It’s hard to imagine that summer vacation is coming to an end. The days are still long and warm and sleeping-in continues to be the norm, but it won’t be long until your children are awakened by the school bell announcing the first day of school!!!
When preparing for back to school, start early! This might give some kids the back-to-school jitters, but planning ahead will help you make healthy and environmentally- friendly choices.
Before hitting the stores and getting caught up in all the “back to school sales,” do an inventory of any supplies from previous years. Most supplies, such as sturdy backpacks, lunch kits, pencils can last more than year, so you don’t need to buy them every year.
When packing your kid’s lunches, think litter-less! Since a kid, I have always packed litter-less lunches. Not only does it saves money, since you won’t always be purchasing brown bags, but it also reduces the amount of waste you’re producing!
In elementary school I learned a lot about environmental issues through my school’s green club. Green clubs are a great way to allow kids to take on leadership roles and produce tangible results at their schools by reducing, recycling, reusing, composting and building their problem-solving skills. If your child’s school doesn’t have a green club, help the school start one or encourage your child to do so!
Here are some more great ideas to make sure your child’s back to school preparation is healthy, safe, and environmentally- friendly:
- Buy a sturdy, comfortable backpack that your child can use year after year. Avoid backpacks made of nylon or new plastics, especially PVC (vinyl), and look instead for bags made from recycled materials or natural materials, such as hemp;
- Purchase recycled paper – then try to use both sides to reduce waste even further;
- Reuse last year’s pencil box/ case. To make it look new you could decorate it with fabric paint and create a new look and design. No need to buy another one!;
- Try to buy beeswax or soy-based crayons, water-based paints, and water-based markers and glue, all of which are better for the environment than oil-based products;
- Buy in bulk and avoid individually prepackaged items. It is significantly less expensive and can reduce what’s thrown away;
- Pack liter-less lunches and eliminate as much waste as you can. Check out: www.wastefreelunches.org or http://www.lunchwithoutwaste.com/
- Healthy lunches and snacks are important for children and help with concentration and learning, so pack nutritious lunches with vegetables, fresh fruit, dairy, protein food and water;
- If possible, have your children walk or take the bus to school. If you do need to drive your kids to school, try to start a carpooling initiative with other neighborhood parents and kids;
- Encourage a non-idling policy for your school, so school busses and parents picking up their kids are not idling in front of the school.
You can help to make a difference and reduce your impact on the environment this year by greening your back to school planning. You will also be setting a good example for your kids, which will encourage them to look for greener ways to live when they become adults.
To engage your kids in environmental issues at home, check out Earth Day Canada’s Ecokids program (http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm). This program provides free environmental education info for children, their families, and educators.
