| As people are beginning to understand how their | | | | advocacy with just a few easy steps in your own |
| behavior alters the planet, ecological consciousness is | | | | home. Instilling earth-friendly ideas and behaviors in your |
| becoming a popular trend. Parents have the | | | | children helps make these steps part of their day to |
| responsibility to teach their children the importance of | | | | day lives. |
| the environment and the impact it will have on their | | | | |
| lives and futures. A few easy steps in your own home | | | | A major step that you can take is to use cloth diapers. |
| will develop an understanding of personal action and | | | | Some parents tend to immediately disregard the idea |
| awareness in your child. Children learn from example, | | | | but it is definitely one worth considering. The interest in |
| so teaching them early on that environmental concerns | | | | cloth diapering is on the rise since the advantages of |
| are important will help. A major step that you can take | | | | convenience and cost reduction are weighing more |
| is to use cloth diapers. Often, parents overlook the idea | | | | heavily on today's parents. ModernToday's cloth |
| of using cloth diapers but it's an idea that's definitely | | | | dipaers are not like those your grandparents had to |
| worth considering. The advantages of cloth diapering | | | | use. Cloth diapers have become fashionable and are |
| are not limited to cost as the popularity of cloth diaper | | | | available in a broad range of colors and designs. Many |
| increases with the quality of materials used for the | | | | diapers use Velcro closures so you are not going to |
| diapers themselves. ModernToday's cloth dipaers are | | | | need the old-fashioned diaper pins. They are very |
| not like those your parents used. Cloth diapers have | | | | cost-effective over disposable diapers since you use |
| become stylish and are available in a broad range of | | | | them again and again, and there are even one size |
| colors and patterns. Many diapers use Velcro closures | | | | cloth diapers that will last your child from the day they |
| so you are not going to need the old-fashioned diaper | | | | are born to the day they are potty trained. This |
| pins. They are very cost-effective over disposable | | | | provide a huge cost saving. It has become easier to |
| diapers since you use them again and again, and there | | | | use cloth diapers while going out or if your child is |
| are even one size cloth diapers that will last your child | | | | daycare with the modern day wet bags – stylish, |
| from the day they are born to the day they are potty | | | | smaller bags designed to contain wetness and odor |
| trained. This can amount to an enormous cost saving. It | | | | that you put your cloth diaper in until you get home and |
| has become easier to use cloth diapers while going | | | | throw it in the washing machine. |
| out or if your child is daycare with the modern day | | | | |
| wet bags – stylish, smaller bags designed to contain | | | | Your entire family can participate in reducing or even |
| wetness and odor that you put your cloth diaper in until | | | | eliminating the use of paper products. While paper |
| you get home and throw it in the washing machine. | | | | products are convenient, they are wreaking havoc on |
| Another step to consider in your quest to "go green" is | | | | our environment. Instead of eating off of paper plates |
| to eliminate the use of paper products in your home. | | | | each night, use them only once or twice a week or |
| As convenient as they are, large volumes of paper | | | | even not at all! It is a good idea to use regular plates |
| products are not friendly to the environment. Choosing | | | | instead of the paper products. In lieu of paper-based |
| to reduce how many times your family uses paper | | | | towels and napkins at meals, which must be thrown |
| plates is an environmentally-friendly choice, eliminating | | | | away after each meal, use cloth towels and cloth |
| them entirely from your use is even better! Use your | | | | napkins which can be thrown in the washing machine |
| regular plates instead. Use cloth dish towels and | | | | and re-used many times. Not only are you helping with |
| napkins, which can be washed, instead of paper | | | | environmental savings but you will also be saving on |
| towels and napkins which are thrown away. This not | | | | your weekly shopping. |
| only helps save the environment but also provides a | | | | |
| significant savings on your grocery bill. The most cost | | | | The most cost effective and green way to feed |
| effective and green way to feed babies starting solids | | | | babies starting solids is to make your own baby food. |
| is to make your own baby food. It’s easy as well. | | | | And, it's easy too. Purchase some organic vegetables |
| Purchase some organically-grown fruits and veggies | | | | and fruits and a few inexpensive ice cube trays during |
| and a few inexpensive ice cube trays during your next | | | | your next grocery shopping. Dice the vegetables or |
| grocery shopping. Dice the vegetables or fruit and | | | | fruit and puree in your food processor or blender. |
| puree in your blender or food processor. After they | | | | After they've been adequately pureed, pour the |
| are adequately pureed, pour the mixture into the ice | | | | mixture into the ice cube tray and place into freezer. |
| tray and freeze them. Once they are frozen pop them | | | | Once they are frozen pop them out into baggies. As |
| out into baggies. As your baby's mealtime approaches, | | | | mealtime approaches, take a veggie or fruit cube from |
| take a cube from the freezer and let it gradually thaw, | | | | the freezer and let it gradually thaw, or microwave ot |
| or microwave ot for 10 to 15 seconds. You have an | | | | for 10 to 15 seconds. When you make your own baby |
| organic, nutritious meal for your baby made of organic | | | | food, you not only know how fresh the food items are |
| ingredients and all items used in the process can be | | | | but you also can reuse all the items required to make |
| reused from the ice cube trays to the baggies. It may | | | | and store the food as well. |
| surprise you to realize even children's toys can have | | | | |
| an effect on the ecosystem. Unfortunately, the | | | | Finally, even the toys that your child plays with can |
| processes used to manufacture children's toys is not | | | | have an effect on the environment. The manufacturing |
| eco-friendly. Some have even been found to be | | | | process for most children's toys is not earth-friendly |
| dangerous to children. Wooden toys or stuffed animals | | | | and the toys contain many artificial materials. Some |
| made with organic cotton can be purchased instead of | | | | are even proving to be dangerous to children. Wooden |
| non biodegradable plastic ones. You can even knit or | | | | toys or stuffed animals made with organic cotton can |
| crochet your own baby toys. Another great choice | | | | be purchased instead of non biodegradable plastic |
| would be a book. For obvious reasons books will | | | | ones. You can even knit or crochet your own baby |
| increase your child’s brain power and imagination, | | | | toys. A book is always a excellent choice. Not only do |
| but books can also be recycled when they are | | | | books provide a strong learning environment for for |
| outgrown. Your household can be very eco-friendly if | | | | your child's intellect and creativity, but they can also be |
| you implement any of the hundreds of ideas related to | | | | passed along to others and recyled to reduce |
| the suggestions herein. Your day-to-day activities can | | | | environmental waste. |
| easily be adapted to the adage: "reduce, reuse, | | | | |
| recycle".Always explain the purpose of these actions | | | | In addition to these ideas, there are hundreds of other |
| to your children to foster their own understanding how | | | | actions you and your family can take to make your |
| every person has an influence on the world. And let | | | | household more green. The saying reduce, reuse, |
| them know that it's their future which they are | | | | recycle can always be applied in your day-to-day |
| protecting when they take a few simple actions today. | | | | activities. Be sure to explain to your children the |
| The worldwide movement to becoming more | | | | purpose of these actions so that they understand that |
| environmentally aware is an increasing trend. The | | | | everyone has an impact on the world they live in. And |
| importance of the environment and how to be aware | | | | make sure they realize that it's their future which they |
| of the ramifications of our actions is instilled in our | | | | are improving when they take a few simple actions |
| youth by their parents. Your child can develop a sense | | | | today. |
| of personal involvement and an understanding of | | | | |