Another Approach...

So I have been thinking about ways to expand my writing portfolio, improve my writing style and make a little money if possible. One way to accomplish all three at once, if you have an aptitude for it, is freelance article writing. I've been researching this field, and I'd like to try my hand at it, but I don't wanna fall on my face. So here is the ROUGH draft of my sample article. I wrote this in about an hour and a half. Please let me know what you think. I'm particularly interested in any pointers Nanna could give me, as she has experience in publishing articles in a collumn.



Raising Earth-Conscience Children

Ashley Deen


Now, more than ever, it is imperative that future generations learn to respect our planet. Any parent can tell you that exposure is the simplest form of education. A child who hears two languages from birth will speak each one fluently. So how do we instill eco-values in children today? Easy: we begin to teach Green as a second language.

Explain it well
Do you recall your mom telling you to do something ‘because I said so’ or ‘because it’s the right thing to do’? Often we know what we want to teach them, but not what to say to help them understand why. Give them examples that they can understand, like the way our environment impacts animals. Use a ‘Diego’ rescue theme, or whatever you feel your child will relate to best. They will appreciate being included in such an adult topic and will try harder to keep up.

Lead by example
How often have you heard horror stories such as the preschooler who cursed among polite company, then offered the excuse, ‘but Mommy says it a lot! ’? Kids emulate everyone, from parents and older siblings to teachers and role models. You can tell them ‘Do as I say’ until you run out of breath and they will still, most likely, do as you do. If your child sees you turning the light off each time you leave a room, they will want to as well. They will notice that you always bring your own shopping bags to the store, that you mix your own window and floor cleaners and that you use cloth napkins instead of paper towels. Then, by doing things ‘just like Mommy does’ they will already be living greener.


Get creative, Make it fun!
You take your canvas totes to the market, the plaza, and the mall. You have craft time with your child, and those amazing ‘Mommy and me’ dates. Why not combine the green in your life with the green in your child’s? For your next craft day, let your little one make his or her own shopping bags, diner napkins, place mats, etc. Let them help you mix vinegar and water for cleaning the windows, then show them how great it works. Your child will not only love making their own re-usables, they’ll be eager to try them out. Then you can move on to more advanced projects that recycle household waste into new treasures. Our favorites have been the homemade lava lamp powered by alka-seltzer and the ingredient/recipe gift jars.

Get on their level
The characters that your children are familiar with are great vehicles for introducing green living in a way that kids can understand. You may use a Diego rescue theme to help them see the impact of pollution on animals, etc. Many popular children’s shows, at many different age levels, have episodes themed around global awareness, eco-values and green living. Nickalodeon has recently launched their ‘Big Green Help’ global challenge, geared specifically toward a greener future generation. The challenge also features a ‘Green Living Guide For Kids and Parents’ page. PBS’s The Greens are another excellent source of fun-for-all eco info. There are hundreds of books, dvds, programs, websites and games, all designed for teaching children to live responsibly.

For more information, I suggest visiting http://www.nick.com/games/bgh-games/nicktoons-global-multiplayer.jhtml,
http://www.nickjr.com/parenting/parenting_features/big-green-help/index.jhtml,
http://meetthegreens.pbskids.org/,
http://greenguideforkids.blogspot.com/,
http://www.kidsbegreen.org/, and
http://www.ecomall.com/biz/kidslinks.htm, just to get started. Each of these sites offer something unique and helpful in teaching children the importance of green living as well as instilling in them a desire to do so.