Ways to Help the Environment as a Family

Kelly R:  Even a modest backyard garden makes a difference, and it's one of the most delicious and rewarding ways to help the environment at home! Growing your own food means fewer trips to the store, both for you and for the trucks making deliveries.

Kristy Pepping:  Instead of throwing away kids' clothes or toys, think about who can use what your kids have outgrown. Whether it's a family friend who has a younger child, a local charity in need of certain kids' items, or a local or online consignment store where you can swap your items for items you need; every little bit helps reuse versus waste.

Shila:  Those plastic containers from last night's take-out can be washed and reused for another purpose. Save them for upcoming leftovers, dinner party dessert boxes, or for organizational storage.

Kelly R:  Invest in good-quality colorful party decorations (like felt bunting or garland) that are free from characters your kids will outgrow, and you can enjoy them for years. My family has and loves this set. If you do opt for decorations with a shorter lifespan, pass them along to another family who will be able to reuse them.

Kelly R:  Pack your kids' lunches in sturdy reusable lunchboxes and eco friendly accessories that will last for years. You'll save countless juice boxes and plastic baggies from the landfill.

Kelly R:  Volunteering with your kids is so rewarding, and many volunteer opportunities have a positive impact for the environment. You can find organized trash pickups in your local community, participate in clothing drives that will save items from landfills, and support food pantries that distribute perishable food donations from restaurants and businesses.

Kelly R:  Bring your own set of reusable shopping bags to the grocery store to eliminate unnecessary plastic. Make sure to wash them thoroughly and frequently.

Shila:  Parents should understand what can be recycled and what cannot be in order to teach children to proactively utilize the proper receptacles while at home, at restaurants, in parks, etc.

Kelly R:  Looking for sustainable clothing brands that use eco-friendly fabrics and responsible business practices is a big way to make a difference when outfitting your kids.

Kelly R:  Newer dishwashers use less water than washing by hand. You can even skip rinsing at the sink, because the dishwasher will clean more thoroughly if its sensors detect residue on the dishes. Just scrape any scraps into the trash before loading. Make sure to wait and run your dishwasher only when it is full to reduce the frequency of using it.

Kelly R:  Give family members seeking birthday and holiday gift inspiration some ideas for experience gifts for kids. Gifts like movie tickets and museum memberships will save you from adding another plastic toy to your pile, and give you a fun activity to enjoy together.

Kelly R:  Save gallons of water by taking shorter showers and using a low flow shower head. Set an alarm or create a shower playlist to let you know when your time is up.

Kelly R:  Stop buying disposable plastic water bottles, and opt for reusable water bottles for every member of the family. It's one of the easiest ways to help the environment, and the water tastes better too! Make sure to invest in good quality bottles that will last for a long time, so you're not replacing them every year.

Kelly R:  If your family receives National Geographic Kids or other educational magazine subscriptions for kids, ask your teachers if they'd like to be given your old issues. It saves them from the recycle bin and gives them a second life in the classroom.

Kelly R:  Used printer paper or old schoolwork with one good side left can get set aside for your kids' art use. You can also encourage your kids to use both sides of construction and art paper for their projects instead of one. Set aside magazines, other interesting junk mail, and even past art projects to cut up and repurpose for new art.