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Growing Up Green Welcome to Growing Up Green, our resource for parents and other caregivers! Once a month, we'll provide easy tips on choosing the safest products for children, including baby bottles, bibs, sunscreen, and much more. Healthy Holiday Gift Guide 2011The holidays should bring fun and good cheer, not worries about whether toxic ingredients in toys or other products may harm our loved ones. Before you go shopping, check out our tips for picking out the healthiest gifts for children and others this holiday season: Vacuum Away Toxic ChemicalsVacuuming is not just for keeping up appearances! It’s actually an easy way to reduce unnecessary chemical exposure and common allergens in your home. Household dust contains many ingredients - some you’d expect, like pet dander, tracked-in soil, and dust mites. However, industrial chemicals like flame retardants, pesticides and heavy metals are also lurking in dust bunnies. Lighten Your (Chemical) LoadAll those products we use to make our clothes clean might take care of the dirt and grease, but they can leave nasty chemicals behind! Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get your laundry squeaky clean without the toxic chemicals. Creativity Without ChemicalsCreating art together is a lovely way to spend time with children. And since art materials are everywhere in our homes and schools, we tend to think of them as safe. Yet many contain dangerous chemicals like solvents, heavy metals, formaldehyde preservatives and phthalates. Pesticide-free Parks For Summer Fun!With the kids out of school, what better way to enjoy a nice summer day than spending a few hours at the park? Kids get a good outlet for all their extra energy and parents get to soak up some much-needed summer sun. But before you pack up the picnic basket and load everybody in the car, you should consider finding a pesticide-free park in your area. Stay Safe In The SunFinally the sun is shining in our Pacific Northwest, tempting us outside to soak in its warmth. Before running outdoors you apply a little sunscreen with a high SPF to protect from sunburn and skin cancer. You’re good to go, right? Read on . . . Get Bugs to Buzz Off!Summer is finally here, which means long days and evenings outdoors to enjoy the gorgeous weather! However, that means bugs and mosquitoes are out in force too, and being covered in itchy bites is no fun. We’ve got all the advice you need to keep the bugs away so you can play! Keep Construction CleanSpring is here and the upcoming warmer, dryer months are a great time to tackle remodeling projects! Before you or your contractor start any demolition, make sure to find out if there is lead paint in the house. We've Gotta Be CleanIf you have a child in school or daycare, sanitizers and disinfectants are probably part of your child’s life. But many of these products contain toxic ingredients and are generally not necessary to protect health. In fact, some evidence points to overly sterile environments as possibly leading to more asthma and allergies. There are safer, effective ways to reduce germs at home and at school. Green and Healthy GrassIt’s almost spring, time to make sure you lawn is in shape for the munchkins to play on. The good news—you can have a good looking lawn that is safe for your little ones and pets to play on and safe for aquatic life too. Keep Furry Friends Flea FreeYou wouldn’t feed your dog chocolate, so why would you use toxic flea bombs and powders? They’re bad for you and your furry friends! But to keep the itchy pests out of your home, it’s helpful to understand how fleas like to live. Don’t flush it down—it goes to the Sound!Parents spend lots of time working to keep their kids safe and healthy, but did you know things you use every day could be hurting other babies in Puget Sound? An orca mom can’t do much to protect her calf against things like BPA and PFCs, but you can help keep baby orcas and other Sound wildlife healthy by protecting the watershed. Here’s a list of tips to help keep toxic compounds out of Puget Sound! Healthy Holiday Gift Guide 2010Watching a child unwrap a toy can be a joy indeed: wide eyed anticipation, gap-toothed grins and squeals of delight. A thoughtfully chosen toy will provide hours of fun without worry about harmful chemicals. Prepare a Tasty, Toxic-free Feast!Want to give thanks without toxic chemicals crashing the celebration? We’ve come up with a few suggestions for a toxic-free turkey day! Makeup Makeover for Teens and TweensLittle bundles of joy—you wrapped them in organic cotton blankets, made sure their milk was hormone-free and their food had no preservatives. You raised them green—until now that is, when puberty is at your doorstep. Those precious little ones are now talking cosmetics, nail polish, shaving cream, hair products and acne remedies; products that may contain hormonally active chemicals and preservatives. Get Ahead of LiceUh oh, it's actually not dandruff. Many a parent knows that awful realization that somehow, her child's hair has become infested with head lice. But contrary to popular belief, there's no need to panic and rush to the store for a bottle of Super Strong Lice Killer! Your best bet is safe, simple, and effective tools like a steel comb. Fuel for School with Healthy Lunches!180 school days means 180 lunches to plan and pack! Thankfully there are great options out there for fun, safe, and stylish lunch containers that will inspire you to get packing. Pick a Peck of Organic FunPacking up the kids for a day at the farm is a recipe for summer fun and long lasting memories. Imagine the sweet, juicy taste of a just-plucked blueberry and a trunk full of berries to bring home! Picking your own means you enjoy fresh food at the peak of flavor and nutritional quality, and you and your family can enjoy the full farm experience. The Buzz on Stopping Summer PestsIt's summertime! Yellowjackets are circling the potato salad, fruit flies are feasting on the peaches on the counter, and an army of ants is marching towards your kitchen compost. Keep your sanity during the bug season while keeping your family safe from pesticides! These pests are bothersome but there are surprisingly effective ways to combat them without resorting to chemicals. Below are some basics on prevention and control measures. Paint Your Wagon GreenReady to freshen up your home's munchkin zone with a new coat of paint? The good news is that finding a paint that won't compromise indoor air quality has never been easier. Document Actions |
