by guest blogger Mike Schade. While millions of children across America returned to school this month, many parents were unaware that children’s back-to-school products currently on store shelves contain high levels of toxic chemicals called phthalates, used to soften vinyl plastic. These chemicals are so toxic they’ve been banned for use in toys in the United States because of adverse health effects like birth defects, asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and diabetes, among others.
Tag Archives | Kids
3 Dangers of Artificial Turf
by guest blogger, Maya K. van Rossum. Covering our community and school fields with plastic grass and rubber soil is a disturbing and concerning trend. While the science is far from settled, there is enough information to demonstrate that artificial turf may pose significant environment, health, safety, and quality of life threats to our communities.
5 Things I Discovered
while Home Alone
Some strange confluence of activities meant I had my first weekend home alone that I can remember. Probably in forever. I love my kids, of course I do. And I want them all to return home safely. But I must say I learned a lot about myself this weekend that I don’t want to forget.
Organic Farming in a NYC
Public School
by guest blogger Alberto Gonzalez. Hatching chicks from eggs, growing kale, and making homemade vanilla ice cream with only five ingredients. I’m not talking about life on a bucolic farm, or a culinary studies program for potential farm-to-table chefs—this is what’s going on at a public school in New York City.
How to Make Organic Food Shopping
Fun for Kids (and Parents!)
Food-shopping with kids can be an exercise in saying no over and over again until one is so exhausted and depressed that one finally says yes just once, and that’s how bad things come into the house. So, I created a game. It’s a fun game that works very, very well. It’s kind of like a cross between Where’s Waldo and I Spy…
What Are We Going to Tell Them?
by guest blogger Coach Mark Smallwood. The simplest of our children’s (and their children’s) basic human needs are being threatened every day. What are we going to tell them?
5 Ways Mean Moms Rule
by guest blogger Denise Schipani. My mother was exacting, strict, and in firm control of the rules and the reins in our house. She was deeply emotional and fiercely loving, but not ever squishy or mushy. Here are just a few principles liberally borrowed from the Original Mean Mom:
The Magic of Tiny Voices
The other morning my littlest daughter put on a full, Disney-esque princess show. if I actually spoke to her or looked at her, it broke the magic spell and she couldn’t really continue creating until she found her private space inside again. My question is, where does that magical creativity go when we grow up?
Scratch
Raised on America’s first organic farm, Scratch author Maria Rodale learned how to make everyday favorites from, yes, scratch — the way you remember them; the way they turn out best.
Order NowOrganic Manifesto
Drawing on findings from leading health researchers as well as conversations with both chemical and organic farmers from coast to coast, Maria Rodale irrefutably outlines the unacceptably high cost of chemical farming on our health and our environment.
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