Environmentally Friendly Eco Kids - Become a green family

I don't know about you, but my kids already get it. They are totally signed up to the need to make good environmental choices. They understand that some stuff is good for the planet and some stuff isn't. I don't know whether they do a lot about it at school, or they pick it up at home, but it seems to tap into their natural predisposition for things to be FAIR.

Look after the planet and protect plants, animals and other people - FAIR

Screw it all over for a quick fix now - NOT FAIR.

So if the kids are on board, all it takes is a bit of parental commitment and we have the Green Family Robinson.

As I have mentioned in other eco-hubs - if you are going to make a lifestyle change, you need to try to make it as easy to change as it is to stay the same. So don't set off thinking you can turn your household upside down overnight and take on all of these ideas at once.If you go overboard and bite off more than you can chew - you'll only end up feeling like you've failed if you let things slide.

Have a look at the list of suggestions and start off by picking the one that makes you think 'Well that's not very difficult - anyone could do that'. When you're in the habit of doing that one, come back and have another look, and you may find another one pops out and says 'Hmmm, that looks easy'.

 We all know the drill - shopping bags good, plastic bags baaaaaad.

So, why not get one that you love and want to be seen with, and won't leave home without.  That way you'll stop finding yourself pulling into the supermarket on the way home and realising all your bags are hanging up neatly at home in the back porch.

We found a sturdy canvas shopper, and then drew round our hands onto felt material.  We cut that out and stuck it on, and then did the same with some letters cut from scraps of cloth and machined those onto the bag.  We ended up with a brightly coloured shopper to be proud of.  Perfect for presents for gradparents.  Or try a bag with a favourite photo of the kids on. Something to remind you that they aren't always narky and whining for haribo, as you trudge round the store on a saturday morning.

Baking is great. Not only does it occupy kids on a rainy (or indeed a sunny day), but you can eat what you make, instead of havign to store some ghaslty egg box and glitter creation for months beofre sliding it surreptitiously into the bin when nobody's looking.

Plus, and its quite a big plus - it is lower on packaging and (generally) higher in nutrition than the shop bought equivalent. So win win WIN. Try baking gingerbread men and giving a batch for a birthday present. Or use christmas shaped cutters and hang on the tree, or give as festive gifts. Giving your and your kids time and effort means far more than just being given more stuff, which we don't really need.

Gingerbread Men

100g/4oz butter or margarine

100g/4oz soft brown sugar

2 tablespoons golden syrup

225g/8oz plain flour

2 teaspoons ground ginger

currants, raisins, smarties, m&ms etc to decorate

Cream the butter/margarine with the sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the syrup and then stir in the flour and ginger.  Lightly knead the mixture on a floured surface and then roll out to about 5mm or 1/4 inch thick.  Cut out your gingerbread men and decorate with currants etc for eyes. nose mouth, buttons.  Place on a baking tray and bake for 10mins at 180^oC until firm and golden.  Cool on a wire rack, and then store in an airtight container (if they last that long - you may find they disappear long before they are in danger of cooling down or going soggy!)

Try an incentive scheme:

We set ourselves a challenge - term 1 we had to walk or bike to school at least 50% of the time. This we did, and the kids got a prize - a new water bottle and bottle cage for their bikes. Then we cranked it up a bit and had to do 66% walking and biking. Hit that target and now the kids had new waterproof bike jackets. Finally we aimed for 75% and will a big push we just crawled over the target line. Hoorah, and new bike computers sit proudly on the children's handlebars.

On your bike

Having kids of any age needn't prevent you getting around by bike.  Trailers, bike seats, tag-alongs and tandems can all combine to keep you mobile.  Better than the gym, because the surroundings actually move!

 Teach your kids to switch the light off when they leave the room, and to shut the door to keep the heat in.  You'll save money and stop wasting energy.

Of course, this is still a work in progress in our house.  My kids who can reprogramme the dvd player and master an iPod in a blink of an eye seem to be defeated by the simple on off light switch, and only remember to shut the doors behind them in the summer when the heating is off and it would be nice to have a breeze flowing through the house.

But hey - the seed is planted and when they are older they will be able to nag their kids to do the same...

• Nappies - yes, it's a biggie, but modern reuasables really are as easy as a disposables, and much more effective at containing what tiny babies produce! They don't come cheap so check out second hand sales, parent forums and eBay for bargains.
• Wipes - You can make your own reusable wipes that can be put in the wash with your nappies. Save yourself a fortune! Buy a 1m/3ft square of fleece from your local fabric shop or market stall and cut it into 10cm/4in squares. Soak ten squares in a mixture of hot chamomile tea and honey, let them cool and store them in a watertight container (maybe one of those little travel wipes tubs that they give away as a promotion?).
• Slings and pushchairs - a great way to keep fit/get back into shape, get some fresh air and save the planet. Don't automatically assume the car is the best and easiest option to get from place to place. If you need to have your hands free a sling or backpack is a great option. For load-carrying, you can carry quite a lot slung on the back of, or stowed underneath a pushchair. We make it to school each friday with soccer kit, clarinet, euphonium, reading bags and water bottles, all rolling with the pushchair. Not glamorous or elegant i grant you, but certainly effective!

...at least every now and again

try playing:

• boxes
• connect four
• noughts and crosses
• animal misfits

Oh, and make sure you use both sides! Or better still use the back of old envelopes or printer paper that has been used on one side already.