Tip of the Week
It's not enough anymore to just teach your kids to look both ways before crossing the street, pick up after themselves and play nicely together. Modern moms need to teach children lessons on how to help preserve the environment for years to come. "The best way to teach is to lead by example, so if you want your children to grow up to be eco-minded adults, show them how to do it by greening your own habits now," says Emily Smith, vice president of the Disney Online Mom and Family Portfolio. Disney Family.com offers a list of the top six green products that can easily be incorporated into your everyday family routine.
- Reusable water bottles - You want your kids to drink plenty of water because it's good for them, but you're concerned that all those plastic bottles ending up in landfills aren't good for the environment. The solution - reusable water bottles. Easily available in stores, reusable water bottles like those used by cyclists and hikers are a great alternative to disposable bottles. By using them, you help reduce the waste stream and save money on more expensive bottled water. To really go eco-friendly, try a stainless steel bottle that is naturally durable and BPA free.
- Composting machine - Turn your leftover table scraps into compost and you will rank as the "Queen of Green" in your children's eyes. A composting machine makes the job super easy, but you can also make compost with a simple composting barrel, available in any home improvement or garden store.
- Reusable razors - Did you know that about 2 billion plastic razors end up in landfills each year? That's the estimate by the Environmental Protection Agency. So replace your limited use disposable razors with a reusable one that allows you to keep the handle and only switch the blades. You'll reduce the amount of trash going into the waste stream and your legs may thank you since reusable razors are often better quality than disposable ones.
- Reusable shopping bags - Plastic bags wind up in waterways and harm wildlife, or they end their life in landfills where they'll remain forever. Reusable cloth shopping bags are better for the environment. And you can make your own fashion statement by choosing fun, funky or fashionable totes to function as your shopping bag.
