Tips for a non-toxic and safe school year
Getting back to a routine can be a refreshing change for families at the end of summer. Since your child will be spending the majority of their days at school or pre-school post-Labor Day, our partners at Healthy Child Healthy World have some simple tips to help keep them healthy and safe all year long.
At home, it’s fairly easy to limit your children’s exposure to harmful chemicals – you control the dinner menu, the cleanersyou use and much more. When they’re at school or daycare, it’s a different story. Here are some things to keep in mind for the school year.
Learn about the school
Parents typically ask about class size, learning objectives, community and schedules when choosing a school. Healthy Child Healthy World suggests also asking about the school environment to ensure kids are safe in their home away from home.
Things to ask about include how old the building is – older buildings can contain toxic construction materials like lead or asbestos – their hazard management or renovation plans, and cleaning products and equipment.
Other questions to add to the list? Drinking water safety and classroom bottle policies if you want to send your child with filtered water from home.
See all of the recommended questions to ask here.
Choose a safer lunchbox
Sending kids to school with non-toxic lunch gear is an easy way to help keep them safe. Look for PVC-free lunch boxes – metal lunch boxes or reusable fabric bags are your safest bets!
Another chemical to look out for is BPA, which can be found in reusable plastic bottles and containers. Stainless steel is your best option for water bottles (we love Klean Kanteen!) and try glass containers like these from U Konserve.
See more tips for a non-toxic school lunch here.
Source safer supplies
School supplies and gear like markers and glue can contain unsafe chemical additives that can be inhaled when used. One clue? Sniff out fumes and odors and look for scent-free, water-based pens, markers and glues.
If you have supplies left over from last year, even better! Reusing what you already have can save you from spending time and money looking for more non-toxic products – not to mention reducing waste!
See more green and non-toxic back to school tips here and here.
To help ensure your child’s school or daycare is a healthy environment – for the kids and the planet – Healthy Child Healthy World also has some great advice on how to influence change. If that’s not for you, a non-toxic school year can always start at home, with the supplies and lunch gear you pack, and learning about the building and policies.
A new school year is a fresh start and with these easy tips you can help ensure it’s a healthy one for kids and the whole family.
See all of Healthy Child Healthy World’s tips for school here.
