Go to Amazon.com to purchase our new ebook: The Greenopia Guide to Green Living in Santa Barbara.
|
News |
 Email
|
Get ready for an EEK-O-friendly Halloween
|
by GreenHalloween.com Tuesday, October 19, 2010 |
News Archives |
Halloween should be fun, but every year it gets scarier--for parents and the planet. From the discovery of lead in fake teeth and candy, to chemicals in costumes, to the garbage left in the holiday's wake, it's a wonder more of us haven't given up the festivities and spent October 31 watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. The good news is, there are loads of child- and earth-friendly alternatives to the usual Halloween fare. The most important point when planning to green up any holiday or celebration, especially those involving children, is to get their "buy-in." And of course, your approach makes all the difference. Telling kids, "We're going green this Halloween--that means, no candy," isn't helpful. What can be is a discussion about the challenges that Halloween brings. Obviously, what you say (or don't), depends on the age of your children. But helping them to see the wider ramifications of their actions can help make transitioning to healthier choices more appealing or at least understandable. Many kids are learning about eco-issues in school. They often want to do something about them, but need guidance on where to begin. Talking to them about the excess and waste associated with Halloween (and all holidays and celebrations) and discussing how they can make a difference, may spark their altruism and inspire them to act in positive ways. A great way to start a discussion is to list each aspect of Halloween (costumes, treats, decor and activities), and brainstorm child- and earth-friendly choices to what you've done in the past. Then, encourage your kids to choose one or two of the ideas to implement this year. After Halloween, talk about what worked, what didn't and what you'll do next year
Halloween should be fun, but every year it gets scarier--for parents and the planet. From the discovery of lead in fake teeth and candy, to chemicals in costumes, to the garbage left in the holiday's wake, it's a wonder more of us haven't given up the festivities and spent October 31 watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. The good news is, there are loads of child- and earth-friendly alternatives to the usual Halloween fare. The most important point when planning to green up any holiday or celebration, especially those involving children, is to get their "buy-in." And of course, your approach makes all the difference. Telling kids, "We're going green this Halloween--that means, no candy," isn't helpful. What can be is a discussion about the challenges that Halloween brings. Obviously, what you say (or don't), depends on the age of your children. But helping them to see the wider ramifications of their actions can help make transitioning to healthier choices more appealing or at least understandable. Many kids are learning about eco-issues in school. They often want to do something about them, but need guidance on where to begin. Talking to them about the excess and waste associated with Halloween (and all holidays and celebrations) and discussing how they can make a difference, may spark their altruism and inspire them to act in positive ways. A great way to start a discussion is to list each aspect of Halloween (costumes, treats, decor and activities), and brainstorm child- and earth-friendly choices to what you've done in the past. Then, encourage your kids to choose one or two of the ideas to implement this year. After Halloween, talk about what worked, what didn't and what you'll do next year.
Costumes-In the "olden days," (the eighties?), many kids made their costumes, often with help from parents. Making the costume was actually an enjoyable, bonding activity. Today, millions of people spend millions of dollars on costumes that are made from non-sustainable materials (like petroleum), that are worn once, then discarded. But there are earth-friendlier alternatives. If you usually buy costumes, consider: Making them. Kids are incredibly gifted and creative when we encourage them. There are almost no costumes that cannot be handmade. If your children are stuck on turning a popular TV or movie character into a costume, brainstorm how you can make it happen with items you already own or can get at no cost by borrowing or making. Be sure to check online for ideas.
Purchasing costumes made from more eco-friendly materials or at least not from plastics. Choose cotton, organic cotton, silk or hemp, for instance. Unfortunately, these alternatives are not yet widely available, but if you're interested in them, visit the Green Halloween® marketplace or ask local stores to consider carrying them next year. And check at the end of this post for some other great online sources.
Trading them.
Arrange a costume swap for National Costume Swap Day (second Saturday in October) with neighbors, check online at swap sites like Green Halloween, or see if you can interest a local child-focused organization in sponsoring a swap. When Halloween is over, don't throw costumes away. Save them, dismantle and hold on to the "parts,"trade or take them to a thrift store such as Goodwill.
Treats and treasures
Halloween may be all about the treats, but happily, there are great alternatives that kids, when given theoption, will happily embrace. You can't do much about the sweets your children receive on their forayaround the neighborhood (although you can have the "Halloween Fairy" replace the confections with awonderful gift when the children are brushing their teeth...shhhh...), but when it comes to what yourfamily hands out, planning ahead so that you are not making a last-minute dash to the grocery store, willhelp you avoid limiting choices to what's on the shelves at the moment.If you have a local natural foods store, check out their offerings. Take your kids along and choose a fewitems to sample if you don't normally shop there. Honey sticks are a favorite and are very inexpensive(never give honey to children under age 2). Many natural food companies, like Larabr, make small "bars"in flavors kids love like peanut butter and chocolate. Assuming you have the time to order online, checkout
| Comments(0) | Write a Comment | ||
|
Browse Ratings |
|
|
|||||||
