At Summit Kids Academy we have implemented ‘Green’ practices such as using Zono to sanitize, digital daily reports to reduce paper use and recycling . You can plant the seed for a lifetime of environmentally conscious behavior in your kids, and the easiest way to do so is to start at home. Our ten tips will show you how!
- Remember to recycle! While this may seem obvious, we recycle at school but many families either don’t recycle at all, or don’t recycle all of the discarded items that can be recycled. Here are some links to our towns and county recycling info.
http://www.swa.org/192/Recycling-at-Home
https://www.lakeworthbeachfl.gov/public-works/solid-waste-and-recycling
http://www.boynton-beach.org/garbage-and-recycling - Try upcycling. Upcycling is simply taking your recyclables and repurposing them. Egg cartons can be planters. Coffee cans can be pencil holders. And nearly anything can become a part of your child’s arts and crafts projects. At Summit Kids Academy, your teacher may ask for these types of items for art projects and your participation is always appreciated.
- Plant a tree. Are you aggravated by the trees you’ve seen uprooted when new residential developments or commercial complexes are built? You can do your part to balance the scales by planting your own trees out back. Small yard? Check out this link to give you some ideas of which trees are best in Palm Beach.
http://www.south-florida-plant-guide.com/small-flowering-trees.html - Begin a compost pile. Kids can learn a lot from the process of composting. By separating organic discards from the rest of your garbage, they learn what biodegrades, and what feeds the soil and what simply litters the earth forever. And when they see your compost pile decompose and feed your beautiful garden or lawn, they’ll learn a lesson about nature firsthand.
- Recharge. Buying rechargeable batteries for your electronics as well as for your kids’ electronic toys can help your whole family to use less electricity and discard fewer batteries.
- Make a change to your lighting. Make a trip to the hardware store with your kids, and pick out LED light bulbs together. Explain that these bulbs use less electricity, and will last longer, causing less physical waste.
- Recycle old batteries and electronics. Disposing of these things properly means that they can be repurposed instead of ending up in a landfill. Here is a link to locations near you to recycle batteries and electronics.
http://www.call2recycle.org/locator/ - Drink tap water. Before your kids develop a bottled water habit, make sure they’re drinking tap water. In the U.S., tap water is clean and safe, and if you don’t love the taste, invest in a PUR filter or a Brita to get that “fresh from a spring” flavor.
- Save water in small ways. Turn off the tap while you and your kids brush your teeth. Same goes for hand washing. Shorten your showers. All of these small steps contribute in a big way to your overall water consumption.
- Clean green. Ordinary household cleaners contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to kids and pets, and send toxins right down your kitchen and bathroom drains. Check out the EWG website for a comprehensive guide to green cleaners that will keep your counters, floors, and tubs sparkling.
Have you implemented any fun or creative ways to bring environmentally friendly habits into your own home? Let us know in the comments section!