Meridian Hills Co-op in Indianapolis brings the kindergarten classroom outdoors. There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. This isn’t the official motto of Malkah Bird’s kindergarten class at Meridian Hills Cooperative Nursery School & Kindergarten in Indianapolis, but it very well could be. Every day, the 14 kindergarteners spend a good chunk of…
Gradeschooler
Roughhousing & Developmental Play
A kitten makes a sideways run to pounce on her unsuspecting sibling. Two puppies growl and nip each other, all the while thumping their tails with glee. Roughhousing comes naturally to young animals (even non-predatory animals), so it should be no surprise our kids have the same instincts. “Play fighting” can actually help kids learn…
Flexible LEGO® Compatible Tape is a Game Changer!
Few things capture the imagination of a child like the classic LEGO® brick. These open-ended toys stand the test of time, and now a new innovation is propelling the already endless options for creativity. Nimuno Loops is a flexible roll of building block “tape” that can be cut to any length and applied to nearly any…
Hiking with Little Kids: How to enjoy hiking without overdoing it
A family hike is a wonderful way to spend time together in nature and get some great exercise. If you’re nervous about hiking with little kids, here’s how to enjoy a great day without overdoing it. Hiking with little kids is the ultimate way to enjoy a free range summer. My niece and nephew are…
The Spring 2017 Issue of Green Child Magazine is Here!
The Spring 2017 issue of Green Child is here! You’ll find natural parenting advice for all ages & stages… from handling baby’s first fever to creating a safe environment for your preschooler’s roughhousing to helping set rules for your teen’s first cell phone. You’ll also find healthy recipes, a peek at our favorite books in…
Why & How to Embrace Minimalist Parenting
Could your family enjoy life more by doing less? Minimalist parenting challenges parents to cut through the clutter of more, and edit your activities and belongings down to what’s truly important. For many years, the parenting climate has been all about more. More expert advice, more gear, more competition, more fears about safety, and more choices to make…
Oak Meadow Full Homeschool Curriculum Package Giveaway
If you’ve been considering homeschool, here’s your chance to try one of our top choices for learning at home. Oak Meadow has been a part of the educational landscape since 1975. Their compassionate, child-centered approach to homeschool encourages critical thinking and intellectual development through hands-on activities, interdisciplinary projects, and thoughtful reading and writing practice. This…
Coping With Colds: The Best Herbs For Cough, Congestion, And Infection
Dealing with a cold is terrible. But having a child come down with a cold? Any parent would happily take on the virus rather than put their kid through the breathless nights of hacking, sneezing, and stuffy noses. No, we can’t take up sneezing on their behalf, but herbs can be the next best thing. Use…
Children and Chickens: What Backyard Chickens Can Teach Kids
Children and chickens may not seem as natural a combination as a child and a puppy, but you may be surprised at the bonding experience your family can have with a flock of chickens. Keeping a small flock of chickens in the backyard is much more than a passing fad or trend and is slowly…
Nutritional Nuggets: Holidays Don’t Have to Equal Sweets
Question: Is there a way to stop the sweets – holidays association before it starts? My husband and I went off of sugar several years ago, and it’s been the best health decision we’ve ever made. Our son is almost 2, and we’d like to keep sugar from becoming a reward or celebratory association in…
DIY Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping Fun
What do you get when you ask kids to wrap gifts with recycled papers, fabric, and craft items they found lying around? We got an afternoon of DIY eco-friendly gift wrapping fun… and a pile of off-the-chart festive, creatively wrapped gifts! And personally – I got to share my obsession with Furoshiki (the Japanese art…
Naturepedic Verse Review: An Organic Mattress Upgrade for Your Child
Your child spends a third of his time sleeping. One of the most critical ways to decrease his exposure to chemicals is with a non-toxic sleeping environment. In our Naturepedic Verse review, we’re taking a deep dive into the benefits of this non-toxic mattress. When it’s time to transition to a big kid bed from…
Unleash Your Child’s Creative Genius By Nurturing These 6 Traits in Yourself
Is creativity an innate talent or a learned skill? Many people think creativity is something people are born with—either they have it or they don’t. That’s one myth about child rearing that needs to be debunked because, in fact, creativity can be learned. As a parent who wants to nurture their child’s ability to think…
Eco & Socially Conscious Fundraising With Equal Exchange
“I vote for the wrapping paper. Didn’t we make good money on it last year?” “Yeah, well at $12 a roll, we should have made a fortune. I vote for the scented candles!” This was the school fundraising conversation at my first PTO meeting when our son was in kindergarten. The squirmy toddler on my…
Free Printable Children’s Reading Kit
Recently I wrote an article about bringing mindfulness to story time, and the Green Child team told me it resonated with a lot of parents. We started looking at other ways to encourage creating a special ritual around reading, and we came up with the idea of a free printable Children’s Reading Kit. So, we’re…
School Incentives That Aren’t Junk Food or Cheap Toys
School incentives don’t have to be junk food or cheap toys. To be frank, we should be teaching and modeling to students that a job well done is its own reward. But we get it – bribery works. And sometimes it’s more fun if the group is working toward a common goal. So today we’re…
How to Talk with Kids About Climate Change
When we talk with kids about climate change, we’re planting a seed. A seed that blossoms into more than just an understanding of the challenges our planet faces, but a respect and understanding for the broad field of science. As we work to curb climate change, we often come up against an epidemic movement to marginalize science. In his book Science…
Bringing Mindfulness to Story Time
Once during story time when my son was just four years old, he taught me a lesson that changed me forever. I was reading to him, as we did every day. It was a little more rushed than usual. I was tired and hungry, and we sat on the edge of the couch going through…
Mindful Parenting: Releasing Your Expectations
Editor’s note: We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Shefali Tsabary’s voice to Green Child, as she shares her perspective on mindful parenting and releasing the expectations we have on our children. To learn more about parenting from a place of peace, presence, and connectedness, check out her new book, The Awakened Family. What is Mindful Parenting? Mindful parenting is the…
Nature-inspired Art: How to Make Your Own Nature Brushes and Paints
Mother Nature is definitely her own artist. And you can channel her talents when you make your own nature brushes and paints. As a former art teacher, I reveled in preparing these activities because there are so many varied points of interest that capture a child’s fascination. Whether you want to make your own nature brushes…
How to Help Boost Your Child’s Memory and Attention Skills
Despite the distractions of the modern world, it is possible to help boost your child’s memory and attention skills. We’re sharing how to help your child focus and improve his or her working memory. Think back to your childhood… were you a whiz at the Memory Match game? Could you recite family members’ birthdays or…
Top Tips for Green Travel with Kids
Summer is the official kick-off for family road trips, travel, camping, and family fun. We’re sharing our top tips for green travel with kids. The world is a book, and those who don’t travel only read one page. ~ Augustine of Hippo Travel is an ever-changing, exciting way to spend time with your family. It’s…
Are We Sharing Too Much About Our Kids Online?
It’s no secret that many parents overshare stories and photos about their children online. After all, many of us have all been guilty of this. It’s easy to post updates when a child takes their first steps, learns how to blow bubbles in the pool, wins another dance competition, masters the uneven bars at a…
Helicopter Parenting in Nature: Don’t Cut Down the Tree, Build Up the Kid
Every family wants comfort and safety. But as parents, we also want to raise courageous, resilient children and young adults — with a little help from nature The writer Robert Michael Pyle recalls his boyhood as “freedom of the day.” Mistakes, scrapes and discovery came with territory: “So what did it give me? Decisions; adaptations;…
