The Green Parent

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 [...]

Members of a family get used to sharing. Older kids share toys and clothes with their younger siblings, parents share snacks, drinks, and occasionally the clothes from their own backs with their children, and even the family dog might be required to share a place on his cozy bed from time to time. And when [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

If you’re shopping for treats to hand out this Halloween, you are likely to find a frightening assortment of artificial ingredients, plastic packaging, and sweatshop trinkets. How scary! Steer clear of these ghoulish wares and Green Your Halloween by giving out treats that don’t trick! Here are a few ideas: Fair Trade Chocolates: Chocolate is [...]

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 [...]

I’ll admit it…I hate to clean. I am not one of those lucky folks who finds cleaning to be relaxing or therapeutic. Instead, I think it is a chore. Unfortunately, I am one of those folks who really likes to have a clean house. So it is a chore that I tackle regularly. The good [...]

As a Green Parent, I try to minimize my impact on the environment each day, especially at the store. I take the time to buy organic and locally grown foods as well as all-natural personal care products whenever possible. I check ingredient labels and “vote with my wallet” to support companies with an environmental backbone. [...]

Got pets? According to the Humane Society, there are currently 73 million dogs and 90 million cats in homes across the U.S. That’s not to mention the birds, bunnies, ferrets, turtles, hamsters, and lizards that are also popular pets in families with children. Just like children, pets create a significant impact on the environment in [...]

I know as well as any other parent that paper towels and other disposable cleaning wipes are darned handy when it comes to cleaning up fast. But it’s actually just as fast to reach for a reusable cloth to do the job. Target has a great line of organic cotton cloths and towels as do [...]

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 [...]

Want to get your family’s clothes clean without drowning them in chemicals? Natural ingredients such as borax, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, washing soda, and white vinegar are safer for you, your children, and the environment. Check out GreenerChoices.org for specific recipies. If you just love your laundry detergent, try just using less of it by [...]

Recycling is a great idea, but when you’re pressed for time, it may seem just so much easier to toss things in the trash. Let’s face it, when you’re trying to clean up the dinner dishes, help your kids with their homework, and put up a load of laundry, it can be a real drag [...]

Bagging up leaves and other yard trimmings not only wastes your time and energy, it also puts a tremendous strain on the environment. Instead, try grasscycling. After you mow, leave the grass clippings on the lawn. They will naturally decompose into the soil, helping to hold in soil moisture, prevent freezing, and return nutrients to [...]