P&K Insider

Little things can make a big difference. And in this case, when I use the word ‘little’ I’m referring to our children and the word ‘big’…well that refers to our world.

Ask any parents about going green and they’ll most likely tell you about how their child is the driving force behind changes in their own home.

One mom recently told me that her 6-year-old son refused to eat his school lunch if the contents were in plastic bags (Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photodegrade-breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food web when animals accidentally ingest). Instead he finished out the school year using re-usable containers.

For four kids in Wellesley, weekend fun includes a trip to the dump. There they sort all the recyclables in colored bins. This mom reports that her family of six has reduced their trash consumption significantly. (The average American individual throws away 3 and 1/2 pounds of trash per day. This contributes to environmental ills from shrinking forests to changes in climate.) “The kids get so mad if my husband throws a bottle or piece of cardboard in the trash!”

My own nephews (ages 3 and 5) will walk around my house to be sure all the lights in unoccupied rooms are turned off. “Auntie, don’t waste energy,” they say.

From global warming to consuming less electricity, our kids are challenging us adults to change some bad habits by considering how our actions affect our world and our environment. Little things can make a big difference.

We know saving the world can seem a bit overwhelming so we’re giving you a quick list of little changes you can make right now in this issue of P&K.

There are lots of other ‘little’ things to check out in this issue. Read about how discovering nature’s littliest treasures (like bugs) can help your children develop a respect for nature that will follow them into adulthood. You can also meet the area’s littlest heroes - with courage beyond their years, they helped to save lives.

You know our kids are really impressive teachers. They look at the world with open eyes, they believe that they can make a difference and they take action. Let’s follow their lead, shall we?

Heather