Entertainment can get costly for families and the travel required for many is not so green. If it just isn’t practical for your lifestyle or budget to make frequent trips to the movies, to the zoo, or too local museums it may be time to take another look at low impact, cheap entertainment ideas for the whole family. Spending time together and having fun are the most important objectives right? Neither objective requires a lot of money thankfully.

Family Game Night – You most likely have some good old fashioned board games lying around so why not get them out and start a family game night each week. If you don’t have any games you can buy one or two for $20 or less and they will provide fun for months to come. For younger kids you might try Disney Monopoly, Candyland, Life, or Operation. Older kids would like Sudoku, Risk, Trivial Pursuit, and Clue. There are many interactive DVD games that are fun for the whole family where you are quizzed on movie clips or famous faces and quotes. There are even dancing games that can provide fun and exercise.

A House of Cards – Card games are another great way to pass the time. Older kids would love to learn and play Poker, Hearts, and Gin Rummy. You can even invite extended family members or friend over for a monthly cards night. Younger kids can play Go Fish and War.

Movie Night – There is no need to go to the movies and pay $50+ for admission. Rent a movie from a local store or Netflix and have a movie night. Make some healthy snacks, prop up some comfy pillows and bean bags, and snuggle up together to watch a movie. Talk about it afterwards to get some good discussion going.

Get outdoors – Local parks are great sources of free fun. Why not make it a day trip for the whole family. Select a hiking trail that is comfortable for all and pack a lunch to eat midway. Make sure to stop several times to explore nature and maybe snap a picture or two for the family album. It you are near a park that has many different trails make it a goal to conquer all of them.

Reading Time – Kids love to be read to so why not make it a family event. Pick a book that everyone will like perhaps Little House on the Prairie, Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket, or Eragon and start reading. You can cover one to chapters a week and perhaps have an older child or one of the adults take a few notes to review before each session. This is a great way to instill a love of books and reading and instigate great conversations.

Put On A Show – Set up a puppet show using a door jam, an adjustable shower rod, and a blanket and then let the show begin! You can even re-enact the story from your weekly reading.

Another idea for younger kids is to set up a Blue Clues adventure by creating and cutting out blue paw prints and hiding them on “clues”. Give them a notebook to write all the clues down and then help them solve the mystery. This is a fun way to have children guess what you will make for dinner or what book you will read them.

As you can see, family fun doesn’t have to be expensive if you get creative.

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Cloth diapers are often touted to be the frugal option, and this can certainly be the truth. However, if you’ve seen some of the fancier cloth diapers that cost $15 to $30 a pop you may have your doubts! While some of these diapers are certainly wonderful products, don’t be misled. It’s very possible to cloth diaper successfully as well as inexpensively. Here are a few tips from moms who wanted to save as much as possible while keeping their babies comfy and dry.

Pick your system

One of the reasons cloth diapering may be expensive initially is because of the investment of the first stash of diapers. Babies who are in cloth will be changed more frequently. It’s not uncommon for a young baby to go through ten cloth diapers a day, maybe more for a newborn. Unless a mom wants to wash daily, she’ll need a couple dozen diapers. One way to save money from the get go is to know exactly what kind of cloth diaper “system” you want to go with so you don’t become unhappy with the diapers you’ve chosen and end up selling them at a loss.

Ask other cloth diapering moms what they like and why. Some of the questions to ask are: “What types of diapers fit babies with my baby’s body shape best?” “What diapers are best for babies who have other caretakers?” “What’s best for newborns/older babies/heavy wetters/toddlers?” etc.

The cheapest and often simplest cloth diaper system is that of prefolds with waterproof diaper covers. Prefolds are inexpensive and will last for multiple children. They are also quite thirsty and require no special care. Waterproof diaper covers are usually around $10 a pair and only a few are needed in each size. They will also last a long time if washed gently and air dried. All in ones tend to be the costliest diaper system, but are super convenient for babies in day care and for travel. Daddies and Grandmas tend to prefer them too for their ease of use.

Some cloth diaper websites also allow you to try before you buy. For just a few dollars they will send you a diaper and allow you to use and feel it, then return it.

Budget conscious moms should also ask for friends and loved ones to give them cloth diapers as baby shower gifts. Many of the cloth diaper websites offer gift registries. Big box store bought cloth diapers and covers are generally low quality so steer clear of those.

Buy used cloth diapers

Cloth diapers can be obtained at thrift stores, online auctions, diaper swap forums, consignment sales and shops, and more. Just do a Google search to find lots of options.

Some larger cities have diaper services that sell cloth diaper seconds. If their prefolds have a spot on them that can’t be removed, they take them out of circulation. The diaper service sells these perfectly serviceable, high quality prefold diapers for pennies. It’s worth a phone call.

Care for your diapers

Don’t bleach your diapers as this will wear them out fast. Borax also tends to wear diapers prematurely. Even vinegar harms some diapers. It’s best to use a natural detergent and to use as little of it as possible to get the job done. Rely on presoaking in your machine to help with stains instead of using stain removers. Enzyme cleaners can eat away at your diapers too. Many additives are not appropriate for diaper covers. Hang your diapers in the sun to whiten them, and don’t overdry them if you do use a dryer. Baking them for too long in the dryer breaks down the elastic and cotton.

Cloth diapering is certainly the healthier option, the better option for our planet, and more comfy for babies. With some creativity cloth diapering can also be the frugal choice.

I have written several times on this about green and natural toys. They are important to me because I want to buy toys for my kids that are kind to the planet and safe and non-toxic for them. We are a family that has green family values and green gifts, toys, and holidays are part of that. Check out this site with the Top Green Gifts and the Top Green Toys for Christmas.

There is good news for homeschooling parents who also happen to be eco conscious. Homeschooling is green! Here are just a few of the ways that homeschooling your child can reduce your environmental impact on our planet.

No Transportation Required – Children who attend public schools often ride the bus or get picked up and dropped off by parents. Idling in pickup lanes is a common occurrence, especially during cold and/or hot weather. All of this transportation means more greenhouse gas emissions. Schooling at home will usually mean less driving and therefore less pollution. No time constraints might also mean that homeschooling families can rely more heavily on public transportation.

Computers Reduce Paper Usage – In traditional schools kids often work with textbooks, workbooks, and paper printables. It is not uncommon for them to bring home a backpack full of paper at the end of every week with homework, artwork, reports, newsletters, and school advertisements. The use of computers to do lessons, watch video tutorials, do drills, create art digitally, or learn new skills eliminates the need for so much paper. It reduces the need for consumable supplies in general.

Green School Supplies – Most of the supplies you find within schools are not very eco friendly. Brand new paper, petroleum based crayons, and clay with PVC all have a negative impact on our planet. Homeschooling parents have more freedom to choose their own earth friendly supplies like soy crayons, beeswax modeling materials, post consumer recycled paper, and graphite pencils.

Home Cooked Food – School lunches are often heavily processed and packaged and very wasteful. Lunches at home can be significantly healthier with less processing and chemical additives. Using whole foods and cooking from scratch will mean less waste too. Growing your own organic foods, perhaps as part of natural science lessons, will also help conserve resources and improve soil conditions.

Recycling – Homeschoolers have a great opportunity to recycle by using scrap paper, printing on both sides of the paper, and repurposing items to meet new needs. Most public schools can’t be bothered to manage recycling programs. It could even be part of their studies to learn how to recycle as much as they can.

Homeschoolers Consume Less – When educating at home there is usually no need for new backpacks every year, lunchboxes, and new clothing. School supply lists grow shorter every year and items don’t get lost while at school and need to be replaced as much. Children are also likely to feel less peer pressure and the need to ask for the latest name brands, popular fashions, and cool gadgets.

Homeschoolers can Buy Second Hand – Many homeschooling parents like to buy homeschooling supplies and curriculum second hand. There are many swap sites and forums that emerged to meet this growing demand. Parents buy, trade, or sell books, curriculum sets, board games, computer games, electronic learning tools, and much more. This helps to reduce the impact on limited planetary resources when we avoid buying new.

The Natursutten is the latest in safe pacifiers for baby. They are made from pure natural rubber and the name comes from the word Natursut which means “Natural Pacifier.” Natursutten Pacifiers are made in Europe where they have strict standards for safety, health and environment.

With all the talk about BPA (Bisphenol A) in baby teethers and pacifiers it is awesome that the Natursutten is available to provide a safe alternative for baby and peace of mind for mom.

These rubber pacifiers are quite a bit softer than silicone pacifiers and extremely hygienic because they are molded into one piece, so there are no joints or cracks where dirt and bacteria can gather. This also make sit easy to wash. This also ensures that it won’t fall apart and make you worry about potential choking.

I found my baby took to it really well. He was happy as a clam. I was very happy as well to know that his paci had to BPA, chemical softeners, parabens, PVC or phthalates. It is just a useful product without any chemical nasties.

I also found them to be comparable in price to other pacifiers so you aren’t paying a premium for safety. They can be found online for as little $5.95. The Natursutten is also a green product as it produced using a sustainable raw material, the tree sap from the rubber tree.

To care for it we just sterilized in boiling water before the first use and then we followed up from then on with soap and water since our baby is older than six months.

Where to buy: Amazon.com

Encourage independence, watch your kids blossom into cheerful workers, reward performance, and get a little help around the house with the Magnetic Responsibility Chart. It includes 134 wooden magnetic pieces to help your kids reach their goals.

I bought two of these charts about a year ago for my two oldest kids and we LOVE them! It is a magnetic chore/responsibility chart that encourages independence and responsibility. It is really easy for children to understand even young children that can’t yet read. Basically you have spaces along the left side for chores or goals and then corresponding spaces for every day of the week. It offers a variety of chores and positive behaviors on magnetic pieces that kids love. They are actual chores like set the table or make your bed and then there are goals like no hitting and use the potty. There are plenty of different ones to choose from, suitable for all ages, and there are blank ones so you can customize.

If the goal is met or the chore is accomplished that day the child gets a reward button such as a star, a heart, a flower, a trophy, a bear, and many others. The right side has a section for even more magnetic buttons that show the results of the goal or chore set at the end of the week. I imagine this would be were you could write out a reward or incentive they receive, like allowance. The chart is also a dry erase board and you can write on it as well. It is simply outstanding and its bright colors and adorable pictures mean kids love it to. It can be folded for easy storage and it has a sturdy strap so you can hang it on a wall. The only feature missing is a snap closure so you can snap it closed while it is hanging so that little brother or sister can’t reach it and grab the magnets and run off with them! This is a very helpful product!

Where to Buy: Amazon.com

The best way to take care of colds is to prevent them with good nutrition and hand washing. But despite our best efforts, all kids will come down with a cold occasionally.

The advantages of natural remedies are, among other things, that they are generally safer than allopathic remedies, less expensive and easier to administer. Here are some of the more common ways to help ease your child’s colds.

If your child has a fever, fight the urge to attempt to bring down his temperature. Fever is quite helpful at limiting the course of an illness. Generally after a “good fever”, kids get better quickly. Unless your child is listless and not responding to you normally, he’s probably fine. Better to assist his body’s natural attempts to heal itself. Allow your child to rest and avoid overstimulating him with too much TV or electronic media. Read to him, play card games and just hold him as much as possible. Allow the chores and other things to wait as much as possible.

If your child has a sore throat, ease it with warm salt water gargles. Honey lemon tea is also nice. Just squeeze a little fresh lemon juice into a mug of warm/hot water and a teaspoon of honey. Homemade chicken broth is also very nice and serves to keep your child hydrated and nourished as well.

Avoid giving your child decongestants and antihistamines when he has a cold. These have been proven to have little effect on colds, and may even be harmful.

Using acupressure may ease the symptoms of a cold and your child may also enjoy it. Consult a guidebook on acupressure and follow suggestions for targeting the bladder, large intestine and lung pressure points.

Vitamin C, Echinacea and Goldenseal are all traditional remedies for colds. Give your child weight and age appropriate doses of these remedies short term to boost his body’s efforts to heal.

If your child has trouble breathing, try a cool mist humidifier. Be sure to keep it scrupulously clean.

Eliminate sugars as much as possible when your child is ill. The same holds true for junk foods. Supporting his body with good nutrition is very important at this time. Fresh vegetable juices, homemade soups and other easy to digest foods that provide hydration should be emphasized.

The number of children that are diagnosed each year with autism continues to grow. Each child diagnosed is different from the next and no one is ever quite sure what causes autism as each case appears differently. As of now, there is no cure, but as the research continues several autistic families are finding natural ways to improve the symptoms.

There are a few ways you can improve symptoms of autism naturally, meaning without drugs. The diet is the first and easiest way to start. You can approach this by going the dietary supplement way or the by getting rid of certain foods. For some families success has been gained by taking out wheat or other gluten products out of a diet. This would include breads, some kinds of oils such as soybean and canola, and other flours. With a growing concern for the foods we all put into our bodies there are several resources available for you to use in gluten free cooking. You could try a site such as www.glutenfreecookingschool.com

Another food that families find success with, by getting rid of that is, is dairy products. Milks, cheeses, yogurts, etc. Of course by taking out two very large parts of a regular diet you should probably consult a nutritionist to make sure you are still giving your child everything he/ she needs that would be in the products you are getting rid of. To know exactly what foods are going to make a difference in their diet you will have to take the time to experiment, but there are many great alternatives that you can find to most dairy and gluten products, just check out your local grocery store that has an organic/ natural/ gluten free section.

If their dietary intake doesn’t make a difference in symptoms you can try to add some nutrients to their diets. Because some nutrients may not exist in the food they are currently receiving, or because they have a poor absorption of the nutrients this could make a huge difference in their behavior. Two of the best nutrients found to improve autism symptoms are vitamin B6 and magnesium. In proven studies (http://www.autism.com/treatable/form34qr.htm), it is shown that both dietary supplements and different diets have made huge changes in autism better than most drugs. This is great news because it means that you have a better chance of improving your child’s quality of life by using their diet than a prescription pad.

Everyone has their own opinion on the treatments to use for autism. If you do not agree with your doctor or do not feel that your child is being taken care of the right way, you should consult someone else for a second opinion.

Not all autistic children need medication and for many the symptoms can improve with other vitamins, nutrients and diets. The down side is it takes a bit longer to go through and find something that works out of all the available options for diet and supplements.

By researching the symptoms your child shows you may be able to reduce this time and get better results faster, you can also get help from your local support group or online forum, as these too may decrease the amount of time you need to spend doing trial and error.  It can take a lot of time to see significant improvements, but the earlier you start, the better your chances, and in the end it will be well worth it.

One new craze that has been reappearing over the last few of years is wearing your baby in a sling, wrap, or baby carrier. There are hundreds of companies now available that make these slings, wraps and baby carriers so you can literally wear your baby whenever you want. Many different styles ensure that you will find the best fit you and your baby but why wear your baby at all?

With attachment parenting becoming more mainstream, more and more moms are learning about the benefits of wearing your baby and want to try it themselves. In case you haven’t heard all about these benefits, check out the ones listed below.

One really nice benefit is that your baby is always very close to you. They spent many months inside their mother’s body, warm and secure and connected to her, so this is where they are used to being and love being, with you. They can hear your heart beat, feel your warmth and smell your scent as well. It is wonderful for moms and dads to wear their babies close and be able to look down at them often and talk to them, helping to develop that deep attachment that is so important. The love they feel from you is something that they will thrive on, and the closer they are to you, the more they can thrive.

Another benefit with the newborns especially is they can easily be fed and you are always ready to feed them. The slings especially allow you to easily slip them inside a protective pouch for some discreet breastfeeding. Even if you do bottle feed you can use the sling to help you hold them. They will feel cradled and loved in these positions and possibly fall asleep from in comfort.

Believe it or not, the slings and carriers that are coming out are actually good for your back. There used to be carriers that were like a backpack and they did wear on your back a bit, now though with the slings available they put the weight of the baby in just the right spot so there is less stress on your back. Even as they grow older, up to 25 pounds the slings are better for your back than carrying them around on your hip.

When you have a new baby one of the things that seems to cross every moms mind is getting rid of baby fat. You can’t wait to shed those pounds. This is another benefit of baby wearing. Carrying around that little bundle of joy all the time adds to the calories you burn.

One last huge benefit of baby wearing is it gives other family members the chance to be close to baby and bond with them as well. If you are breastfeeding it can be tough on the others that waited with you for this special bundle, especially dad. Have him slip a sling on and carry the baby to get some of that ultra bonding time with the baby.

Baby wearing is a great experience for mom, dad, and baby; you can find slings all over the Internet that will work great for this activity. If you aren’t having a baby soon, definitely keep these in mind for baby showers and new baby gifts.

Do you know what is in the diapers you put on your baby? Unfortunately most people don’t know what is in the diapers they purchase for their small children. Since they are widely accepted as the diapering standard, they use them without ever considering alternatives. After all, cloth diapers are such a pain to take care of, and kids just wet through them, right?

Actually cloth diapers have come a long way. There are several options available for cloth diapering and there are several reasons to use them as well. Take a look at the following:

Cloth diapers are better for baby’s skin. Disposable diapers are loaded with chemicals that can irritate baby’s tender skin, Cloth diapers often sport natural fibers like cotton that are soothing to the skin and very breathable. They get fewer diaper rashes, which means less discomfort for baby and less crying.

Disposable diapers are also filled with toxic allergens. Your baby might even be allergic to disposable diapers. There are many things in them that can cause allergic reactions, such as problems breathing and rashes. If your child is having these problems you should consider cloth diapers.

Cloth diapers are better for the environment and your pocketbook. Cloth diapers are reusable from child to child, which means less waste going into our already overstuffed landfills. You should figure that in the years one child is diapered you will go through on average, 2500 to 3000 diapers. With cloth diapers you could easily get by with using only 3-4 dozen diapers and those diapers can be used on one or more subsequent children.

When you are done with your cloth diapers you can sell them too at usually 50-75% of the retail price of new ones. That means you can get back 3/4 the cost of using cloth diapers. Even after you factor in water, time and detergent you are still winning out compared to the $20 a week you spend on diapers.

Washing diapers is very easy too. It should not amount to more than a load or two of extra laundry each week. Wet diapers can be tossed into a diaper pail to wait for cleaning and diapers with loose stools can be shaken out over the toilet before they too are stored before washing. Odor issues can be controlled by placing a tissue with a few drops of essential oil at the bottom of the diaper pail or sprinkling the pail with baking soda.

Cloth diapers have also greatly evolved in terms of style and ease of use. There are many options available for cloth diapers including some all-in-one (AIO) varieties that closely resemble disposable diapers as far as ease of use goes. There are pocket diapers for parents who want to customize absorbency and there are one-size diapers for parents who want a diaper that will grow with their children. There are also diapers available to use for night time, and diapers to use while potty training.

You can also make your own cloth diapers with several patterns available online. That reduces the cost even more. It really is easier to use cloth diapers than you might think. Before you check them off as an option, give them a shot, you might really like the benefits and how happy your baby is in them.