Our True Colors: Going Green as a Family
By Kendra Ericson, MPW

“It’s not easy being green,” Kermit the Frog once sang, but these days going green is easier than ever. With growing concerns over global warming and researchers scrambling to find viable sources of sustainable energy, it’s becoming essential for everyone to do their part. Green living has become a way of life for many, but even implementing small changes can make a difference, and going green as a family can be fun and rewarding. Don’t know where to begin? Don’t worry. Here are a few suggestions to get your family started:

• Eat in – Dining at home is not only a great way to connect with the kids, but it also discourages food waste (we’re more likely to save leftovers for later) and package waste (disposable coffee containers, for example). Encourage children to get involved by helping in the kitchen, assigning them age-appropriate tasks.
• Listen to your mother – It may be the oldest advice in the book, but turning off the lights when leaving the room saves energy (and money). Take this sage advice to the next level by unplugging appliances when they’re not in use. Ask the kids to turn off and unplug the TV, cell phone chargers, and the computer before bed to prevent unnecessary energy waste.
• Get on track – It was much easier to resign ourselves to carpooling, walking, or even paragliding to work or school when gas was almost $5.00 a gallon, but as gas prices dropped, so did our enthusiasm for public transport. To revive these earth-friendly practices, consider starting a carpool with other parents at your child’s school. Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, but you’ll get additional free time on off days, and kids will have the chance to socialize with friends before school starts. Everyone wins. When taking longer family trips, think about taking the train instead of driving. Amtrak services many family-friendly destinations, and you’ll be freer to play games, talk, or simply “be” with the kids than you would during a long drive. To book your Amtrak trip, visit www.amtrak.com or call 1-800-872-7245.    
• Step outside – No matter where you live, there are always local places that could benefit from a few good trees. Whether it’s at a local park or in your own backyard, get the kids involved by giving them a say and a shovel. Allowing your child to help select the tree he or she will plant fosters a sense of ownership and pride in the project. To “green” your garden, visit a local nursery for help selecting plants that are native to your environment. Using native plants reduces the amount of fertilizer, pesticide, and water that your garden needs to grow.  As an added benefit, recent studies show that time spent outdoors, enjoying nature, can have a positive impact on child behavior.
• Shop green – Companies make it simple to shop for earth-friendly products these days, and many of their green offerings are specifically designed to be better for baby and home. From green diapers to natural, biodegradable cleaners, products are aiming to become less taxing on our landfills and easier on the planet. Old standards like Seventh Generation are good choices, and newcomers like Clorox’s green works line make these products less expensive and more widely available.
• Do your homework – People are excited about making a positive impact, but not all the information at our fingertips is reliable. For example, many sites recommend having kids hand wash dishes to go green and get them involved, but don’t be fooled. The old ways are not always the best ways. In fact, according to Jeanne Huber in “22 little ways to go green,” an average load of dishes cleaned in an Energy Star dishwasher uses about 4 gallons of water, whereas 24 gallons would be used to hand wash the same batch (cnn.com).
• Reuse what you can – Replace disposables with reusable options to cut waste at home. Send the kids to school with Tupperware instead of plastic sandwich bags, and consider purchasing reusable stainless steel water bottles instead of their plastic, one-use counterparts. To give kids perspective and encourage them to take ownership of their own waste, consider taking a trip to a local dump. It’s always a surprise for kids to see that what they throw away doesn’t magically disappear. If your kids are older, consider having them participate in this “trashy” experiment. Have them collect and weigh the trash every week before it’s collected. The first weigh-in sets the bar and, like The Biggest Loser, the aim is to lose as much weight as possible each week. Lighter trash indicates that your family is successfully wasting less and recycling more. 
• Recycle the rest – Make recycling into a game by having the kids help you sort recyclables. It’s a great learning opportunity for young kids that emphasizes categorization and responsibility. Whether it’s paper, plastic, and glass or newspaper, magazine, and junk mail, it’s a chance to teach some basic skills in a fun, real-world context.

In addition to having a positive effect on the planet, many of the green suggestions provided here will also have a positive impact on your pocketbook. For example, switching from hand washing dishes to an Energy Star rated dishwasher would save the average user $40 a year and 230 hours of their time (Hubner). Dining in is also more cost-effective in the long run, as is purchasing reusable containers. With the economy and the planet on shaky ground, there’s never been a better time to become the greenest family on the block.

Must have household items for going GREEN:

Make lunch boxes waste-free. ReUsies is an alternative to plastic sandwich and snack bags. These 100% cotton lined, water-resistant nylon bags are secured with durable Velcro closures that make them easy to open, yet hard for food to fall out of! ReUsies come in two sizes: snack and sandwich. They can be machine washed and dried, washed in the dishwater or simply wiped clean with a soapy sponge. What's more, they come in an array of colors and styles - added a personal touch to a kid's lunch! ReUsies says their reusable bags will help to eliminate the estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags that are used and discarded worldwide each year. www.reusies.com.

Go Green with Kushies Washable Cloth Diapers.  Kushies washable diapers are made with 100% cotton flannel. Cotton is more comfortable, breathable, cooler and more natural to baby's skin, especially on sensitive body parts. Cloth diapers are a healthier choice for you baby and your planet. By simply choosing cloth diapers, you are making a tremendous impact on the environment and offering you child a cleaner world to live in. www.kushiesonline.com

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