The Green Parent

Did you happen to catch the latest news about the danger of the group of chemicals called phthalates that are currently found in a number of baby products? Phthalates are man-made substances that are used to make plastics flexible and to stabilize fragrances. These chemicals have also been linked to some really frightening health risks, [...]

Feeling the sting at the pump lately? You can alleviate some of this misery by making sure your car is properly tuned. Your car should receive a professional tune-up every two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first, in order to run at its maximum fuel efficiency. But there are a number of things you [...]

It’s winter and my house is sealed up tighter than a drum to keep the warm air in and the cold air out. That’s good green parenting, right…or is it? By keeping my family safe and snug inside my modern American home, I may be exposing them to high levels of indoor air pollution. After [...]

Looking for holiday decorations that are safe for your kids and the environment? Follow these tips to deck the halls with eco-friendly style: 1. Go Lead-Free: Watch out for ornaments and holiday decorations that are coated in lead-based paint. Instead, look for decorations that bear the 100% lead-free label. 2. Go -Au Naturale: Look to [...]

Whether you like lights that are white or multi-colored, make them green with LED lights that use 90% less energy and last much longer than traditional bulbs. LEDs don’t heat up like standard bulbs…so they stay cooler, are safer for kids, and pose less risk of fires. And if one bulb does break or burn [...]

The holidays just wouldn’t be the same without a visit with friends and family. So for many of us who have wandered a little from the proverbial family roots, that means a trip by sky, rail, or road. Here’s how to green your holiday travel. 1. Leave The Flying To Santa: Traveling by airplane releases [...]

Green thinking is everywhere these days, in your appliances, in your favorite movies, in your kid’s school, and yes, now in your menorah. There is a movement underway, launched by the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) called Let There Be (Renewable) Light: A New Look At Hanukkah that offers eco-savvy tips to [...]

“The competition for kids’ mind share is intense… Everything from Disney Princess to That’s So Raven to Pirates of the Caribbean we position as a lifestyle brand, and we are able to drive that lifestyle message through product.” — Jim Fielding, executive vice president of global retail, sales, and marketing, Disney Consumer Products* With Thanksgiving [...]

Are you worried about your holiday gift list this year? With all of the news about global warming and environmental degradation, let alone sweatshop labor and toxic toys, what’s a Green Parent to do? Never fear, there are tons of gifts that you can give to show your spirit without selling your soul. Here, without [...]

More Americans travel over Thanksgiving than any other holiday. According to AAA, 37.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving, up 3.1 percent from last year. And while all of that travel is great for family bonding, it’s not so great for the environment. Here’s how to keep it green and still [...]

A subscriber recently wrote to ask if it is possible to find flame retardant clothing that is also eco-friendly. Good question!! So I did a little research and here’s what I came up with: It is possible for find fibers, such as recycled polyester or natural wool, that are eco-friendly and flame retardant. According to [...]

Not that long ago, Halloween decorations consisted of a couple of pumpkins on the front porch and old clothes fashioned into a stuffed scarecrow in the yard. But today, Halloween has begun to rival Christmas with the amount of planning, preparation, and purchasing that goes into the holiday decorations. Don’t be frightened….there are plenty of [...]

With Halloween fast approaching, I am dedicating this week’s blog entries and newsletters to helping you prepare for a Green Halloween. I’ll give you the scoop on the costumes, decorations, pumpkins, and treats that provide scary amounts of fun without frightening the planet. Ready to get started? Check out these ideas for greening your kids’ [...]

The office water cooler is an excellent place for gossip, but not so great for the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Water coolers use 4 billion kilowatts of energy each year, producing annual pollution roughly equivalent to the emissions of over 700,000 cars. In addition, the agency estimates that Americans spend $300 million [...]

Skip the beef at dinner tonight and opt for a veggie meal instead. A vegetarian diet is not only healthier for you, it is also better for the environment. The production of beef makes more of an impact on the environment than any other type of food. According to a report produced by the World [...]