Why be a green parent

http://homemadekids.wordpress.com nicola baird/nct

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WHY BE A GREEN PARENT?Talk by Nicola Baird


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Being green: scary or fun?


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>> Keep life simple

“You don’t need to buy everything brand new - especially if you’d never normally buy that many new things all in one go.

If children realise that they can make things too, it’s an early lesson in not consuming.”Pip with Faith, 3


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Babies: best change motivators ever

“Since having a baby I’ve become more environmentally conscious, just because there is so much potential for waste and I feel guilty about producing lots of extra rubbish.”Jude with Oli, 11 months


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Tip #1 Make less waste

“In Japan we have cheap baby items but many people feel throwing away is out of the question, recycling is better and reusing is the best.”

Ryoko with Riki, 10 & Sumire,7


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Baby maths

•£200,000 = one child (0-21 years)

So:• £400,000 = two kids• £600,000 = three• £800,000 = four• £1 million = five


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>>Stuff with a story

“I rediscovered the books and toys in storage at my parents’ house from my own childhood.”Stacy with Joji, 5 months

“The girls wear smock dresses I used to wear. It brings back memories!”Tara with Olivia,10, Eve, 7 and Orla, 4


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Tip #2 Learn with your baby

“Being a parent has made me 100 times more connected with the local community. I love this ongoing learning process.”Jo with Ben, 5, Sally, 2


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>>New ways of shopping/swapping“I’d never bought second hand clothes for myself, so I never thought about them for my baby – until I saw how fast he was growing. Now I use eBay for clothing, presents & equipment.”Clare with Connor, 3 and Finn, 6 months

< PIC: Mums swap kids’ clothes and shoes.


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Tip #3 Value local life

“We’re realising that there’s a lot more to green parenting than being a green consumer…”Elaine/Gordon with Finn, 2 and Niall, 2 weeks


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What can you do with little uns?

“Running a street party was a very doable community activity with young children.”Gaby with Barney,9 and Toby,4

OTHER IDEASLitter pick, toy library, car boot sale, stall, plant sale, quiz night, carbon conversation, adopting a street tree, etc


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Improving where we livestreet party climate change march


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Not got time?

• Order Homemade Kids for your library to inspire someone else.

• Join a campaign group close to your heart, not just NCT, but also Soil Association, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, 10:10 etc.

• Be positive about other people’s child rearing – we’re all just doing our best.


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Why be a green parent