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<\/a><\/p>\nUse a water bottle, and hang on to it<\/h4>\n
Reusable water bottles are better for the environment than single use plastic bottles, and water bottle refilling stations are popping up all over. The trick is making sure your kids hang onto their\u00a0bottle. Let them select one they love, preferably in a bright color that\u2019s easy to keep track of and clearly label\u00a0it. You can also set a reminder for them to double check that they have it before leaving somewhere.<\/p>\n
Added bonus:\u00a0<\/strong>Drinking more water is great for overall health. It can improve skin and aid digestion, as well as cut down on headaches.<\/p>\n Long, steamy showers seem to be a rite of teen passage. But if they become a habit, that can mean a lot of water. Encourage teens to keep showers a little shorter by keeping it fun; get bathroom-safe speakers that they can use with their phone and limit shower time to the length of a couple of favorite few songs. Or just use a shower timer<\/a>. *If hygiene is an issue, perhaps skip this one.<\/p>\n Added bonus: <\/strong>Lower water bills and enough hot water for the whole family.<\/p>\n Americans use 500 million straws every day. That\u2019s the same weight as 1,000 cars. Over time, that really adds up. Imagine that trash that would not be produced by kids over their lifetime if they made the switch to reusable straws<\/a>, biodegradable\u00a0paper straws<\/a> or no straws? The Shedd Aquarium\u2019s\u00a0Shedd the Straw<\/a>\u00a0program now includes 100 participating restaurants and even MLB ballparks, and your family is more than welcome to join in.<\/p>\n Added bonus:\u00a0<\/strong>There will be healthier animals in the ecosystem.<\/p>\n Kids may not be great about cleaning up their rooms, but joining in a community clean-up is more fun and empowering. That point was perfectly illustrated by the viral before and after photos of how a bored teen cleaned up a park, and the many similar efforts that followed suit.<\/p>\n Added bonus:<\/strong>\u00a0It may just inspire teens to clean up at home, too.<\/p>\n Wanting kids to unplug not only means less screen time, it\u2019s also about wanting them to unplug their chargers for their devices when they aren\u2019t using them. Chargers continue to use power even when a device is fully charged, and even when a device isn\u2019t plugged into them, earning them the title of \u201cenergy vampires.\u201d<\/p>\n Added bonus:<\/strong>\u00a0You can lower electricity bills and won’t\u00a0overcharge\u00a0devices, which can impact their battery life. You may also make it more likely you’ll find your charger.<\/p>\n Studies show that kids who spend time outside demonstrate more environmentally responsible behavior and attitudes as adults. The more connected to nature kids feel, the more they want to take care of it. So take a walk in a forest preserve, spend some time in a nearby park or head to the beach. You don\u2019t have to go far or for too long.<\/p>\n Added bonus:\u00a0<\/strong>Tweens and teens often open up and start talking when on a walk or a hike with no other distractions around. The dog<\/a> may get more exercise, too.<\/p>\n Reusable bags are significantly better than the alternative. I confess that I am bad about leaving my reusable grocery bags at home so I’ve started keeping them in the car. My teen has found a reusable lunch bag<\/a> that she likes.<\/p>\n Added benefit:<\/strong>\u00a0You won’t have to deal with the mess of plastic bags that can take over when you get too many of them.<\/p>\n Start a garden. Tweens and teens are completely capable of handling the responsibility, and you might be surprised at the pride they take in what they grow. Visit a farmers’ market near you to find food grown in the area that didn\u2019t require a lot of fossils to get to you. (We are counting down the days until ours opens here!)<\/p>\n Added benefit:\u00a0<\/strong>Encourage your kids to talk with the farmers; they\u2019re happy to share info and recipe ideas and can encourage them to try something new.<\/p>\n Speaking of eating, food waste is a big issue. Tweens and teens are known for eating a lot<\/em>, but they sometimes get picky about fresh fruit and veggies that are past their prime. Throwing away bad food is not just wasting the food itself, it also wastes the water and energy it took to produce the food and bring it to market. Teach them a few smoothie recipes and encourage them to get creative on their own — it\u2019s a delicious way to reduce waste. Toss fruit and veggies into the freezer to keep until your in the mood for the smoothie.<\/p>\n Added benefit:<\/strong>\u00a0Teens and tweens get valuable nutrients and you save some money by not tossing food you\u2019ve already paid for just to buy something else. It’s also a good option for breakfast or a snack on the go.<\/p>\nTake shorter showers<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nSwitch your straw<\/h4>\n
Take part in a clean-up<\/span><\/h4>\n
Unplug, literally<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nGet outside<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nUse reusable bags<\/h4>\n
Eat local<\/h4>\n
Make smoothies<\/h4>\n