National Healthy Schools Day on April 27th will promote and celebrate healthy school environments. Some thoughts about making sure no child’s health is left behind from our friend Janelle Sorensen at Healthy Child Healthy World.

When my husband and I first toured schools to find the one we wanted to enroll our daughter in, I’m sure I was silently voted one of the strangest parents ever. Why do I feel I was secretly endowed with this title? Because every room and hallway we were taken through, I sniffed. A lot. And, according to my husband, I wasn’t terribly discreet.

I didn’t have a cold or postnasal drip. And, I’m not part bloodhound. I was simply concerned about the indoor air quality. My daughter was (and still is) prone to respiratory illnesses and I wanted to be sure the school she would be attending would support and protect her growing lungs (in addition to her brain). For many air quality issues, your nose knows, so I was using the easiest tool I had to gauge how healthy the environment was.

While air quality is a significant issue in schools (the EPA estimates that at least half of our nation’s 120,000 schools have problems), parents are also increasingly concerned about other school health issues like nutrition and the use of toxic pesticides. Many schools are making the switch to healthier and more sustainable practices like green cleaning, least toxic pest management, and even school gardening. What they’re finding is that greening their school improves the health and performance of students and personnel, saves money (from using less energy, buying fewer products, and having fewer worker injuries among other things), and also helps protect the planet. It’s truly win, win, win.

What can you do?

Healthy Schools Network recommends simple activities:

• Adopt Guiding Principles of School Environmental Quality as a policy for your school.
• Distribute information related to Green Cleaning
• Use a checklist to inspect your school for health & safety problems.
• Write a letter or visiting your Principal or Facility Director to ask about cleaning products or pest control products.
• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper on the importance of a healthy school to all children and personnel.

You can also help support the efforts of states trying to pass policies requiring schools to use safer cleaners. (Or, initiate your own effort!) Bills are pending in Connecticut, Minnesota, California, Massachusetts and Oregon.

EcoLinks

• Creating Healthy Environments for Children:Short video with easy tips for schools and a variety of handouts to download and print.
• Getting Your Child’s School to Clean Green: Blog post with advice on working with schools.
• Healthy Community Toolkit: Tips and tools for being a successful community advocate and some of our favorite organizations working on improving child care and school environments and beyond.
• The Everything Green Classroom Book: The ultimate guide to teaching and living green and healthy.

Part of a series featuring green moms, the new Chief Eco Officers.

Janelle Sorensen is senior writer and health consultant for Healthy Child Healthy World. She’s a WAHM who tickety-tacks away at the computer while tending her beautiful daughters.

How do you eco?

Some days I eco alot. Some days I eco a little. I just do the best I can. There are time and financial limitations and even moments of submission to the status quo. I’m only human. Years into my eco-journey, I have completely accepted how imperfect I am (I can’t afford all organic foods, I sometimes buy canned foods even though I know they’re lined with a BPA resin, etc). I’ve stopped expecting perfection from myself and from anyone else. I’m happy when anyone takes the smallest green steps. To offset my own “brown” steps, I work and volunteer to help others take green steps. Whether it’s educating parents nationwide or changing local school and city policies, I do whatever I can, balanced against simply living joyfully with my family.

Why did you go eco?

For a long time I considered myself a conventional shade of green (although, at the time I didn’t know how light green I was). I was an adamant recycler. I frequented thrift stores. I was a missionary for protecting the Earth, but really only because the words felt right, not because I had any true understanding of them. My blood started to truly pulse green when I became pregnant with my first child. I realized that everything I ate, drank, and breathed ultimately ended up in this incredibly tiny and vulnerable new little human. I began reading about pesticides and genetically modified organisms and the risks of chemical proliferation and climate change and I knew I had to do something. Everything I do is for my children and their children and all the children of the world.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

Reduce your consumption. Reducing consumption is good for the Earth, our pocketbooks and our livelihoods. If we weren’t out shopping or buying, we’d have time to think about more important things. I want to walk, run and play with my kids. I want to absorb more books on the library’s shelves. I want to grow the food that I eat. Life should be about living not buying. It’s so much more fulfilling and it’s so much better for the Earth. The U.S. spends more time shopping than any other nation. It’s time to get back to living.

EcoLinks

• Healthy Child Healthy World
• Chief Eco Officers
• Baby and Kids
• World Changing
• Treehugger
• On the Commons
• Max Gladwell
• The Good Human
• Plenty Magazine
• Wiser Earth

FreshEco info, tips, experts and picks from HowYouEco

Involve your kids in your eco-friendly habits and regular tasks. Never to early to learn about green living. Baby & Kids »

ExpertEco

Christopher Gavigan CEO, Healthy Child Healthy World: “When it comes to eco-consciousness, no one can do everything but everyone can do something. Going green isn’t about changing your whole lifestyle in the shortest time possible. Its a step by step learning process, you’ll drive yourself crazy if you try to become eco-fied overnight.” More from Christopher »

Featured

Gdiapers: Washable, cotton outer pant and a plastic free flushable refill. Made of breathable material just like sports clothing. More »

Under the Nile: Alternative to conventional cotton apparel and toys for infants and children. Made from 100% handpicked Egyptian organic cotton, without the use of pesticides. More »

Green Toys: Environmentally friendly toys made from recycled plastic. Manufactured in the U.S.A. from curbside collected plastic milk containers. More »

Info

Holistic Moms Network: Non-profit support and resource organization connecting parents interested in holistic health and green living. More »

Healthy Child Healthy World National: Non-profit leader in protecting children’s health and well-being from harmful environmental exposures through education and prevention strategies. More »

Eco Child’s Play: Advice for an organic, fun and chemical-free life for your kids. Reviews and suggestions for toys, education, nutritional foods and family activities More »

Shop

• Children’s Items
• Children’s Apparel
• Eco Toys

EcoLinks

• Chief Eco Officers
• Baby & Kids
• Baby Apparel

What do you think?

What’s your favorite Baby and Kids Eco?

Christopher Gavigan, Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Child Healthy World, has dedicated himself to improving the lives of children and families. Christopher believes Eco progress with from steady steps and not necessarily a big leap.

How do you eco?

When it comes to eco-consciousness, no one can do everything but everyone can do something. Going green isn’t about changing your whole lifestyle in the shortest time possible. Its a step by step learning process, you’ll drive yourself crazy if you try to become eco-fied overnight. Banish plastic water bottles for a stainless steel canteen, purchase organic meat over conventional, opening windows daily to circulate and freshen indoor air, using a resuable canvas tote at the grocery store instead of paper bags, and vote for representatives who champion environmental concerns.

Why did you go eco?

I’ve always considered myself an environmentalist, but my shade of green has grown significantly darker since my son was born. I was filled with the hope and excitement of a new parent, and the overwhelming desire to protect and nurture him. I was ready to make any and every change possible to ensure he was growing and maturing in a healthy environment, and that eco-conscious would be instilled from the beginning. So it would be a given for him, not a lightbulb moment as it is for many of us.

I soon realized that the often unsafe and chemical laden world he would grow up in doesn’t prioritize the protection of his health. It must be parents who protect their child from harmful environmental exposures. I embraced whole-heartedly the responsibility of creating a truly green and healthy, nontoxic environment for him, one where he could flourish, and then I could quit worrying!

What’s your favorite eco tips?

Take your shoes off at the door. 85% of the dirt in homes is brought in from the outside. The US EPA’s “Doormat Study” revealed virtually all lead dust inside homes is caused by lead-contaminated soil from outside. Wiping shoes on a straw mat and leaving them at the door reduces lead dust by 60%. You also protect your floors, especially carpeting, from invisible enemies on your shoe soles – dirt, chemicals, bacteria, feces, lead dust, pesticides, animal dander and other pollutants. And less cleaning, who doesn’t love that?

EcoLinks

• Healthy Child Healthy World
• Healthy Child Healthy World The Book
• Baby and Kids
• Environmental Advocacy