Tag Archives: environmental education

Exploring Nature with Kids

  By Donna DeForbes | September 15, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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Exploring Nature with Kids | Eco-Mothering.com

Next week is the fall equinox, and I have nothing planned. My family used to do a better job of celebrating the earth-based holidays, usually with a hike, ritual or anything else based in nature. Lately, we’ve been more focused on social events with other families, whether that be a polo match, a movie night or King Richard’s Fair. Digging through some old blog posts, never published on this site, I was reminded of our nature journeys with a two-year-old Sofie and the things we learned from those experiences… From October 2008: America’s Stonehenge We donned our hiking boots again this past weekend, this time trekking to New Hampshire for some leap peeping and a visit to America’s Stonehenge. Didn’t know we even had a Stonehenge on this side of the pond, did you? A maze of chambers, walls and ceremonial meeting places built by ancient people, America’s Stonehenge is most likely … Continue reading →

An Award-Winning, Eco-Friendly Children’s Book: “Earth Remembers When”

  By Donna DeForbes | October 7, 2014 - 5:00 am | ,
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Review of the eco-themed children's book, Earth Remember When by Dawn Wynne | Eco-Mothering.com

I am so pleased when I see another eco-themed book on the market, especially in children’s literature. Making the environment a regular part of our children’s vernacular is an important step in them becoming stewards of the earth. My latest discovery, Earth Remembers When by Dawn Wynne, is an absolutely stunning picture book with many layers to enjoy. Layer 1: Reading the rhymed story in which the narrator reminisces about a clean, abundant earth when forests covered the world and foods came from the ground instead of a box. Even though my seven-year-old reads on her own, she wanted me to read this book to her, and we cuddled on the sofa together. Layer 2: Studying Gloria Piñeiro’s beautiful illustrations of oceanscapes, sunlit forests and wildlife families. Her work is vibrant and nostalgic, rich with lush detail. Layer 3: The pages fold out to reveal a very different scene of … Continue reading →

Top 6 Eco Alternatives to LEGOS

  By Donna DeForbes | July 11, 2014 - 5:00 am | ,
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Eco-friendly LEGO alternatives | Eco-mothering.com

Everyone loves LEGO. Their popular brick system has been around since the 1950s, inspiring creativity in generations of children. Still, they’re made of plastic, which takes an environmental toll. While the LEGO company does get kudos for making long-term sustainable plans — they aim to manufacture their products close to the point of sale to reduce transportation emissions and to operate energy-efficient factories, including renewable energy sources like a wind farm in the process of being built — their current partnership with the Arctic-drilling Shell oil company flies in the face of those values. Click here for an awesome and affecting LEGO MOVIE-inspired video from Greenpeace to spread awareness about drilling in the Arctic — then sign the petition. We forget that LEGO is not the only constructive toy out there. Perhaps you want your kids to play with safer and greener toys. Maybe you’re tired of supporting a hugely … Continue reading →

The When, What and Why of EARTH DAY

  By Donna DeForbes | April 16, 2013 - 6:00 am |
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Celebrating Earth Day | Eco-Mothering.com

April 22 is Earth Day, which had been around just slighter longer than I have. Now celebrated globally, it began in the United States in 1970 as a day to raise awareness about the environment. Prior to that, the environment was pretty much defenseless. People had little to no control over the pollutants in their air. Animal species were declining in great numbers. Companies could dump toxic waste into a local river without being held accountable. Lots of citizens were angry, but nothing changed. Putting environmental action on the political agenda was the brainchild of Wisconsin Senator, Gaylord Nelson, who was inspired after viewing the decimated landscape from a California oil spill. When Nelson went public with his idea of a national day for the environment, the response was enormous. Newspapers and magazines built momentum while grassroots organizations across the country rallied to make Earth Day “the most famous unknown … Continue reading →