Happy New Year!!!
2011 is hours away, but your still have time to plan your celebrations
Green your Resolutions
No matter what your 2011 resolutions are this year, find a way to make them greener. Make them lifestyle changes/goals that you can follow this New Year and teach your kids for the upcoming years. Take a look at a few suggestions below to get started:
Walk or bike kids to school, park, friend’s house, dance class, or just for fun at the weekends.
 Use
eco friendly lunch
boxes, pick foods and snacks that has minimal packaging or that can be packed
in re-useable containers.
Visit the library more often, borrow books instead of buying new one's and have fun explore different books each week
Reusable grocery bags – keep them in your car so you don’t forget them, there are a lot of fun bags that fold up in the shape of a teddy bears, or a strawberry that your kids will be happy to carry around the store.
Use recycled paper whenever possible, and use both sides of the paper when practicing spelling or doodling.
Avoid plastic bottles, instead try filling water or juices in re-useable drinking
bottles.
Get outdoors more with the family, it is refreshingly fun.
Plant a tree – in your garden with your kids or through an organization.
Prepare more meals with fresh food and serve less processed foods. Buy locally and at farmers market.
Get your kids involved
Time capsule
Ask your kids to create something for them to look back on when they are older. They can write, photo, or draw some of their favorite things (songs, books, toys, foods, activities, or colors). Also, let them write out some of the things they think will happen in the upcoming year, like how tall they will be in a year or a list of some things they want to achieve. Next year pull out the letters to let them compare their predictions and how much the likes have or haven’t changed over the year.
Noise shaker
Have any leftover ribbon spools from the holiday wrapping? Why not use them to create these simple noise shakers:
Take the spool and tape one side of the center hole (masking tape works best, so you can paint and draw on it)
Fill some dried beans from the open side of the hole and then tape that side closed
Have the kids decorate their own shaker
Allow to dry for a few hours
New Year Hats
Not sure what to do with last year’s calendar? Create fun hats for the kids:
Either cut a semi-circle (cone hat) or rectangle (headband hat), size depend on the child
Decorate the hat; use the numbers from the calendar to stick on 2011
Fit the hat around your child’s head and either tape or paper clip the two ends together
Attach a piece of elastic to help keep in place
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