Green Child Care
We believe that "green" child care provides the best environment for children, and the people who love and care for them. It's only natural for us to make green child care choices whenever we can. We encourage children to respect the earth and its precious resources through example, discussions, and daily activities.
Choose Green Child Care for Health
If you care about the environment and your family's health it's time to consider a green child care program! Children's developing bodies are particularly sensitive to toxins and irritants in cleaners, carpeting, furniture and other elements. That's why Amy & Kids Co. does what it can to reduce your child’s exposure to potentially harmful substances in our center.
Green Child Care Reduces 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've made the green child care choice to 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.
Green Child Care Avoids Chemicals
Children are much more vulnerable to chemicals than adults are because their nervous systems are still developing and 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 we avoid using chemicals in our green child care program are:
- Choosing organic and/or child-safe fertilizers for the yard and garden, and using mulch instead of weed sprays in the flower beds.
- Avoiding the use of pesticides unless necessary, and applying necessary pesticides after hours or over the weekend.
- Providing rough mats at all entrances to avoid shoes tracking chemicals into the center.
- Vacuuming carpets and rugs daily.
- Cleaning carpets with biodegradable carpet cleaners or vinegar/water at least twice a year.
- Choosing earth-friendly cleaners or vinegar/water solution and pure baking soda instead of chemical cleansers.
- Sanitizing with Shaklee Basic-G instead of chlorine bleach.
- Using a digital ear thermometer instead of a traditional mercury thermometer.
Choose Green Child Care for the Earth
Paper or plastic? No thank you, we prefer reusable! According to Blog.Greenfeet.com neither paper or plastic are a good choice for the Earth. Both require large amounts of natural resources to product and most of them will eventually end up in a landfill - not something we want to be a part of! We use reusable products as a family and in the child care program as much as we can. Some of the reusable products in our green child care are:
- Reusable shopping and produce bags instead of paper or plastic.
- Cloth napkins for meals instead of paper.
- Rags for cleaning instead of paper towels.
- "Real" plates, cups and silverware instead of paper and plastic.
- Cloth towels instead of paper towels in the kitchen.
- Cloth diapers instead of disposable on our children and enrolled children, as determined by parents.
More Green Child Care Practices
Our efforts to "go green" permeate our family life as well as our child care program. Whenever it's possible to make a choice for green - child care or family - we'll do it! Here are some of the other ways we strive to provide a green child care setting for your child:
- Offering locally-grown or organic food whenever possible.
- Supporting local businesses and buying items made closer to home.
- Staying up-to-date on recalled toys and immediately removing recalled toys from our inventory.
- Avoiding plastic items and toys with PVC.
- Choosing non-toxic art supplies.
- Keeping garbage covered to deter pests and avoid needing pesticides.
- Choosing earth-friendly laundry products.
- Line-drying laundry whenever the weather permits.
- Careful use and conservation of water.
- Regularly recycling glass, paper, plastic and aluminum.
More Information about Green Child Care
Choosing a child care program can be difficult. Not only do you want a safe, high quality child care program, but more and more parents are looking for a green child care program. Learn more about finding green child care and easy green choices your family can make in these articles:
- Green Child Care
- What to Ask When Selecting a Child Care Provider
- Before you Choose Child Care Check out the Green Factor
Center Information
Program
- Program Overview
- Daily Activities
- Daily Schedule
- Green Child Care
- Infants and Toddlers
- Preschool Age
- School Age
- Weekly Menus
Policies and Procedures
- Policy Overview
- Child Care Fees
- Child Guidance
- Health Policies
- Nutrition Policies
- Parent Policies
- Safety Policies
- Scheduling Care
- Toilet Learning
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