Many of our readers come to our website looking for ways to start their families down the green path to eco-friendliness.  Help is on the way for these families in a complete guide for families.  Eco-Friendly Families, written by Helen Coronato, is designed to “guide your family to greener living with activities that will engage and inspire…from toddlers to teens.”  This new guide will be released on August 5, 2008.

Eco-Friendly Families is filled with many simple tips, such as watering your houseplants with rainwater and hosting a neighborhood toy swap, as well as explains the bigger issues and how our actions affect them.  By targeting families, this guide helps families raise the next generation with green values.  Saving the planet is a family affair!

This guide begins by asking families to take inventory of their current lives, then demonstrates how small changes bring big results.  Families are assisted with setting green goals and led through the three Rs:  reduce, reuse, recycle.  Suggestions for doing an eco-remodel on the home, eating green, and cleaning green are followed with ideas for green holidays and travel.  I especially like the “Five Minute Makeovers” throughout the book.  These little tidbits offer big ideas about such topics as why carbon offsetting is not perfect (trees don’t grow overnight) and wrapping presents in reusable bags (an idea we have featured on Eco Child’s Play).  Eco-Friendly Families is also filled with many lovely, healthy recipes.

If you are new to going green, I think Eco-Friendly Families would be very useful for your family.  If you are a seasoned greenie, I am not sure there is much you would learn beyond a few new ideas.  I like the family approach to the book, and I hope it will inspire more families to consider the planet in every decision they make.

Related posts on green parenting:

• Natural Parenting: Co-sleeping for New Dads

• Green Role Models: Finally, an Organic Princess I Want my Daughter to Adore

• Tech Gadgets for Kids: When is a Child too Young for a Cell Phone, Digital Camera, and iPod?

• Head Lice (Leave Mommy alone, She’s Shaking in the Corner)