The Green Parent

National Healthy Schools Day What you can do to make sure no child’s health is left behind by Janelle Sorensen   When my husband and I first toured schools to find the one we wanted to enroll our daughter in, I’m sure I was silently voted one of the strangest parents ever. Why do I [...]

Air pollution drives me nuts.  You can’t see it, you can’t touch it, and unless it’s really bad, you can’t even smell it.  And unlike water pollution, you can’t even filter it out of your life. So I was pretty disturbed to see this report that just came out from USA Today that took a [...]

Today’s Giveaway: Universal Family Music’s 6-CD collection of tunes the whole family will love. Enter here. Last chance, contest ends today!! the movie easy a on dvd My eldest daughter hit a milestone this year and it’s one that I never read about in the parenting books.  Now that she’s a “big kid” she can [...]

When I came across Wrekehavoc.com/deus ex mama, a blog that “slices, dices, and makes julienned mac n cheese,” I knew I had found a kindred spirit. Wreke‘s blog is definitely quirky, usually angst-ridden, and occasionally potty-mouthed. It’s also occasionally green as this real Green Parent of two explores the greener side of life, helping her [...]

By: TheGreenGirls With school days just around the corner, parents are starting the preparation process. Let’s go over our “back to school” checklist. photo by barnabywasson Affordable organic clothing (Check) Green your school supplies (Check) Organic meals & snacks for kids (Check) That should about cover it, except for one more thing. Preparing for the [...]

It’s August 1st! Which means it’s not only the kickoff of World Breastfeeding Week, it’s also the official time to start getting the kids ready for school. I got so much info about the latest tips, tricks, and gadgets to make your back-to-school a little greener that I couldn’t possible fit it in to one [...]

Want to raise your child’s science test scores by up to 27% ? Just open the door and head outside. That’s right, a recent study found that children who spend time in nature not only have higher science test scores, they are also better at conflict resolution, have higher self esteem, and are understandably more [...]

Do you know a teacher who makes an outstanding effort to teach kids about going green? If so, the National Environmental Education Foundation wants to hear about it. The organization is currently accepting nominations for this year’s Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award which will be awarded to one lucky teacher, along with $5000, at [...]

Does your child’s school need some help going green? That help may be coming in the form of federal dollars. Last week, the House passed the 21st Century Green High-Preforming Public Schools Facilities Act which would earmark $6.4 billion for eco-friendly projects that help modernize public school facilities. The projects would have to meet to [...]

Can an orange crayon be green? It can if it’s made from natural ingredients like soy or beeswax instead of petroleum. The same goes for that red marker or rainbow watercolor paints. In addition to their contribution to global warming, traditional art supplies also contain a slew of dubious chemicals and solvents. Non-toxic art supplies [...]

We are not even halfway through the school year and already I have been inundated with forms and catalogs from my daughter’s school for fundraisers that almost always include low-quality foods, junk, or paper products that I neither need nor want. Stuff that is designed to clog up my closets while depleting resources and inevitably [...]

A recent Yale University study found that children who ride a school bus are exposed to up to 15 times more particulate pollution than average. That’s bad news for the 24 million American children who ride a school bus each day. Researchers estimate that this increased exposure is due to the idling and queuing of [...]

Whether you’re at home or at work, get in the habit of using both sides of a piece of paper. Kids’ art projects, grocery lists, and messages can give paper a second life. Check with your kids’ school to see if any of your waste (such as jars, magazines, paper towel rolls, newspapers, or plastic [...]