GREENING MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL

- Shannan Swanson, Tastybaby Co-Founder

One morning last spring when I was driving my 3-year-old daughter, Louisa, to school, we were discussing her newest art project.  She was making a “tree of life” out of construction paper, leaves and all sorts of things found in nature.  She was explaining how she was going to make hers look just like the beautiful trees outside.  Then, out of the blue, she asked me, “Mama, where does paper come from?”  When I explained to her that it came from trees, she wanted to learn more.  I told her the trees were cut down, ground up in to pulp and then put into a paper-making machine.  She paused for a moment and then asked:  “Where will all of the birdies live if people cut down the trees?”

We then went on to discuss how she could help save the trees if she recycled all of the paper she didn’t want to use.  She told me she was going to get all of her friends and her teachers to “Free the trees!”  She felt sad because she loves birds and didn’t want them to get too tired because they would have no place to rest. She worried that the animals on the ground would get sunburned, if they had no place to take shelter from the sun.

The next week I was at the end of the year parent/teacher night at her school when I brought up the topic of recycling.  I asked what they were doing currently at her school to encourage the children to recycle. The teachers said that during the month of April, in the weeks proceeding Earth Day, they discuss the topic of recycling during circle time.  I could tell that as soon as they answered me, they knew it was not enough.  I told them the about the conversation I’d had with Louisa about how paper was made and how my daughter wanted to start a revolution at her school to “Free the trees!” Suddenly, I realized that if this was going to happen I would need to take it on myself.  I was nominated the “Green Queen” by the rest of the parents and the preschool director promised to get recycle bins in all classrooms by this fall.

So every month for the next year, I am going to spearhead one green initiative at Louisa’s school.  This month we will focus on recycling paper.  Stay tuned each month for ways you can make SMALL changes with BIG impact. And if you want to make a difference at your child’s school … SPEAK OUT!  Please send in your suggestions on how we can make our little ones’ world a “greener” place!

Read all about how paper is made!