Posts Tagged ‘Environment’

Recycling Crafts for Preschoolers

Monday, March 21st, 2011

Just about everything we use on a daily basis can be given new life with a little ingenuity.  Basic crafting tools and accessories can be used to create just about anything out of something!  Below are some great recycling craft ideas for you and your children to try at home.

1.       Cardboard Tube Napkin Rings: Dress up your dining table with beautiful homemade napkin rings! Cut a few cardboard tubes (from paper towels or toilet paper) into 1 ½-inch wide sections. Younger children can decorate the rings with paint or crayons, while older children can glue on beans or beads to make fun designs.

2.       Bottle Cap Magnets: Use paint, felt, markers and more to decorate bottle caps.  Glue a small magnet to the back and put them on the fridge. If you have a lot of bottle caps, you can make several in the same color and arrange them in different patterns and shapes on your refrigerator.  The possibilities are endless!

3.       Milk Jug Flower Pot: Cut an empty milk jug in half and place heavy tape or felt around the edge of the opening. Poke a few small drainage holes in the bottom. Paint or decorate the outside of the jug any way you like. Add some small rocks to the bottom, fill with soil and plant your favorite flowers or herbs!

*An adult should oversee all activities.  Activities may not be appropriate for all ages.

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Eco-friendly Ways Your Family Can Sustain the Environment

Wondering how your family can make a difference and help the environment? There are simple ways to protect the planet without spending a lot of time or money. Help your children develop “green” habits now, they’ll endure over time.

Park the Car

Reduce the number of times you run errands in your car. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, between 1990 and 2001, the number of miles driven to shop increased by 40 percent – this increase is three times as fast as any other category of driving. Consolidate trips or, instead of traveling by car, walk or ride a bike to the store. Using a reusable bag will increase the impact of your efforts!

Veg Out

Growing a garden is a great way to make an environmental difference. If you are limited for space try container gardening or participate in a community garden. Even toddlers can help plant, tend and harvest. Recycling compostable garbage including potato peels and eggshells in a compost bin is an additional way to enrich your garden and respect the planet.

Save Energy at Home

You can save water immediately by taking faster showers, limiting your bath water or installing a faucet aerator in your kitchen and bathroom. Over time, replace current water fixtures and toilets with low-flow options. Shutting off the flow while you are brushing your teeth also helps save water.

When you switch from standard incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescents, you use 75% less energy. Teach your children to always turn off the light and appliances when they leave the room. Some appliances, including DVD players, use energy even when they are turned off so you need to plug them into power strips to shut-off the flow of electricity.