Eco-Friendly Practices

Going Green at home - Get your child involved!

These days many people are learning how to protect the environment and save energy. Here are some ideas for involving  your child in going green at home. You will reduce the resources your family uses, set a positive example, and help your child learn how to help take care of the world.

Recycle

Call the recycling center or search online to find out what materials you can recycle. Create bins for each category, such as paper, plastic, and aluminum. Label the bins with words and pictures so your child knows to place materials in the right bins.

Adjust the thermostat

Setting the thermostat a few degrees warmer in the summer or cooler in the winter will lower your utility bills. Everyone can wear a sweater or sweatshirt in the cooler months or snuggle up under a blanket.

Shut off the water

Remind your child to save water by turning off the faucet when she brushes her teeth or washes her hands. 

Pick up litter

Go for a weekly cleanup walk in your neighborhood. You and your child can both wear gloves and carry a trash bag. Point out paper or cardboard trash, so your child can pick it up. It’s safest to leave glass, cans, and other sharp objects for other green neighbors to pick up. This is a great opportunity to talk with your child about where to place litter—in trash cans!

Plant a garden

Gardening is a fun and interesting way for your child to learn about plants, nature, and science. Plus, plants help keep the air clean by filtering pollutants and releasing oxygen. If you don’t have the space, try potted house plants or a container garden on the patio.

Use less paper

Purchase washable napkins in various colors or patterns. Assign each family member a particular napkin to use at mealtimes for a few days.  Cut paper towels in half—half a sheet is usually enough for most uses. 

Source: Adapted from M. MacMillan, 2008, “Ways to Go Green in the Classroom,” 10X, Teaching Young Children 2 (1): 6–7.

Provider Spotlight

In Washington, DC, the Child Development Center at the National Archives and Record’s Administration provides programs and services for children with special needs. It also holds the Eco-Healthy Child Care endorsement and NAEYC accreditation. This center does a great job of incorporating environmental health best practices for children who have unique needs or vulnerabilities.

Here are some of the easy and effective steps the center has taken:

• Avoiding all aerosol spray products. Aerosol sprays—such as carpet cleaners, furniture polish, hair spray, cooking spray, and air fresheners—spew invisible droplets of chemicals into the air. The droplets are inhaled by children and can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. 

• Using cold water for drinking and making baby formula. Cold water is less likely to leach lead from pipes. 

• Reducing lead-contaminated dirt by placing rough mats at the center’s main entrance and not allowing shoes to be worn in the infant rooms. 

• Contracting with a licensed pest management company to deal with pests in the least toxic and most environmentally sensitive ways, and to use chemicals only when children are not present.

Source: https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/oct2019/eco-friendly-environment

The Eco-Health Child Care Organization

The Eco-Health Child Care Organization provides an award-winning and science-based endorsement that encourages healthier and safer environments in child care facilities Smith Street Maternelle refers to its best practices checklist to protect the health and well-being of your children. 

Here are examples drawn from its checklist: 

• Using only non-toxic art supplies approved by the Art and Creative Materials Institute

• Avoiding any playground equipment made of CCA treated wood

• Avoiding toys containing PVC and bottles/sippy cups containing BPA

• Using drinking water that comes from a reverse-osmosis filtration system

• Recycling all paper, cardboard, glass and plastic bottles