Monday, April 2, 2012

Buying Green: Raising Honeycomb Kids

I recently had the chance to review Honeycomb Kids: Big Picture Parenting for a Changing World and to Change the World!.

What is a honeycomb kid? In the author's words, it's a kid who has the benefits of the honeycomb in nature: beauty, strength, utility, nutrition, healing, sweetness, and longevity.

The book starts rather bleak, looking at the "big issues" that face the world right now, things like climate change, resource scarcity, health issues, and many more scary things going on. But then it ends this brief section with hope, and a promise to provide practical ideas to help kids contribute positively to these issues.

The next 24 chapters (don't worry, they're short!) look in-depth at a positive trait to instill in your children. After defining and discussing the trait, there are several "thought launchers & conversation starters" that provide ways to get the dialogue going in your family. This is where the meat of the book really is, and what's most helpful. These tips can be incorporated into your family in whatever context makes sense, whether that's bedtime, mealtime, in the car, or just spontaneously. Many of the conversation starters work for kids of all ages, so even if you've never had a dialogue about these topics before, you can use them from little kids to young adults.

I liked this book. It was a good read - and an easy read, with the short chapters and clear, concise explanations.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary digital copy of the book to facilitate this review.

Healthy Habits: Indoor Air Quality

Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that indoor air is usually more polluted than outdoor air? That's why UL is working to help create safer living and working environments for all of us.

Most of us are unaware that everything from nursery furniture and cleaning products to mattresses, paint, and even our flooring can pollute our indoor air and pose health risks. That’s because these and other products can off-gas, or emit harmful chemicals into the air, in potentially toxic quantities.

The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, a division of UL Environment, works to protect human health and improve indoor air quality by testing products and materials submitted by manufacturers for low chemical emissions certification. Protect your family from invisible, indoor air quality dangers by Committing a Minute to Safety and taking the following actions in your home:
- Unpack new furniture and let it air out in a well-ventilated, unoccupied space (not a garage) for at least one week before bringing into your living space
- Use low-emitting paint for interior painting projects, and do your painting in the spring or fall when you can open windows for improved ventilation
- Look for products bearing the GREENGUARD Certified mark, or simply check out the GREENGUARD Product Guide at www.greenguard.org to find low-emitting, healthier products for your home which bear the GREENGUARD Certified mark

Click here to Commit A Minute to Safety this spring and stay on top of the latest information to help keep your family safe.