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By Tania Asnes
In preparation for their trip to Sundance, Ed composes a long list of chores for himself and Rachelle. True to form, he makes his tasks as green as possible. He buys a TerraPass to offset Rachelle's plane ticket, has his car detailed using gentle, eco-friendly cleaning products and, in lieu of a canvas bag, carries his groceries to the car by the armload. It's enough to make you wonder what kind of green chore list little Hayden must have. After all, if a child is old enough to do chores, he or she certainly can do them the eco-friendly way. Here are some ideas for greening children's chores:
Assign your kids tasks that benefit the Earth directly to help them build green habits. Gardening chores such as digging and weeding can get your children interested in the environment. Separating and taking out the recycling and keeping up the compost bin are two responsibilities that older children can handle on their own. Younger kids can help with the safest recyclables (paper and plastic, not metal or glass) and take compost-appropriate table scraps to the bin. You can also put a recycling bin next to the wastebasket in your child's room and make him or her responsible for depositing waste into the appropriate container.
Make other chores greener. Provide biodegradable pooper-scooper bags for dog walking and eco-friendly cat litter for changing the cat box. When the car needs washing, hand your kid a waterless cleaning product to help conserve water, and when the lawn gets shaggy, let him or her drag out the reel mower instead of a motorized one (this author remembers doing so, not that she was clamoring to do it).
Most importantly, explain to your child why his or her chores help keep the Earth healthy. For example: "When you help me recycle, you are keeping the planet clean by making sure useful stuff doesn't just get thrown out," or "When you use recycled-paper bedding instead of wood shavings to change the hamster's cage, you are helping the planet by making less waste." Make sure your approach is positive and not negative or alarmist. You want to make your kids feel helpful, not burden them with unnecessary worry.
An allowance may remain the number-one green incentive for pitching in at home, but you'll be doing your kids - and the planet - a favor by making their clean-up efforts eco-friendly.
Need proof that it's possible to balance being green and still be a supportive partner and parent? See how Ed Begley, Jr. does it on Planet Green TV's Living with Ed.
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