Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts

Friday, February 3, 2012

More eco friendly toys for tots

As more and more consumers are becoming environmentally conscious, simple solutions for adopting a green lifestyle have become readily available. While you once had to seek out eco-friendly products in specialty stores, you can now find them nearly everywhere for all needs, from home appliances, to cleaning products, to clothing, to modes of transportation. Toy makers are even starting to offer eco-friendly toys and games, making now the perfect time to introduce your kids to the idea of going green.

There are many benefits, for both children and the environment, to buying eco-friendly toys. Young children have a tendency to put everything they come in contact with into their mouths, but with eco-friendly toys you don't have to worry about them encountering harmful materials since all green toys are non-toxic. These toys are also often made with age-appropriate classifications in mind, so they're made to withstand the hard play habits of toddlers and the curious disassembly phase that many older children go through.

Eco-friendly toys are usually made out of recyclable and/or biodegradable materials, so if a child outgrows them or they should break beyond the point of repair, disposing of them won't harm the environment.

While it would be easy for any manufacturer to put a "green" label on its products, there are certain questions to consider when shopping for eco-friendly toys:

Are both the toy and its packaging made from recycled/recyclable and/or biodegradable materials? Where is it made? Part of what makes a toy eco-friendly is it being manufactured by energy-efficient operations. The farther a product has to travel to make it to your local store, the bigger a carbon footprint it's leaving, so truly eco-friendly toys are made locally.

How sturdy is the toy? Well-made toys will last longer and can be handed down to other children once the original owner has outgrown them. Toys that can stand the test of time are naturally eco-friendly as they don't wind up in the garbage after one extremely rough play session.

There are several toy manufacturers that focus exclusively on making eco-friendly toys. Green Toys Inc., located in California, makes it their mission to create safe, fun toys made from recycled materials that are manufactured in a socially responsible way. Recycled plastic milk jugs are the main ingredient in all of their products, and all of the production occurs locally in California, from the collecting of raw materials to the final packaging (which is 100% recyclable corrugated boxes). All of their toys--like building blocks, play dining sets, and toy vehicles--also go through safety testing in nationally-recognized, USA-based labs, where they must pass a series of tests before being sold.

Sprig Toys Inc. in Colorado is another great source for eco-friendly toys. All of their toy series are primarily made of recycled wood and plastic, and focus on being kid-powered, rather than running on batteries that will ultimately wind up in landfills. Having distributors in both North America and Europe, Sprig Toys has manufacturing operations set up on both continents in order to minimize the amount of traveling their products have to do.

Also based in Colorado is ImagiPLAY, whose motto is "Toys with Integrity." Offering a wide selection of toys--including wooden puzzles, fabric dolls, and themed building block sets--everything ImagiPLAY produces is made of eco-friendly materials, a favorite being the wood from rubber trees that can no longer be harvested for the sap used in making latex. They even set up their factories in areas close to where the raw materials come from and aim to hire locally-based laborers, who they encourage to walk or bike to work.

As more parents are becoming eco-savvy, more eco-friendly toy makers are creating products from locally sourced, recyclable materials. There may even be some setting up shop in your neighborhood, or at the local farmer's market or craft fair. Introducing kids to well-made, environmentally-conscious toys is a fun and smart way to start creating a new generation of green-minded individuals.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

New Eco-Friendly Lunch Sack to Send Kids Back to School the Green Way

If they had this during my generation, the level of awareness would be significantly higher. Parents today have no excuse!

A new eco-friendly lunch sack featuring Jimmy from the book "Jimmy's Gone Green" is sure to be a hit among children this back-to-school season.

Kids Smart Publishing and Kids Konserve, a leading reusable lunchware company, have collaborated to create a new eco-friendly lunch sack featuring the star of the picture book "Jimmy's Gone Green."

The reusable lunch sack, made with 100 percent recycled cotton and printed with vegetable-based inks, is free of BPA, lead and phthalate, and is sure to be a hit among kids and parents.

The machine-washable lunch sack is designed to replace paper lunch bags, which contribute to an estimated 67 pounds of lunchtime waste per child each year.
"We hope Jimmy will encourage families to choose safe, earth-friendly products over those that may be harmful to both the environment and kids," said Monique Harris, spokesperson for KS Publications, Inc., the parent company of Kids Smart Publishing.

To celebrate the release of the new Jimmy's Gone Green Reusable Lunch Sack, Kids Smart Publishing is giving away 100 FREE lunch sacks to the next 100 people who buy Jimmy's picture book, "Jimmy's Gone Green," at http://www.jimmysgonegreen.com.
In addition, Kids Smart Publishing is donating copies of "Jimmy's Gone Green" to elementary school libraries in order to help increase children's access to green books and help raise environmental awareness among young children.

"The book is a great introduction to what it means to go green," said Monique Harris. "It fosters conversation and encourages children to ask questions about the environment and how they can make a difference."

Jimmy's picture book "Jimmy's Gone Green" and his new reusable lunch sack are available at select retailers and at http://www.jimmysgonegreen.com.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Eco-friendly ideas to keep kids busy this Summer

It’s summer and there’s one thing parents hate to hear from the kids, “I’m bored!” While you’re looking for easy ways to entertain the kiddies, you can also Do Your Part to pass along important lessons on being eco-friendly. Here are 5 green ways to keep kids busy all summer long – certified to keep boredom at bay!

1) Have an Eco-Adventure
Eco-adventures don’t have to be a daunting task. They can be anything you want them to be! A simple walk or hike is the perfect opportunity to learn about the trees, flowers, and insects you might see. Or, think bigger. Check out national parks around your area; they are affordable and filled with all sorts of possible adventures from camping to horseback riding and even kayaking.

2) Get Crafty
One of the best ways to take care of the planet is to get more life from things you already have. So instead of tossing out things like milk cartons, cereal boxes, or old t-shirts, show your kids how to transform them into something new and useful. Some crafts children love are making bird feeders, crafting t-shirt tote bags, and creating a kids’ organizer from “trash.”

3) Grow a Garden
This activity is downright fun for parents. Watching children turn seeds into food is always a thrill. They learn about where their food comes from, how to care for their crops, and they get to eat up all their hard work. Plus, you’ll know exactly what’s in the fruits and veggies your family is eating. Give your kids a couple packets of seeds and a window box or planter full of healthy soil and let them have fun getting dirty.

4) Visit the Library
Don’t spend money or resources on brand new books and videos when you can get an endless supply at your local library. Plus, most libraries have special readings and presentations for every age group throughout the summer at no cost. If you’re looking to check out books that teach an important environmental message, start with The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, which teaches children about the importance of trees. Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter talks trash and shows us why we can’t keep adding to the garbage pile. And, Good Growing: A Kids’ Guide to Gardening helps kids start a garden no matter how much (or how little) space they have.

5) Be Charitable
An important lesson for all children to learn is to how to be charitable. This summer, don’t let shoes, clothes, toys, bikes, and the like sit around your home when there is a lot of life left in them. Sifting through closets is not only a good way to spend quality time with the family, it’s also a great reminder to appreciate what you have.

What are you waiting for? Hit the ground running this summer and dare to come up with your own spectacular green ideas!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Raising eco-friendly kids: Five tips to get them involved

There's been something of a learning curve for adults who want to go green - but as being environmentally friendly becomes more and more necessary, it's even more important to teach young children how to incorporate being green into their everyday lives.

With so much complex language surrounding the green movement, it might seem like too much for young kids to handle. However, children's favorites, like the curriculum-based "Sid the Science Kid" series from The Jim Henson Company, make the concept of going green easier, thanks to a relatable cast, humor and music that are used as teaching tools.

To get your kids excited about being gentler to the environment and caring for our precious resources, make the conversation more accessible and fun. Sid the Science Kid offers these tips that young audiences can embrace:

*Don't waste water
You can save water by turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, telling an adult if the faucet is leaking and not filling the bath tub to the very top.We can only use a teeny part of the water that's in the world, so we have to try to not waste it.

*Reduce air pollution
Engines create dirty air which is also known as air pollution. You can reduce air pollution by riding bikes and walking instead of using a car. If we stop our air from getting dirty in the first place, we won't have to worry about cleaning it later.

*Plant a tree
Trees are beautiful and they are useful in so many ways. One of the most important things they do is clean the air we breathe. You can do your part to help by planting a tree, and watering trees and plants to help them grow.

*Recycle
Objects made of glass, paper and plastic should be recycled because they can be made into something new. Help mom and dad separate all recyclable products from the trash and take them to a recycling center.

* Preserve animal habitats
Animal habitats are all around us. A habitat is a place outdoors where animals live and find food and shelter. Be careful not to disrupt habitats when you share their space. If we interfere with a habitat, the animals' homes could be destroyed.

While it's important to instill eco-consciousness in kids year round, events like Earth Day can provide extra excitement about caring for the earth. Getting kids in a green state of mind will lead to lifelong earth-friendliness, so it's never too early to encourage awareness.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Bottle School Projects Take Learning to New Levels

If discarded plastic bottles can be turned into countertops, bedding, graduation gowns, and athletic apparel, then why not use them to build something greater – like a school?

There have been numerous accounts of schools that have been constructed from recycled bottles, in countries including the Philippines and Guatemala. Reportedly the first of its kind in Asia, the school in San Pablo which is a province in the Philippines, is made out of 1.5 and 2-litre bottles filled with adobe. Conceived and constructed by social entrepreneur Illac Diaz and nonprofit MyShelter Foundation, the new school was donated by the local government of San Pablo, built with the help of volunteers. Not only were the bottles donated costing nothing; studies showed that the adobe filling used is cheaper than concrete and about three times stronger than cement.

There are also the bottle school projects in Guatemala, six of which are already up and running, with four more in progress. The first was built in Granados in 2009 using a construction method pioneered by Pura Vida — filling plastic bottles with inorganic trash, before stacking them between chicken wire and covering them in cement. In the Granados project over 5,000 plastic bottles were used to construct two classrooms, containing 2053lbs of trash and using 9720lbs of cement. 297 children are currently attending the school, which, like the others, was built for around USD 10,000.

Similar in many ways to the Save the Beach Hotel, bottle schools are not just a clever way to turn waste into something useful, they also serve as a reminder of all the waste that's being generated in the first place. One to be inspired by!

Websites: www.bottleschoolproject.org and www.bottleschools.com

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Coming Clean.

Okay, so I’ve never really had to clean up after anyone, myself included, until I moved to Singapore 7 months ago. Yes, I know, shame shame. Anyway, since I started working in childcare, I’ve encountered all the kinds of messes one can ever imagine – I've cleaned up after potty time, wiped off spit ups and of course, wiped clean many a table covered in heaven- knows- what.

Until recently my center had been using a generic brand of cleaning agents. The only problem I’ve had with that was the fact that I’m deathly afraid my kids might touch it or the mere smell might cause them harm. I’ve watched our cleaning auntie huff and puff over table stains and stenches that even these would be tough stain removers can’t seem to clear away.

Enter Green Cleaners’ All Purpose Cleaner. I have come to appreciate this product for more than one reason: it is completely idiot-proof (the instructions they provide for you at the back of the bottle is clear as crystal), and it makes the life of a teacher (or anyone for that matter) so much simpler!


Let me paint you a picture. Earlier today, one of my toddlers decided he was tired of painting on paper and took the liberty of decorating my immaculately white tabletop bright red. As though that wasn’t enough, he grabbed a few crayons and scribbled quite furiously as well, leaving heavy marks of brown and streaks of dark blue. I was freaking out because we're very particular about keeping spaces tidy. In a tizzy I ran to the store room, took out my Green Cleaners’ All Purpose Cleaner and rushed back with a rag. Thirty seconds after I spritzed it all on the table top, I literally watched the paint come off. With a few easy swipes, my white table was restored! It was like nothing happened.

So I know it’s good with stains on surfaces, but get this – it’s also a miracle worker when it comes to getting rid of unwanted smells. A couple of weeks back, one of my children got sick all over the table, his chair and the marble floor. As usual, the smell was driving all the other tots insane! And when our cleaning auntie went to get the usual disinfectant, some children began to complain because they couldn’t stand the acid like stench of the cleanser. So I went and took the GC spray and used it all over the areas that had been cleared of throw up. I left it on for about a minute, wiped it off and lo and behold, the smell was gone. The greater thing is, it leaves no trace of any other smell – which is the way clean should be.
My children are going to be up and about in a few, so I’d better head off. I just wanted to give credit where it is due, and show appreciation for the things that help make my life as a childcare teacher easier.

Green Cleaners products are availabel to buy online at: http://greencleaners.asia/products.asp

Monday, July 6, 2009

Eco trained kids

A primary school for girls is to begin a project with the Japanese-developed environmental education system called “Kids ISO 14,000 Programme”, which will be extended to all Qatari schools subsequently.

Al Israa Independent Primary Girls School’s principle Amina Ali al-Saadi said yesterday during a meeting with visiting Japanese professor Takaya Kawabe that the “Kids ISO 14000 Programme” would be introduced in September as a science extra-curricular activity, during study hours.

Kawabe explained that the “Kids ISO 14000” is an environmental education programme system for children aimed at stimulating environmental awareness.

It has been developed by ArTech (the Art & Technology Co-operation Organisation non-profit, non-governmental organisation), and is one of the UN-supported programmes, expanding internationally through the UN Education Programme (UNEP), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).

“The children will learn to tackle environmental issues via the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle”, he said. Kawabe explained that the cycle begins with the children being the leaders of the programme, learning how to take initiative and solve problems.

Trained Eco-Kids instructors evaluate their work and those who meet requirements receive international certificates.

Kawabe pointed out that the programme is set to be introduced to children at the age of 10. “They start the introductory level and go through primary, middle and finally highest level,” he explained.

The expert noted that environmental education is a priority as global and local environmental issues are becoming pronounced as a result to human activities.

He stressed the need for teaching children the management of their behaviour as individuals and groups, and noted that it is important for people to possess the group work concept.

“This can be understood by considering the fact that one country alone cannot stop the increase of greenhouse emissions,” he stated.

Kawabe said that the programme develops the children’s sensitivity to a good or bad environment, nature’s mechanism and sustainability, as well as the understanding of the impact of human activity in nature, and encouraging them to work together locally and globally to reduce the impact.

Kawabe said that more than 210,000 children and their families have participated in the programme since 2000. More than 85% of children can accomplish it.

Kawabe noted that the increase in number would be accelerated through the international implementation of the programme in many countries.

He said that the programme’s effectiveness is increased when adopted as a complete package including workbooks, implementation videos, training courses, evaluation system and management methodology.

“The package takes into consideration the language, culture, environment and life style of each country,” he added.