Monthly Archives: April 2010

Spring Means it’s Time to Send The Kids Outside to Play More

Things are heating up around here. We’re getting more sunny days and fewer rainy ones. It’s a great time of year to send the kids outside to play.

I know that it’s sometimes hard to send the kids out to play when you don’t want to follow them. But once they’re old enough, you should be starting to have them play outside without you anyhow. Just think of how much you probably played outside without adult participation as a child. I hope it was a lot.

Both outdoor play and playing without adults setting the rules or watching too carefully is good for kids, so long as conditions are safe. In some neighborhoods, kids can be safe playing on their own at very young ages. In other places, you need to wait for them to have better judgement. It comes down to your judgement as a parent.

Just remember that if you don’t let them learn to figure out what’s safe on their own, your kids will have a very hard time learning to do that on their own. They need to make little mistakes, get hurt in various ways so that they learn to avoid bigger injuries and to be more independent.

Outdoor play is generally healthy for kids. While their everyday play may be in your front or back yard, or at a local playground if you have one close enough, don’t forget to take your kids to see nature in its most natural forms. Take them hiking. Go camping. Go to the beach, a lake, a river, whatever you have available to you.

I know parents have a lot of fears these days about letting their kids play outside without an adult right there, even as they get older. It’s very important for your kids that you learn to keep your concerns realistic. The fears about child snatching and such are greatly overblown in most situations by the media.

If you’re not too comfortable about having your kids play outside without you, try to find some friends for them and have them play in a group. Kids are safer in a group and they’ll have loads of fun together. Set appropriate rules about where they can go and when to be back home, and try to relax.

You don’t have to keep them inside entirely on rainy days either. Soaking wet, possibly muddy kids aren’t too much fun for you to clean up after, but many kids will appreciate the chance to play in the rain. Just so long as it’s not too serious a storm, and have hot chocolate or another treat ready to warm them back up.

They don’t always have to be outside without you. Spring is one of the best times of year for showing kids the wonders of nature. Show them the leaves coming back on the trees, the flowers blooming, animals coming back out, whatever you can find for them in your area. You could even decide to start gardening together.

When the kids come back messy or tired from having fun, just remind yourself that they’re doing things that are good for them on many levels. Playing outside is a way to help kids be healthier, do better in school, be more creative and so much more.

If you’re concerned about letting your kids play outside, there are two books I would recommend reading. One is Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy. The other is Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv.

I love both those books. I was given each of them as review copies some time back, and I’ve mentioned them at various times because I really and truly enjoyed them. They’re great references for parents.

Wanna Go Camping?

I got an email today from the National Wildlife Federation about the upcoming Great American Backyard Campout on Saturday, June 26, 2010. I think the name just about says it all.

The timing quite amused me. My husband was going to take our older two camping in the backyard this weekend, but changed his mind when he realized the temperatures were going to be in the high 30s to low 40s F all night. The baby and I weren’t going to do it because I have enough trouble getting her to sleep as things stand. Something about camping out with a baby who is teething molars really didn’t appeal to me. Not with a bed at hand.

The goal is to encourage kids to get outside more. So many kids these days spend very little time outside. They’d rather watch TV or play on the computer or with video games. They’re missing out on the amazing things they could be seeing outside.

If you register for the Campout, the site will provide you with recipes, information on nocturnal wildlife, plus songs, games and activities you can do.

You don’t have to stick to your backyard if you’d rather camp elsewhere, of course. Just get out and camp for at least that night!

There’s a lot to be said about getting kids outside. It helps them be more creative, helps them be healthier, and even helps in academic performance. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder is a great pick if you want to learn more about why kids need to get outside more.

I’m pretty sure we’ll be doing this. I can’t imagine my husband declining the chance to camp. Anyone else?

Plant Trees Around Your Home – Green Step By Step

Want to make your home more beautiful and save energy at the same time? Plant trees around it!

Trees help your home to use less energy in the summer by providing shade once they’re big enough. That means less sunlight heating your home.

You can take it up a notch by planting fruit trees. Most don’t grow as tall as other types of trees, but you get fruit out of the bargain, which isn’t a bad deal. Just find out what grows well in your area. You can’t get more local than picking fruit from your own yard.

Alternatively, consider planting a tree that will eventually be good for kids to climb. It will take years to grow it tall and strong enough, but a good climbing tree is one way to get children outside and enjoying nature. You may end up gritting your teeth and worrying as kids climb, but that’s one of the parts of parenthood. But if you climbed trees as a child, you know how wonderful a feeling it is.

Does “Biodegradable” Really Matter?

There was a very interesting post over on Discovery the other day about whether or not “biodegradable” means Earth-friendly. In case you’re wondering, it doesn’t.

The trouble with biodegradable goods is that very few of them really are composted. They aren’t meant to go into the landfill. If they aren’t disposed of correctly, they can’t break down properly.

From the article:

But biodegradable plastics are not an easy fix for our environmental woes. In order to break down completely, a 100 percent biodegradable product needs to end up in a community-scale composting facility, which keeps proper temperature and moisture levels for long enough periods of time. Backyard bins just won’t cut it.

In a landfill, a biodegradable container will probably sit there just as long as other plastics do. If it does disintegrate, one concern is that the plastic might release methane gas, a more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

In an environment like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Narayan added, partially degradable plastics that are mixed with other additives are more likely to leach toxins that can enter the food chain.

“One has to be careful,” Narayan said. “If it’s only partially degradable, it’s worse. Partial biodegradability is not an acceptable option.”

It’s important, if you’re buying products in biodegradable packaging to know what conditions they need and if appropriate facilities are available in your area. There are some communities that have the facilities available now to compost true bioplastics correctly. The article notes that if we keep up the improvements, we could eventually recover 90 percent of discards.

The article notes that if you have a composting facility in your area, look for a ASTM D6400 label. This means it’s fully compostable.

In the meantime, pay attention where you can to what is compostable, especially if it’s safe to do so in your own backyard. What’s the point in waiting for community facilities if you can handle it right at home?

How Green Are Your Reading Habits?

I love to read. I have one wall in my home that is covered with books, and that’s not even the whole collection. But what’s the most eco friendly way to read?

The Library

Especially if you have a good one within walking distance, you can’t do much better than going to the library for your books. Many can order titles from other branches, so you can often find the books you really want to read.

Then back they go for someone else to read.

This is especially good if you tend to read a particular book only once. If you read it and are done with it, try your local library. You might get a delightful surprise, and you’re supporting a wonderful institution. It doesn’t matter that the books are free to check out. Communities value libraries more if they get used more.

Used Books

My own addiction. Do not let me get too close to a used book store. It will draw me in and my budget may regret the results.

Used book stores are amazing. They often have titles that you can’t find easily at a regular bookstore. And every book is something that someone else finished with first. You’re not causing more books to be printed when you buy a used book.

You can trade in books that you’re done with at most used book stores too. You may get cash or store credit, depending on the location. It’s a hobby that can almost fund itself. On the minus side, the author doesn’t get anything for your purchases.

EBooks

Many people feel that electronic books are an environmentally friendly selection. My own feelings on the matter is mixed.

On the plus side, no paper is involved. Once the book is written, it takes very little to make however many copies are purchased. Ebooks are simply stored on a server and downloaded when purchased.

On the minus side, they’re electronic. That means when your ebook reader dies, you have electronic waste to dispose of. Too many people dispose of electronics improperly or just go buy new whenever the hot new version comes out.

Another plus is that one reader can store a lot of books. How many depends on the reader in question. But you won’t be taking up an entire wall of your home storing your electronic books.

Another minus is that they require electricity and batteries. Once a traditional book is printed, it is complete. An ebook uses more electricity every time you read it.

There are a number of ebook readers out there. Amazon’s Kindle
is very popular. You can choose a smaller or somewhat larger model, depending on how you will feel most comfortable carrying around and reading on its screen.

The Sony Digital Reader is a similar product. There are a few versions you can buy, once again depending on just what you feel most comfortable with.

Apple’s iPad is a new entry that does a lot more than just display ebooks. It offers internet surfing and movie watching capabilities as well. There’s been a lot of hype around this one, and it will be interesting to see how things go with it.

If you buy hardcover books, electronic versions are often cheaper. Many people tout this as a savings financially as well as for the environment. My habit has always been paperback, so even new the books likely cost less in print… especially from the used book store.

No matter how you like to get your reading materials, there will be positives and negatives. Give a little thought to the impact of your reading habits and choose the best combination for your lifestyle and the environment.