"Do good in minutes" Change a lightbulb: If every household replace its five most frequently used lights with Energy Star bulbs, it would have the same effect on reducing greenhouse gases as if we took 8 million cars off the road. Bonus: You'd save about $60 a year. (From the March 2007 Parenting magazine)
Raise a money-smart kid: 5 simple things you can start teaching your child today (From the April 2007 Parenting magazine)
1. Don't say "We can't affort it" (talk to them about budgeting and making choices about where to spend money)
2. Show them the money (let them see you balance your checkbook, record debit/credit card purchases, etc)
3. Talk about how much things cost (make lists of actual expenses and income and, at age appropriate stages, discuss household expenses)
4. Buy something that isn't on your list (make lists and shop from those, but explain why sometimes you might purchase something NOT on your list - discuss that accordingly)
5. Be open with your spouse (team effort in the finance area)
4 Things you just can't teach a kid -Deborah Skolnik (From the June 2007 Parenting Magazine)
1. Flowers don't taste as good as they smell.
2. You can't save an ice pop under your bed.
3. Pushing the elevator button seven times doesn't make it come any faster.
4. The bathroom has a door for a reason
Greener Cleaning (From the June 2007 Parenting Magazine)
1. Air it out. Leave windows open during and after cleaning so that the chemicals don't linger in the air.
2. Buy "green" alternatives
3. Make your own: Try:
- A mix of baking soda and distilled white vinegar to scrub the toilet
- Distilled white vinegar mixed with warm water to clean hardwood floors
- Begetable-based soap with a few drops of lavendar essential oil to make an antiseptic cleaning spray
4. Do what you can. Using green cleaners even some of the time is better than never. To learn more, visit householdproducts.nim.nih.gov.
Quick-fix ways to save the planet - Annie Schoening (From June 2007 Parenting Magazine)
To conserve:
Electricity: Plug electronics into a power strip and turn it off when you go out and at night. You'll save $20 - 50 a year. (Plugged in items use electricity even when they're off).
Hot water: Save entergy by doing laundry in cold water (using a special detergent like Tide Coldwater). Your clothes will be just as clean, and you'll pocket $60 annually.
Heating/Air conditioning: Install a programmable thermostat. Set it to use less heat and A/C when you're out or asleep, and save $150 each year.
The green house: Moms tips for an eco-friendly home (From October 2007 Parenting Magazine)
Conquer kid clutter! (From November 2007 Parenting Magazine)
Kid rooms
- Divide and conquer
- Rotate the goods
- Create activity zones
- Hold off on bookshelves
Craft supplies
- Keep a vinyl tablecloth with the art supplies
- Toss the flimsy crayon boxes
- Make a marker-saver.
- Separate supplies for easier access.
Dress-up stuff
- Load up a big bin or two
- Use hooks for the things that are easily crushed or lost
Toys and games
- Label them
- Tape 'em
- Store puzzles smarter
How to be a great mom: 7 qualities you need for your preschooler (From the December/January 2008 Parenting Magazine)
- Resolve
- A Sense of fantasy
- Forethought
- Stoicism
- Nonchalance
- Dexterity
- Empathy
Easy Ways to be an eco-family (from November 2007 Working Mother magazine)
Home Sweet eco-Home: Our room-by-room shopping guide to environment friendly shopping products (from November 2007 Working Mother magazine)
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