ever, considering rising health problems that are related to poor nutrition. Children need to learn about where their food originates in order to build a lasting appreciation for its production and the sustenance it provides.

One such effort is the National Farm to School Network, which is a not-for-profit organization that helps American schools pair up with local farms in order to promote healthy concepts around eating and provide educational resources revolving around agriculture and nutrition. They work with communities, keeping specific regional needs and agronomic availability in mind, and partner with businesses to spread the word about the importance of proper nutrition for promoting optimal growth and development.

It is refreshing to learn about associations that proactively work to make a difference in the way children receive and perceive nutrition.

The combination of farmer appreciation, greener agricultural techniques and involving future generations in the cultivation process is a promising sign of its own.

Source: Masonheimer, P., Drum, P. & Ehri, L. (1984). Does Environmental Print Identification Lead Children Into Word Reading? Journal of Reading Behavior. V XVI(4). Retrieved from: http://jlr.sagepub.com/content/16/4/257.full.pdf

Flash drives are one example of computing accessories that are often left lying around.

USB flash drives can be recycled, although only certain components can be salvaged. If still in good working condition, consider donating them to causes where they will be put to good use.

Still usable sticks can be sent to Recycle USB where they will benefit children. Received flash drives are loaded with the Sugar Learning Platform which transforms them into mobile computer operating systems.

This is a brilliant idea that comes to life at Sugar Labs, a non-profit supplier that works with another non-profit organization, the Software Freedom Conservancy to provide this free service to learning hungry kids.

Children who may not have reliable computer or internet access at home can learn interactively from the download, and can then tote their knowledge around with them. Having a USB permits students to save projects and assignments and view or transfer them as needed. They are given to those between the ages of 5 to 12, and have been handed out to more than 1 million recipients in more than 40 countries so far. They must be at least 1GB in size and cleaned of any data before sending them in.

For a free download visit Try Sugar.

Another great use for no longer needed USBs is to donate them to displaced individuals. Thumbs Up for Homeless People collects empty ones to hand out to a portion of the population who need them. Small objects that most home secure people take for granted, like flash drives, can provide a way to carry around information. Having some way to keep personal possessions such as important files, pictures or other resources on hand that can be used at public computer stations or libraries can be helpful.

For other ways to help the homeless, read Adventures of a Once Homeless Girl.

Speak with local teachers, shelters and community administrators if you would like to donate used flash drives. Chances are they will know someone who could use one. Also, businesses or other places that use a lot of flash drives may like to hear about opportunities to contribute theirs, so spread the word.

Making society less dispensable by donating practical and needed things does good for everyone.

Image Source: Copyright (c) <a href=’http://www.123rf.com’>123RF Stock Photos</a>

Environmental education (EE) provides opportunities for students to learn in natural environments.

Instead of sitting in classrooms listening to teachers talk, children in EE programs participate in hands-on activities at local rivers, city parks, urban gardens, and other natural spaces.

EE teachers use the features of natural environments to teach science, math, language arts, social studies, history, and other subjects. Instead of imparting facts in isolation, EE situates learning within the context of real-world places and issues to make it meaningful for students. Fresh air and exercise are added bonuses.

Research summarized by the Place-Based Education Evaluation Cooperative has shown that environmental education can provide significant academic and behavioral benefits.

For example, the Pacific Education Institute’s Environmental Education Assessment Project, which encompassed more than 150 schools, found that EE programs increased scores on standardized tests in math, reading, and writing.  EE students were also more likely to stay in school, receive large scholarships, and behave more responsibly within their schools and communities.

The State Education and Environment Roundtable’s California Student Assessment Project  also found that EE increased test scores in multiple subjects, reduced disciplinary problems, improved attendance, and increased enthusiasm and engagement.

According to a report by the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation, students in EE programs tend to outperform their peers in similar schools that do not incorporate EE, and these effects are seen even in the most impoverished schools.

EE can be adapted for all subjects and grade levels.

For young children, a garden might be used to teach simple math skills by having students count flowers or identify shapes.

Teachers of older students can plan a garden to teach mathematics (determining the layout using geometry), science (discovering what various plants need to thrive), language arts (writing about the garden), and history and social studies (growing crops that native peoples traditionally grew to learn about historical lifestyles).

For a creative teacher, the possibilities are limitless.

There have been many waves of environmental activism, each gaining a broader demographic as climate change becomes more apparent.

Because the Internet and other forms of electronic communication are accessible at a younger age, children not only have the means to express their views about the environment - their ideas are finally being heard and applied. As a result we are seeing more teen and kid activists, as well as young entrepreneurs of green ‘enterprise’. The following examples may illustrate why our youth make the best activists, as they are the inherit-ants of the current ecological mess.

We will begin with Alex Lin, who was only eleven when he began to tackle the problem of e-waste. Alex and his friends teamed up with a local recycling company to hold a recycling drive for e-waste. The drive would be used to collect the build-up of e-waste in Westerly, Rhode Island, Alex’s hometown.  After only a day, the e-waste collected from the recycling drive was enough to fill two eighteen-wheeler trucks – which it did.

Despite the success, Alex wasn’t content to stop there. He and his friends partnered with the same recycling company, which lead to the installation of a permanent recycling bin to collect the town’s e-waste. Alex then persuaded his school’s superintendent to add computer refurbishing to the school’s computer curriculum. After the school had restored and distributed over 300 computers, Alex’s team set up computer centers in Rhode Island, Mexico, Kenya, Cameron, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. Still, he saw more room for improvement. In their quest to ban improper e-waste disposal, Alex and his team met up with local legislators and after reviewing a proposed e-waste legislation that had failed to pass in previous years, Alex’s team decided to draft a new, less complicated bill. After an entire spring spent lobbying, the bill was passed. Making Rhode Island the fourth state in the U.S. to pass a bill requiring proper disposal of e-waste.

Our next activist, Zanders Srodes, was also just eleven years old when he found his cause. After frequenting beaches in southwest Florida, Zanders became aware of the threats posed to sea turtles, specifically loggerhead and green turtles, due to commercial fishing and habitat loss. This inspired him to create an educational program that he could present to students. Teaching them the importance of wildlife protection. He did this by meeting with sea turtle biologists to gather the information needed for the presentation. He then armed himself with a projector full of slides from a nearby marine lab - and a homemade sea turtle costume as well. After perfecting the program, Zanders’s held assemblies and presentations for various schools throughout the Gulf Coast.

In addition to these educational appearances, Zanders wrote a children’s activity book to supply his audience with age appropriate material. Since publication, the book has been translated into four languages.  Books have also been freely distributed to over 100,000 children and adults worldwide.

Today’s youth has a better opportunity than ever before to leave a positive imprint on society. However, if we wish to see more success stories, we must continue to provide better information to students about our current ecological state. We also must remember to listen, so we can learn from children as well. Environmental change is a global issue that can only be alleviated with the collaboration of all generations.

Source
Young Activist’s Guide to Building a Green Movement and Changing the World, Sharon J. Smith, Ten Speed Press, Copyright 2011

The choices we make in our home and in our lives will forever affect our children and all of the following generations. Here are a few ideas for ways to help your child be more environmentally aware.

1. Toy Swaps: Children outgrow their toys quickly. In order to reduce waste and save a little money in the process, set up periodic toy swaps. Parents and their children can take old and unwanted toys to swap out for newer, more age-appropriate toys. If you can’t do a toy swap, find a consignment toy shop in your area. It is better for toys to be reused than to keep producing new toys.

2. Green Birthday Parties: Children’s birthday parties create a lot of waste. Usually used items include:  paper plates, plastic utensils, balloons, party favors, invitations, and wrapping paper. Try sending invites by email, text messaging or by making phone calls. Use reusable plates and utensils. If possible, get creative with decorations and party favors.

3. Grow a Garden Together: One great way to teach sustainability to your child is by growing a garden with them. It can be a great bonding experience and a science lesson. Most importantly, it will set an example and hopefully form a new habit which will influence our environment.

4. Set an Example: Kids develop habits early on based on what they see and experience. Set an example by eliminating the use of products like paper or plastic bags and paper plates. Use environmentally safe cleaning products, start biking instead of driving, and buy local or recycled products. Explain to your children why you make the decisions you do and hopefully they will use the same thought process in their daily lives.

5. Make Music: Use household items to make musical instruments. An old cereal box and a few rubber bands can make a great guitar. Old coffee containers can make a cool set of drums. Some toilet paper rolls filled with beans and closed off with wax paper held by rubber bands make wonderful shakers.

6. Unplug: By reducing the amount of energy we use can make a big difference. Explain to your children the impact of their television watching and computer use on the environment. As an alternative, sit down and read books together. Color, play a board game or go outside. Keep your children active and creative so that they won’t rely on electricity for entertainment.

7. Play Games: View the links below with your child. They include video games and more fun activities which teach environmental awareness.

http://www.kidsbegreen.org/
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/kids/
http://www.epa.gov/students/index.html

Sometimes they are discarded as an after-thought, but with the right message a card can be a gift in itself.

However, it isn’t necessary to spend a dollar or more a piece on multiple cards every time a holiday or special occasion arrives. Instead, you can recycle your card fronts to make new cards.

Better yet, you can donate them to St. Jude’s Ranch, so the kids there can make new cards. Operated by the Kids’ Corp program, at St. Jude’s Ranch children take donated card fronts and attach them to a blank back, making them new again.

Every card made is sold for one dollar each and goes directly to the child who made it. This teaches children entreprenuer skills and basic job skills. It also gives them an appreciation for recycling and its role in environmentally sound living.

To donate your card front(s), you can mail them directly to St. Jude’s Ranch. Before you do, make sure that card fronts

• Have no writing or scribbles on their blank side
• Are close to 5″x7″ in size
• Are not Hallmark, Disney, or American greeting cards, as they cannot be accepted

Remember to send only the front of the card. With that cleared up, card fronts can be sent year-round. All holidays are accepted, including general Christmas cards and religious Christmas cards, in addition to birthdays and other special occasions. Also, if you decide to mail large quantities of card fronts at one time, it is less expensive to use The United States Post Office in a Flat Rate Box. These can be found within the post office and can hold up to 70 pounds.

St. Jude’s Ranch cards come in packs of  10, costing $10 per pack. So you can buy the cards yourself to give loved ones in place of generic greeting found at gift shops and grocery aisles. Doing so sends a message of goodwill that is universal and needs no words.

You can mail your donations to:
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

Kids have been known to sometimes opt for playing with the box a toy came in, turning it into all sorts of resourceful constructions, much to the dismay of the gift giver.

Playing with ordinary things like boxes that can be turned into countless other items just by adding a little imagination actually encourages free play, which is important in all stages of growth. A lot of money can be wasted on toys with good intentions, only to find the pieces quickly get lost or it is set aside after just a few minutes.

While it doesn’t take fancy toys to stimulate a developing mind, think about what the toy claims to do and whether or not it is backed up by any research or pertinent data, or if it is just misleadingly packaged. Play is a wonderful opportunity to introduce meaningful concepts that can be applied to daily life. When selecting a toy, don’t underestimate kids. They are clever and can handle stronger themes relevant in today’s world. Toys that model environmental and social awareness provide more than just playtime.

Recycling is a great practice to pick up at any age. Toys made from recycled materials or upcycled merchandise can be found to suit any interest. It is thought-provoking to learn how things that may have been tossed aside can be turned into other usable objects. Plus, children and adults alike find it interesting that things like bags can be made from recycled juice boxes or water bottles can be turned into plentiful other things, like toys.

Wooden toys come in countless varieties and can be used to teach the importance of conservation if made from sustainable woods. Choosing products that are ecologically accountable can promote the notion that where things come from and how they are made are as important as the toy itself. Also, quality made wooden items often last longer than cheaply made plastic things, making them a good investment.

With tons of toys on the market that seemingly encourage questionable play, like pretend violence, it is increasingly important to provide toys that teach responsible global citizenship and empathy. These are a great way to foster a sense of social conscience and are springboards for character education activities. Books and games are an endless source of informative possibilities. Also, world globes and maps can be purchased in many formats, and are visual ways to provide a world perspective. Toys that promote learning about one’s own as well as other cultures are also ideal ways to cultivate ethical principles.

Being wise about the power of play is important and choosing playthings that will sustain developing minds as well as be entertainingly educational are essential. If ever in doubt about buying a toy though, you can always delay the purchase, do a little research and in the meantime use the tried and true trick of breaking out a cardboard box with unlimited creativity as the only rule. Hours of entertainment are included, and it is undoubtedly a fun way to reuse!

Source:
Hardwicke, S. October, 2003. What Makes an Educational Toy? Retrieved from: ToyDirectory.com

“I like to play indoors better ‘cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are”
(A fourth-grader in San Diego, cited in Richard Louv’s “Last Child in the Woods”)

As a young child, I spent most of my days living and playing outdoors. I lived part-time with my grandparents on a small farm in the Waikato, then a rich agricultural region in the central north island of New Zealand. Days were spent playing in the fields, navigating elephant grass, and no doubt tormenting the fowl and pigs and lambs and calves that I considered my best friends at that time.

I used to sing to the cows as they gathered before the fence to rest in the grass and chew their cud amid the sweet tunes of a little voice that sang “The hills are alive with the sound of music…”.

It was a joyful childhood, enriched by simple experiences within the natural world – climbing trees and rolling down hills, riding my bicycle with my neighbour’s children for hours on end, exploring the nearby forests and creeks. My childhood is the place where the seeds for my environmentalism were planted.

Today, I think with growing sadness of the missing link in many children’s lives. Increasingly, an entire generation grows further apart from direct experience with the natural world. Picking wildflowers, collecting seashells, observing bugs and birds, watching our fellow creatures go about their business undisturbed…These simple things are now replaced with hours in front of the computer screen, mobile phone screen, television screen – a veritable smorgasborg of proliferated media.

As a creative environmentalist whose work interfaces with screen technologies, I’m ever mindful of the opportunity (indeed responsibility) that we have to our young people.

We must actively encourage them to back away from the screen-buffet (at least for a while), to step outside and into the surrounding natural world.

We must strip back some of the cotton wool that has enveloped an entire generation of young people, raised with fear and trepidation of nature, rather than with curiosity, wonder and respect.

As Richard Louv says in his book, “Last Child in the Woods”: “For a whole generation of today’s children the pleasure of a free-range childhood are missing, and their indoor habits contribute to epidemic obesity, attention-deficit disorder, isolation and childhood depression.”

If for no other reason than to improve the well-being of our young people, we need to rethink the ways we seek to shape our children’s lives and the lives of generations yet to come.

We must take an important step: We must fling open the door (literally and metaphorically) to the wonders of the natural world. For it is within nature that a child finds their imagination, their freedom, and a connection with the living earth that feeds a healthy and enriched life.

Most people know that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is critical for good health, but getting kids to consume them can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are a number of things that you can do to make produce more appealing.

Serve fruits and vegetables fresh, with dip: Fresh, crunchy produce usually tastes better to kids, and providing delicious dips increases their appeal.

Let kids choose their produce: Instead of forcing kids to eat particular vegetables (and possibly creating a lifelong aversion), encourage them to choose their own when shopping. Ask them to select a variety colors and shapes, and to try at least one new thing each month. This gives kids a sense of control, and they’ll be more open to trying things they’ve chosen themselves.

Cook together: Encourage kids to participate in the cooking process by helping to choose recipes and prepare fruits and vegetables.

Create positive associations: Serve new vegetables on evenings when you’re making popular favorites such as pizza or tacos and bake fruit- and vegetable-based desserts and snacks (zucchini cake, carrot muffins, berry pie, apple crumble, etc.).

Make fruits and vegetables fun: With young kids, it can be helpful to make things out of produce such as houses, cars, animals, or smiley faces.

Grow your own: Kids are more likely to eat produce they’ve helped to grow. This isn’t an option for everyone, but even if you don’t have a yard, lots of fruits and vegetables including peas, beans, leafy green vegetables, carrots, tomatoes, radishes, herbs, dwarf fruit trees, onions, garlic, and many types of berries grow well in containers on decks, patios, or driveways (some will even grow on a sunny windowsill).

Create snack packs: Use multi-compartment containers to create snack packs filled with colorful fruits, vegetables, and dips. This makes it as easy for kids to grab healthy snacks as processed junk foods.

Set a good example: Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits yourself to model this healthy behavior.

References:

Cohen, E., “Ten Ways to Get Kids to Eat Their Veggies,” CNN Health, 2 June 2011.
Nichols, K., “School Garden News – California,” 13 November 2008.
Pivonka, E., Dr., & Berry, B., 5 a Day: The Better Health Cookbook, The Philip Lief Group, Inc., 2002.
WebMD, “Get Kids to Eat More Veggies,” 20 June 2012.