With environmental issues like water contamination, pollution, and climate change, it’s natural to look for ways we can reverse the damage to our planet and keep our environment clean. Many of us think we’re too small to make a difference, but when enough of us take action, we’ve seen the positive results we can create. Today…
Education
Evidence for Performing Arts Education
Education is about inspiring people to learn and to be passionate about learning. But for too long, and in too many schools and countries around the world, a growing desire to reduce education into league tables has taken the joy out of learning. We, as educators, have a duty to bring inspiration back into the…
Fresh & Fun Green Habits for Kids
Given the inquisitive nature of children and their limited attention spans, it can get tricky to think of new activities to encourage your child’s interest in going green. But instead of getting them into the car and driving to the nearest mall, why not use the free time to teach them eco-friendly activities that they…
Natural Lice Prevention & Treatment (Even for Super Lice)
It seems we don’t have a “normal” anything anymore. We don’t just have viruses, we have “super bugs”… You don’t get a large fast food meal, you “super-size” it… And, yes, now we have “super lice”. Research presented at an American Chemical Society meeting in August, 2015, showed lice populations in at least 25 states…
Green Bronx Machine: An Interview with Founder Stephen Ritz
“The single biggest prognosticator for a child’s success in life is to have access to one kind, caring adult. And I am going to be that kind, caring adult.” As the school year begins anew for many of us, it’s a perfect time to evaluate the impact that teachers have on our children. Their work…
Easing Empty Nest Transitions
“Are you OK?” my husband asked me. “You seem kind of quiet tonight.” “Yes, I’m OK. I just…Well, you know JJ started kindergarten this week,” I felt a lump in my throat. “And he’s been in school for 3 days now…” Tears came to my eyes. “And I guess…it turns out…I’m not handling it so…
Encouraging Your Child’s Natural Love of Learning
Nurturing a child’s love for learning begins with trust. As unschoolers, we trust our children to know when they are ready to learn and what they are interested in learning. We trust them to know how to go about learning. Parents commonly take this view of learning during the child’s first two years, when he…
Rhythms, Routines, & Rituals
Rhythms, routines, and rituals help us stay centered and on track as homeschooling parents, and they enable our children to relax and feel secure because they know what to expect each day. A thoughtful routine allows us to focus our energy in one area at a time, knowing that other essential areas will not be…
5 Steps to a Simpler School Year
After a summer of relaxed schedules, the shift back to packing lunches, supervising homework, and ferrying kids to after-school activities can be a jolt. This year, you can make it less chaotic for the whole family. Reuse or buy green supplies Get the right supplies. The school supply list gets longer every year. Before heading…
The Back to School 2015 Issue of Green Child Magazine is Here
Each school year brings its own adventures. Make it the best school year yet with our 2015 Back to School issue. Find the best new gear, tips on making the first day – and every day – simple and fun… and dive into our annual healthy lunch section. Plus trusted natural parenting advice on everything…
12 Reasons You’ll Love Cloth Napkins
Each year in our Back to School issue, we use the most adorable cloth napkins as backdrops and accessories in our popular school lunch inspiration section and feature. Not a week goes by in August that we don’t get an email asking, “Where can I get the pink polka dot napkin from your healthy lunches…
30+ Fresh Ideas for Easy, Healthy Lunches!
We’ve taste tested and had a ton of fun, and now we’re bring you a fun list of healthy foods that both you and your children an love! — plus our favorite waste-free gear to store it in! This special section of our back-to-school issue contains more than thirty deliciously healthy (and simple) i,ideas to…
Think It Through: Helping Your Child Develop Critical Thinking Skills
Being able to think critically about any given problem is a skill most parents want their children to have. Creative problem solving is a coveted skill not only in all lines of work, but life in general. It starts with being able to be curious, flexible, and open-minded. And while many kids learn problem solving…
Oak Meadow Full Homeschool Curriculum Package Giveaway (up to $510 value)
If you’ve been considering homeschool education, here’s your chance to try one of our top choices in home education. Oak Meadow has been a part of the educational landscape since 1975.
A Little Free Library Can Make a Big Difference
A nationwide movement, Little Free Library encourages book lovers to put up give-and-take boxes in their neighborhoods. We’re highlighting some creative community libraries and showing you how to make one in your neighborhood. Maybe you’re homesteading on a rural road and don’t have ready access to a public library. Perhaps you and your neighbors are…
The Fall 2014 Issue of Green Child Magazine has arrived!
Autumn… Fall… whatever you like to call it – a new season is here! And we’re excited to share a brand new issue with you. Filled with family-friendly ways to enjoy this vibrant time of year, you’ll find DIY costumes and healthy Halloween fun, a celebration of today’s autumnal equinox, green crafts, and as always…
Guided Relaxation: Cool at School
Help your child remain relaxed and cool at school with calming breathing and feel-good techniques that brighten the days. Simply read the following guided relaxation imagery slowly in a calm voice before bedtime or in the morning upon waking. These peaceful guided relaxation scripts are written by Mellisa Dormoy of ShambalaKids. Her meditation audios help children and teens relieve stress and anxiety,…
Violence in Our Schools: How parents can help create a more peaceful world
We all hunger for peace. Yet far too often this seems to be just a dream, hopelessly out of reach. Instead of the peaceful life we all want, we have strife in our families, in our communities, and between our nations. We lose hope of anything better, and begin to think that nothing will ever…
Grace & Courtesy: Helping children learn self-discipline
The theme of Grace and Courtesy is the oil that keeps a group of people functioning smoothly. It is the ambiance parents can create in the home and the teacher can create in the classroom. It is a general attitude of graciousness and respect. We can only create it when first we model it with our…
School Fundraisers – Giving Kids a Choice
A sense of compassion and caring is something parents and caregivers strive to instill in their children. One of the ways families try to do this is by encouraging their children to get involved in charitable giving. However, before voting on the next fundraiser for your school, there a number of things you should consider….
Individualized Learning: One Style Doesn’t Fit All
Each of us tends to prefer one way of learning to another. Some learn best through reading. Others prefer to hear information spoken before they can make sense of it or remember it. Some need to see diagrams or demonstrations in order to develop understanding. Still others need to physically touch, manipulate, move, and experiment…
10 Tips to Help Your Child Guard Against Bullying
Bullying begins in preschool and gains momentum as kids grow. Depending on which survey you read, between 40-80% of middle schoolers admit to bullying behavior. Not only is bullying pervasive, it has become increasingly dangerous. Many parents ask what to do when a child is being bullied. The good news is that bullying is preventable,…
5 Ways to Shop Secondhand for Back to School
Who says a new school year has to mean an expensive new wardrobe? Shopping secondhand for back to school not only helps you consume less, it can help you save money big time. Here’s how to make the most of your secondhand back to school shopping. 1. Start early Thinking ahead can save a great deal…
Learning at Home
Our homes are powerful places for living and learning. As we move through the daily and weekly rhythms of home, we discover a panoply of learning moments for our young children. These moments are not tied to a curriculum, not focused on standards or expectations. They happen naturally, organically, as our children follow their innate…
