| Across the country kids are flocking back to school | | | | Clothes for back to school can hit the budget hard, |
| and many of us are wondering how to start the year | | | | but what's worse is that so much of last year's |
| off while encouraging a greener way in our youth. It | | | | fashion goes to waste. This year before you throw |
| can sometimes be hard to get kids to think about | | | | out the old stuff check to be sure it doesn't still fit or |
| "being green" when all they really want to do is look | | | | that it can't be made into something else great for |
| cool and hang out with their friends, but by our | | | | the year. If it is a "must go" then give it to a local |
| example they will learn and a great example can be | | | | charity rather than just throwing it in the garbage. |
| set just in back to school preparation. | | | | Back to school supplies aren't the only area where |
| It starts with school supplies. While many of those | | | | were can help our kids stay green - there is also the |
| flashy and bright notebooks can be eye catching, | | | | issue of back to school transportation. If you live |
| why not help our environment a little and purchase | | | | within walking or biking distance go ahead and have |
| recycled paper instead? Many manufacturers are now | | | | your kids walk or bike. You can walk or bike with |
| offering this option. Also, rather than spiral notebooks | | | | them to show that it isn't so bad. I live right across |
| go for the refillable binder. While some places will | | | | an open field from the schools in my town and it |
| allow for recycling paper on a spiral bind, many still do | | | | amazes me how many parents will hop in a car, drive |
| not and this means a lot of paper waste simply | | | | for three minutes (literally), drop their kids off and |
| because people don't want to spend the time tearing | | | | then drive home. Walking is not only exercise, but it |
| paper off. When purchasing the refillable binder try to | | | | saves on fuel consumption and it teaches kids that |
| find one made of canvas or cardboard. Plastic may | | | | they can move without the world coming to an end. |
| feel durable, but it is also, well, plastic. And if you still | | | | If it's raining out give your kid an umbrella - it won't |
| have a binder from last year that is in good shape | | | | hurt them and you will be teaching them a natural |
| why not just reuse it? | | | | mode of transportation in the process. If you live too |
| Backpacks are big business during the back to school | | | | far for walking or biking then get involved in a local |
| shopping, but with a quick wash most old backpacks | | | | carpool - you can take turns driving your kids to and |
| are just like new - use a gentle cycle and air dry. | | | | from school. |
| If your school requires books to be covered you can | | | | And finally, when that first day (or maybe I should |
| stay green by recycling paper bags rather than | | | | say the entire first week) arrives and the mounds of |
| buying fancy book covers. Give your kids some | | | | paper work start coming in make sure to sign what |
| crayons or markers and stickers and they can | | | | you have to sign and return it, but for the rest don't |
| decorate the books to their liking. | | | | just throw it in the trash - have your kids walk it to |
| Pens and pencils are imperative for school and you | | | | the recycle bin thus instilling in them once again that |
| can make sure to buy refillable pens and refillable | | | | recycling is good for us all. Remember, back to school |
| pencils (if you use mechanical pencils). Also, if buying | | | | is a great time to lead by example and teach your |
| regular pencils there are some brands that actually do | | | | kids the importance of a greener way of life. Have a |
| use recycled materials. | | | | great school year! |