v 3 issue 18: Living Green

Going green is simple, give your child the right start with these eco friendly products. Plus an article on raising eco friendly kids.


Cover by Suymey Benson








1 Shop fabric wraps @ chewingthecud to discover a new way to wrap a gift with a gift. The reusable fabric wraps come in an assortment of beautiful motifs all imprinted with a message: Give Luck. Give Love. Give Joy. The Give Luck wrap exudes an eclectic feel of luck through both symbols and writing. Enter code: KTW15 for 15% off purchases.

2 Parents will love the autoseal kids mugs from One Small Step because they are 100% spill-proof and leak-proof…kids will love them because they come in cool colors and look like and act like a travel mug. Great option for when kids outgrow their sippy cups. Collect them all at just $8 each. Enter code: KTW10 for 10% off purchases.

3 Every princess deserves a crown. This flower crown is hand felted out of 100% wool and made in the US by Liza Kagan. Crown includes a hidden wire to adjust for fit. So pretty she will never want to take it off. Available @ katanchildren.com for $25. Enter code: ktw15 for 15% off with purchase thru 4/18/10. Free shipping on orders $50+.

4 Customize this eco-friendly lunchbox to the fullest. Start with a durable lunchbox in pink, orange or blue add a removable faceplate (buy a few) that your child can customize and even add a photo. Now choose the container sizes that best fits their needs, pop in the perfect-fit freezer pack and your child is ready to go with Yubo. Enter code: TTW15 for 15% off purchases.

5 Ten prints in all to choose from. The Mimi the Sardine Lunch Bag has enough space to store all the components of a nutritious and delicious lunch. The tote is coated with an environmentally sound coating to repel stains and water. Easily wipes clean & can be thrown in with a batch of laundry for thorough cleaning. Enter code: KTW10 for 10% off purchases.

6 Summer is quickly approaching. Why not start up a new wardrobe with a tank dress from Greenedge Kids. Navy and white strips fill the fabric of this classic dress available for $44 in sizes 4 to 10. Enter code: KTW15 for 15% off purchases.

7 Short sleeves, long sleeves, stripes, or cars! You name it...they may have it. Hanna Anderson has quite the assortment of organic jammies to keep kiddies covered in fitted, natural comfort.


This weeks mom tips:
Are Your Household Cleaners Safe?

There is nothing more frightening than a child making his or her way into your household cleaning supplies. It’s a parent’s worse nightmare! To this end, it is important to find alternative ways to clean a home without jeopardizing the health of your children or your family. We are all trying to become more environmentally aware of the dangers of toxins, not only in our home but as it relates to polluting our air, waters, and landscape.

Are your household cleaners safe? If not, here are some measures you can take to make your home a healthier one.

Vinegar, Borax, Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, Salt, and Baking Soda are all the ingredients you can use to clean your entire home. They are safe, non-toxic, and can do just as good a job as your more toxic household cleaners.

Let’s begin with windows. Instead of using a popular brand of glass cleaner, use water with vinegar and lemon juice to spray onto your windows. Vinegar can also be used to clean surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom; just add salt and water. If the oven needs to be cleaned, use liquid soap, Borax and warm water. Borax can also be used as a disinfectant in hot water as well as for cleaning toilets.

Polish your furniture with olive oil and lemon juice. You can also use lemon juice to polish copper kettles; just add a bit of salt. For use in the bathroom, use baking soda and warm water. This can also be used to unclog the drain by pouring the baking soda down the drain with a cup of vinegar.

At a time when pollutants are contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer; while gas and oil fumes are literally killing our natural resources; it is time to take a hard look at what we can do as individuals to decrease the toxins from our air and water. Perhaps if we begin to use alternative methods to using brand named household cleaners, we can send a clear and definitive message to these companies that toxins are no longer an acceptable form to be used in any capacity. It all begins with our taking a stand; it all begins at home.

Raising Eco Friendly Kids
It seems today’s society is becoming totally apathetic to the world around them. Many children in particular are more concerned with playing the latest video game and don’t really pay much attention to the environment around them. It may seem hard to get your children to show an interest in the world around them, but you can get them to care if you start early and take small steps. You may not make a difference overnight, but you may just make a difference in the future of the planet.

The first step in raising your children to be eco friendly is to be eco friendly yourself. You can tell your children to be respect the environment all you want, but you’re not going to get anywhere if you don’t practice what you preach. You may not be Captain Planet, but you can start with small steps to get involved. Follow the practices of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Use natural and environmentally friendly products. Get involved with local organizations that help protect the environment.

Once you’re involved in eco friendly practices, start getting your kids to help as soon as you can. You can start out simple by having them put their own recyclables into the bin, or even have them ride along with you when you take your bin to the recycling center. You can have them help you build a compost pile, or just go shopping with you at the organic food store. When I was a child, my mom would get me to pick up trash that was lying around, and I still pick up trash I see to this day. Just remember to start small and work your way up to bigger steps.

The people who do the most to help the environment are the ones who know the most about it. That’s why it’s important to start your child learning about the world around them early. While you should do your best to teach them on your own, you can also get some help from the experts. Many zoos and nature centers offer educational classes for children as young as three years old. These can be a valuable resource in helping small children start to learn about the environment and to expand their knowledge as they get older.

Get your child involved in volunteering. If you work or volunteer for an environmental activist group, get your children involved as soon as they are old enough. Many areas offer volunteer organizations for teens and young adults. The first place to look is with the places where you found classes for young children. The most important part is that your child gets involved on a larger scale than just within your family. This also helps them meet other people their age who also care about environmental issues.

While children will inevitably be resistant to volunteering and doing extra work or chores at some point or another, they will still gain an appreciation for their environment that will last their whole lives.