The Green Parent

Materials 8 Toilet Paper Roll Tubes 1 Paper Towel Roll Tube 1 long board or box Recycled Aluminum Foil Recycled Paper (I used scrap pieces of red, orange, and yellow recycled construction paper) Non Toxic Paints (I used blue and white) Non-Toxic Glue This craft is eco-friendly because it recycles items that you probably already [...]

Get out your address book, it’s time to send out your holiday greeting cards. If you are like most Americans, this is the one time of year where you send out cards to family and friends both near and far. In fact, Americans send out almost 3 billion greeting cards over the winter holidays (that’s [...]

“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 [...]

I recently heard from one of my subscribers who was thrilled with the info she found in The Green Parent no strings attached movie clothing but felt overwhelmed with guilt because she simply could not do all of the things she thought she should be doing to help protect the planet. So I thought it [...]

O.K. Green Parents…It’s election day, and although it’s not the BIG one, it’s still a good time to stretch out your green finger and put your ballot where your mouth is. The choice you make in today’s local and state elections could bring improvements in your town’s recycling initiatives, support for the environment at your [...]

This past Saturday marked another historic Step It Up 2007 event with hundreds of demonstrations going on across the country to raise awareness about climate change and the steps needed to reverse it. Across the nation, tens of thousands of Green Parents and Eco Kids of all ages gathered to learn more about climate change, [...]

Ahhh…the Halloween festivities are over. And as your kids crash down from their sugar high, it’s time for you to wipe off the smudged face paint, take apart the costumes, put away the candy corn, and get rid of those wilted pumpkins. Here’s how to clean up after your Green Halloween: Pumpkins: Pumpkins are 100% [...]

You’ve carved pumpkins, put together a costume, decorated the house, had a Halloween party, and picked up your Halloween goodies to hand out on the big night. Now it’s time to grab your little ones and head out for a fun night of trick-or-treating. Here’s how to keep it green: Carry A Reusable Sac: Grab [...]

Ready to scare up some Halloween fun this weekend? Decorate in black and orange for your next Halloween party but keep it green with these easy tips. And be sure to have a great, green time! Invites Poo Poo Paper: Skip the usual paper invites that cost a fortune to mail and take forever to [...]

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’ [...]

Have you ever met a kid who didn’t love jumping into a pile of freshly raked leaves? I certainly haven’t! So with a beautiful fall weekend almost within reach, it’s time to rev up you rakes and get ready for some weekend fun. And after your kids get finished smashing the leaves to smithereens, be [...]

I recently wrote about the exploits of Manny Howard, who attempted to grow all of the food he needed for his family of four in his 20 x 40 foot Brooklyn backyard. And while Manny’s experiment went beyond the limits of extreme, it was indicative of the growing national trend to eat locally. Eating locally [...]