Green Child Care
Choosing a child care program can be difficult. Not only do parents want a program that is safe and high quality, more and more parents are also looking for eco-healthy child care. We believe that "green" child care provides the best environment for children and the adults who love and care for them, so it's only natural to make "green" choices whenever we can.
Eco-Healthy Certified Child Care
Young children's developing bodies are particularly sensitive to toxins and chemicals in their environment. To help reduce children's exposure to these harmful substances, Amy & Kids Co. has been Eco-Healthy Child Care® certified since 2018. Eco-Healthy Child Care® (EHCC) protects children's health by helping child care programs provide safer and healthier settings, free of harmful environmental hazards.
Reduced Lead Exposure
Lead is dangerous for all people, but especially for children. Even low levels of exposure can cause changes in children's mental development and behavior such as hyperactivity, poor fine motor skills, delayed reaction time, and lowered performance on intelligence tests. We reduce your child's exposure to lead by:
- Avoiding the use of imported or handmade pottery.
- Using only cold water for making formula, cooking, and drinking.
- Regularly wiping down surfaces to remove dust.
- Using paint with low or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds), and painting only outside of child care hours.
Chemical Use is Avoided
Children are much more vulnerable to chemicals than adults because their developing nervous systems are much more likely to be affected by harmful chemicals. Very young children are especially at risk when they crawl on the floor then put their hands into their mouths; transferring chemicals right into their systems. Some of the ways Amy & Kids Co. avoids chemicals include:
- Using organic and/or child-safe fertilizers outdoors, and mulch instead of herbicides in the flower beds.
- Avoiding pesticides unless necessary, and never applying them when children are in care.
- Rough mats at entrances to prevent shoes tracking chemicals onto the floors.
- Vacuuming rugs and washing hard flooring regularly.
- Cleaning carpets with biodegradable carpet cleaners or vinegar water.
- Using earth-friendly laundry detergent and cleaning with vinegar water and baking soda or eco-friendly cleaning products.
- Sanitizing with eco-friendly products instead of chlorine bleach.
- Using digital thermometers instead of a traditional mercury one.
Choose Green Child Care for the Earth
Paper or plastic? No thank you, we prefer reusable! According to Greenfeet, neither is a good choice for the Earth. Both require large amounts of natural resources to produce and will eventually end up in a landfill - not something we want to be a part of! Some of the other reusable products we use are:
- Cloth napkins for meals and snacks.
- Cleaning rags instead of paper towels or disposable wipes.
- Washable plates, cups and flatware instead of disposable.
- Cloth towels in the kitchen instead of paper towels.
- Cloth diapers for our own and enrolled children, when parents prefer.
More Eco-Friendly Practices
Our efforts to "go green" don't stop with reusable products; whenever it's possible to "make a choice for green"go green" we'll do it! Here are some of the other ways we provide a green child care environment for your child:
- Choosing locally-grown and organic food whenever possible.
- Supporting local businesses and buying items made close to home.
- Purchasing wood and natural materials instead of plastic.
- Line-drying laundry when the weather permits.
- Careful use and conservation of water.
- Regularly recycling glass, paper, plastic and aluminum.
Passion for Providing the Best
“My first impression of Amy & Kids was she was very kind and truly had a passion for providing the best possible daycare." ~Kelly
Green Activities
Not only do we learn how to care for the Earth, we turn "trash" into "treasure" by reusing all kinds of things in our daily learning activities!