Do It Together: 10 Tips for Going Green with Kids

Want to go green with your kids but don’t know how? Keep in mind that small changes make all the difference. Your family can adopt green habits easily by making them fun and routine. Consider placing friendly reminders around the house to help enforce the environmentally friendly changes or singing a “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” song when kids are helping out. Use these tips as a guide to teach your kids about being environmentally conscious – it’s better for the planet if they learn young! Ready to make some green changes? Do it together!

Turn Off the Water
Help your kids get into the habit of turning off the water while they brush their teeth. After wetting their toothbrush, tell them to play their favorite song while the water is off (which should be around two to three minutes, the perfect time to brush their teeth).

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Switch Off Lights and Appliances
Kids can help out by turning off lights and appliances when not in use. Put them on “light duty” and have them go around the house shutting off lights that are not needed and turning off unused appliances. 

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Make Your Home Green

Your children can go with you to a local nursery and pick out their favorite plants to have in the house. This equals more oxygen for your home! Take this opportunity to teach your children about plant care as well and have them help you water and care for the plants.

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E-Waste

No more disposing of e-waste in the trash! Teach kids that batteries from everyday objects like video game controllers or Wii remotes should be recycled, as well as any electronic equipment. Place an e-waste bin in your home and label the container with a bright color so kids won’t forget!

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Sorting Fun

Make sorting recyclables a fun activity for kids. With color-coded bins, kids can sort paper, glass, plastic, etc. while singing a recycling song!

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Learn Green

When kids need new school supplies, take them on a hunt for eco-friendly school supplies. Have them search for supplies that say “recycled” or “eco” or “green” on the packaging and celebrate their finds!

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Plant a Small Garden

Whether it’s a flower garden or vegetable garden, kids can learn about green living by helping plant a garden. From seed to bloom, kids can see how rewarding it is to have a garden of their own!

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Buy Reusable Water Bottles

Have your kids choose a favorite reusable water bottle and pack it in their lunch box instead of a juice box. This way, you reduce waste while they enjoy drinking out of their cool water bottle!

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Donate Old Clothing

Have kids go through their closets and make a “donate” and “keep” pile. Teach them that donating their clothes helps reduce waste in the environment while helping those in need.

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Meatless Monday
Have kids vote for their favorite vegetarian recipe for Meatless Monday. Cutting down on meat consumption can help cut greenhouse emissions.

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Double Take

For homework, help kids get in the habit of printing on both sides of paper.  Place a sign above your printer for a friendly reminder or have kids ask their teachers if they can email assignments – that way, no paper is used!

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Go Organic

Take your kids with you to the grocery store and have them help you search for products that are labled organic, like milk, fruits, and veggies. They’ll be excited to help out the family when they make their finds!

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Resource:  Homesessive

10 Easy Green Household Habits from Top Eco-friendly Bloggers

Environmentally friendly habits don't have to be expensive. In many cases, protecting your bank balance and protecting the planet go hand in hand! Here we've rounded up ten easy habits that save can save families money and help the environment at the same time, all suggested by Circle of Moms' Eco-friendly Mom Bloggers.


1. Buy Secondhand

"One second-hand big ticket purchase alone can save your household thousands of dollars and reduce environmental impact." Gretchen Covine, EdenFeed

2. Make Your Own Cleaning Products

"An easy, eco-friendly and FUN habit that helps save money is to make your own household cleaning products. With pantry items like baking soda and white vinegar, Castile soap, and essential oils you can make inexpensive cleaners that are safe for you, your family, and the planet." –Mindy McLaren, Sweet & Woodsy Blog

3. Reduce Food Waste

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that about 30 cents of every dollar we spend on food we end up throwing away because what we've bought spoils, or expires, or because we've just bought too much. The solution? Put leftovers in the front of the fridge, not the back where you might forget about them. Try to plan menus in advance, then grocery shop with an ingredients list so you buy what you really will use. Go to the grocery store just once a week - after 'leftovers' night, if possible, and when the fridge is almost empty." Diane MacEachern, Big Green Purse

4. Save Water and Energy on Laundry

“Avoid using the permanent press cycle, which uses an added 20 liters (5 gallons) for the extra rinse. New Energy Star-rated washers use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load. Wash your laundry in cold water — 80-90 percent of the washing machine's energy is used to heat the water. Your clothes will be just as clean — honest!" -Lori Popkewitz Alper, Groovy Green Livin'

5. Drive Less

"Drive less and walk/ride/roll more…Adopting a more active-lifestyle approach to transportation saves money on gas and car repairs, provides an "excuse" for families to exercise together, and reduces natural resource depletion." -Kimberly Danek Pinkson, ecomom blog

6. Reuse Containers

"One of the best ways to save money AND be eco-friendly is to reuse/recycle what you already have! Save tons of money on storage containers by reusing glass and plastic food containers when they are empty." Jennifer Nitzky, Sprout's Green Family

7. Start a Garden

"The taste of homegrown produce is AMAZING, and it's a great family project. When local produce is in season, you can also preserve the bounty for pennies on the dollar compared to store products. We can, dry, freeze, lacto-ferment, root cellar, and use cold frames and a greenhouse for season extension. The kids are so proud of themselves when they share ‘their’ fruits and vegetables with family and friends.” -Laurie Neverman, Common Sense Homesteading

8. DIY Gift Wrap

“Wrapping paper, tissue and gift bags are insanely expensive for something that ends up in the trash before the party is even over. Instead, use what you have to wrap gifts — a basket or a beach bucket can be two gifts in one. Or use your child's artwork to make an extra special presentation. -Amity Hook-Sopko, Green Gifts Guide

9. Cloth Diapers

"You can significantly reduce the cost of diapering by using cloth. After the initial start up cost to purchase the materials you need (in our case, it was around $150), you can save several hundred dollars each year by committing to cloth. If you plan to have more children and reuse your cloth diapers, you will have saved a serious amount of money!" -Charise Rohm Nulsen, I Thought I Knew Mama

10. Turn Off Lights & Unplug Electronics

"I know this sounds incredibly easy and almost silly, but turning off the lights when you are not using them, as well as putting your computers, TV's, etc. on a power strip and turning them off nightly [saves money]. ... Computers, TV's, DVD players, and other electronics that are plugged in 24/7 are considered 'energy vampires.' They use energy even when we are not using them." Amy Todisco, Green Living Now


Resource: The Circle of Moms Editors