Eco Child’s Play

Summer is here and this is a holiday weekend in the US, thousands and thousands of grills will be fired up, tons of charcoal and lighter fluid will be used and the number of resources consumed will be staggering.

uGO has a product that can help green your grilling, the FlameDisk. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s summer vacation, and one thing parents often hear from children used to being stimulated by school all year is, “I’m bored!”.  Personally, I am never bored, so I have little compassion when I hear my daughter issue this utterance, but I have found a new book that I think will help her overcome the doldrums. Let’s Go Outside!: Outdoor Activities and Projects to Get You and Your Kids Closer to Nature is a great resource for bored children.

Just as I have little understanding of boredom, I also never find myself needing an activity while experiencing nature beyond hiking and observing; however, children are a different breed. They sometimes need help focusing their energy.  Author Jennifer Ward provides 52 outdoor activities.  From “Playground for Poets” to “Five Fine Forts”, the summer boredom crisis is solved (and these activities are limited to warm summer months).  Furthermore, these games and projects are designed for children ages 8-12.  Here’s an example: Read the rest of this entry »

The problem with most computer games and web portals for kids is that they keep kids glued to the computer, with no incentive to go outside and simply have fun. A new company, MokuZoku, aims to change all of that with a series of games that motivate kids to get out and play. Read the rest of this entry »

Every year the NWF (National Wildlife Federation) sponsors the Great American Backyard Campout, encouraging families to get out in nature…even if it is only in their backyards.

You don’t have to go to a campground to have a good time camping.

This year the official date for the backyard campout is June 27th. I’ve signed my family up and we’re going to have a camp fire and cook out and make s’mores and tell campfire stories. It’s a lot of fun and we try to do it every year. Read the rest of this entry »

It is with pleasure that I write this review of special children’s book written by our Green Options colleague and Eco Child’s Play contributing writer Joe Mohr, aka Mean Joe Green!  Not only is Joe a great political cartoonist, he’s a children’s author too.  His new book Go Out!  Go Out! is unique not only because it comes from Joe, but it is also a short book (14 “pages”) designed for your iPhone using istorytime.

From kite-flying to corndog buying, Go Out! Go Out! is a rhyming story that shares a small sample of the wonderful experiences that are waiting for us just outside our own front door.

Joe believes it is important kids get outside, no matter where they live!  I couldn’t agree more, and my family spends most of their days in the great outdoors. Read the rest of this entry »

Eco-Artware is full of fun and functionally “green” products. Most of their items are handcrafted from recycled materials but these handy little bamboo eating utensils are made from all new bamboo and perfect for parents or anyone that often eats on the go. Read the rest of this entry »

School may be out (or almost out for some) but camp outs and sleepovers will soon be abundantly on the agenda and it’s bug time. Fleas, ticks and lice can run rampant in campgrounds and other areas where groups of people hang out. The last thing you want to put a damper on summer fun is a lice infestation.

To at least keep the lice away check out Happy Heads Lice Prevention products. Read the rest of this entry »

Ecozoo backpacks from Ecogear are the perfect eco-friendly bags for short summer trips or for a fun bag to fill with summer boredom busters like books, games, art supplies or a multitude of other kid stuff.

I received the Panda as an awesome review product and my two youngest kids are fighting over who gets it, that’s how cute it is. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are looking for the greenest of the green planters for planting small container gardens check out greenPots.

GreenPots are eco-friendly planters made from rice hulls. They contain no petroleum products, are completely sustainable, and will break down naturally. GreenPots can even be composted. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s come to my attention of late that many of us focus on the difficulties in parenting.  We are quick to gripe about our children’s behavior, habits, friends, language, school, clutter and seldom make mention of their beautiful smiles and outrageous thirst for life.

So, I’ve decided to become grateful.  Every day I will find some reason I am grateful… it may be directly related to my children or not.  No matter what there will be a connection because I am THEIR MOM, no matter what.  That is my first job… my first priority.

Tonight I reflect back on our day.  I see the smiles on their faces when they come rushing in the front door at the end of the school day.  Normally I would focus on the noise and mayhem that follows suit… today I just see those happy faces, so eager to rush in and tell me all about their days. Read the rest of this entry »