How to make your home a greener place

Step1:
Have your child save empty tin cans and bottles in a box or bag by the refrigerator. When the bag gets full, remove and store in the garage. When your child saves up five to ten bags, haul them to your recycling center and let them keep the money. Teach them recycling and saving money.


Step 2:

Find old ankle socks in your drawer. Have your child paint or color on the socks with fabric markers or paints. These become special dusting mitts for their hands. When they're ready to dust, they can slip on the mitts, get to work and throw them in the wash when they're done.


Step 3:

Keep an Energy Saver chart by your child's bed. Every time they turn off a light, radio or television that has been left on in the house, they get a star sticker on the chart. Twenty stars gets them the energy-friendly prize of your choice, like going on a walk or a hike with mom or dad.


Step 4:

So many papers come from school in backpacks. Every week, have your child collect their papers that only have writing on one side of them. Keep a stack near the computer and reuse the blank sides of these papers in the printer.


Step 5:

Instead of buying new clothes for the school year, visit the thrift store with your kids. Let them help look for quality used clothes at bargain prices. You'll grow some thrifty adults with healthy values as well as reusing items that are still in good shape.