Here’s what’s on my shopping (and growing!) list this year, plus some ideas for younger kids.

Real Easter Grass!

My mom always grew really grass in our Easter baskets when we were kids, and I assumed it was complicated and difficult, like so much of what she did. (For instance: making yogurt from scratch, never once buying a can of beans, and sewing the hair on our Waldorf dolls until 3:00 a.m. on Christmas mornings.)

Turns out, making an Easter basket with real grass isn’t difficult. Even we over-scheduled modern moms can pull it off relatively last minute!

Here’s a video from a few years ago where we show you what to do to grow your own real Easter grass. All you need to purchase are wheat grass berries and some potting soil. And there still is totally time to do it this year.

As an alternative, you can buy these kits that include everything you need to grow some real Easter grass, plus natural dyes.

Natural Easter Egg Dyes

When we were kids, my mom dyed our Easter eggs with, like, actual onion skins and cabbage. And my dad always blew out the eggs and did fancy Ukranian-style decorations. I assume it goes without saying that this isn’t happening in my house.

These natural dyes from Eco-Kids are my favorite.

$11.99Buy Now

Wooden Animals & Games

Made from eco-friendly rubber wood with child-safe stains, this egg matching game is perfect for kids two and older.

I’m also a fan of the wooden animals from Holtztiger. 

Rabbit Game

This sweet, simple game from Germany is great for kids 2 years old and up.

$19.99Buy Now

Organic Jelly Beans

While no one would call these a health food, Surf Sweets jelly beans are certainly better than Jelly Bellies, and they look so pretty nestled in the real grass.

Organic Stuffed Animals

My boys aren’t big on stuffed animals, but I usually do a plush toy of some kind in their Easter baskets. This adorable organic bunny lovey is my favorite.

I also love these scrappy bunnies made of recycled organic cotton (available in a few colors).

Haba Musical Eggs

My kids are obviously too old for these, but I’m obsessed with the colorful wooden eggs from Haba, each of which makes a different sound!

$39.99Buy Now

Homemade Chocolate

Of course my mother always made chocolate (or perhaps it was carob) in the shape of a big bunny, using a stainless steel mold that seems to no longer be sold anywhere. These silicone molds are what I use instead.

Duck Bubble Bath

You’re never too old for a bubble bath (I still take them), and this bottle is cute in a basket for a baby or a bigger kid.

$10.99 — or subscribe and save up to 5%Buy Now

Babo Botanicals Skin- and Haircare

Babo’s organic skin- and hair-care products have a big bunny right on the bottles, so I always include them in Easter baskets.

$15.99 — or subscribe and save up to 5%Buy Now

Natural Rubber Ducky

If you want to include a duck in your Easter baskets this year, these natural latex ducks are free of phthalates, which you’ll find in most “rubber” duckies.

$14.99Buy Now

Waldorf Easter Books

I love Gerda Mullers four season boards books, and the spring one is perfect for babies and preschoolers alike.

Organic (Cotton) Spring Veggies

I’m obsessed with the various organic stuffed vegetables from Under the Nile. They can also be used as teethers for babies. (Click on any of the photos here to buy.)

I’d really love to hear what you will be getting for your own children’s Easter baskets, so please comment below.

Stay sane,

P.S. This year we are also offering non-toxic Easter Basket bundles for kids or babies, sold at a discounted rate (basket and grass not included).

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The post Natural, Non-Toxic Easter Baskets (Optional: Real Grass!) appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

My mom is the unlucky one of our group who picked it up during our vacation in Vermont last month, which we spent picking ticks off ourselves. (I grew up in Vermont and ticks/Lyme were a non-issue back then, but climate change (among other factors) means we will just be seeing more and more of it, sadly.)

Woodstock, VT, is beautiful, but also infested with ticks!

It was a brutal month between when my mom started having symptoms (which came and went) until she finally was diagnosed and started treatment, and I’m happy to report that she seems to finally be on the mend.

My heart goes out to those of you with truly ill parents–emotionally, it was so hard to see her suffer and worry about what was wrong. Logistically, my work was put on hold because her illness fell during the two-week stretch that my kids were supposed to be staying with her. Meanwhile, her summer was dominated by not feeling well, and now being on treatment for 21 days, during which time she is particularly susceptible to sunburn so kind of has to hide out!

I do feel fortunate that we figured out what was going on with her, and I wanted to share a few things we learned about Lyme disease symptoms through this process:

1) Don’t discount a febrile illness that doesn’t resemble what you read online about Lyme.

My mom spiked a fever and suffered from extreme malaise a few weeks after she found a tick on her back, but she also experienced significant gastrointestinal symptoms when she first got sick (mostly, pronounced nausea). We assumed she had caught my nephew’s stomach bug, especially when her symptoms passed quickly and she felt fine for days afterwards. All the Lyme literature stresses an absence of gastrointestinal symptoms, and most people with Lyme feel bad with fevers and aches for weeks, so her presentation was atypical.

2) Don’t wait for a rash that looks like what you see online, or like what your doctor has seen before.

My mom’s rash was really different from anything that typically appears with Lyme, and it was originally diagnosed as some kind of post-viral reaction or possible allergy because of its appearance. There was no reaction at all near her tick bite, and her rash came and went for two weeks without any bullseye ever appearing. The picture to the right is one I found online that looks similar to what my mom had, but still not exactly the same.

3) Pay attention to pain.

The symptom that finally prompted a Lyme test for my mom was pain in her back radiating to a leg. It seemed like simple sciatica, but chiropractic adjustments and massages brought no relief. That said, she is happy that she received a massage because that therapist identified the rash as similar to what another client with Lyme had experienced. I kept Googling “Lyme back pain” and coming up empty, but my physician mother-in-law found articles in medical literature that suggest various nerve pain can occur in 10%-15% of patients.

I thought I’d share these takeaways in case any of you have a weird case of Lyme like my mom did. Perhaps most cases of Lyme aren’t “textbook,” although the people who get a blazing bullseye rash and fever are the lucky ones who probably are diagnosed and treated quickly.

Please feel free to comment with your own Lyme experiences below.

Stay sane,

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The post Lyme Disease: What I Wish We’d Known appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Felix and me in Mexico in 2010.

Too Little Sun

The overzealous use of sunscreen on kids has resulted in widespread vitamin D deficiencies, which are linked to cancer, depression, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and obesity.

A 2009 study found that a staggering 70 percent of children in the United States have low vitamin D levels. An occasional sunburn might be safer!

Toxic Sunburn Protection

Conventional sunscreen is loaded with chemicals, including parabens, well-established carcinogens, and oxybenzone, an endocrine disruptor that may generate free radicals when exposed to ultraviolet light.

Some researchers even suspect oxybenzone to be the hidden cause of the increase in melanoma, although most studies have found no such link. Still, add this potential risk to the risk of vitamin D deficiencies, and standard sun safety doesn’t feel so safe.

Note: These days, almost all sunscreen is free of PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid), and so this once ubiquitous—and possibly carcinogenic—sunblock ingredient is no longer a concern.

My Top Pick for Best Natural Sunscreen

Babo’s spray sunscreen has been a total game-changer for my family, since my kids hate having creams applied. And it’s in a non-aerosol can, and contains nothing concerning.

$21.99 — or subscribe and save up to 6%Buy Now

Safer Natural Sunscreen…Maybe

Wolfie and me in Aruba in 2014.

It was long believed that the safest way to avoid sunburn was to use a natural sunscreen that contains “barrier” ingredients, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

Because the application of such ingredients leaves skin with a telltale white sheen, nanoparticles (teeny microscopic particles) of each are typically used in sunscreen.

Recent research, however, calls into question the safety of these ingredients, as nanoparticles are small enough to penetrate cell membranes (normally, our cells recognize foreign material as an invader and blocks it out).

Nanoparticles of titanium dioxide are linked to DNA changes and nanoparticles of zinc oxide have been shown to generate free radicals.

What’s Bigger Than a Nano?

Instead of nanoparticles, some natural sunscreen producers use “micronized” particles—basically, these are just slightly larger than nanoparticles, but still tiny.

To be exact, a nanoparticle is less than 100 nanometers in diameter, so micronized zinc oxide or titanium dioxide must be larger than this.

A particle must be 50 nanometers or less to penetrate a cell membrane, by the way. Theoretically, micronized particles should be safe, although at this point you’re probably feeling skittish about all sunscreen!

If You Do Get a Burn…

Most “aloe” gels contain very little, if any, actual aloe vera. This one does, and it offers a soothing solution for sun-exposed skin.

Sensible Sunburn Protection

Given all the confusing information on sun safety as well as sunscreen safety, the ideal scenario would be something like this:

Take your child outside each day for ten or fifteen minutes, and then seek shade. This way, you’ve prevented vitamin D deficiencies as well as sunburn. Obviously, this isn’t always possible, and fortunately there are several brands of sunscreen that you can feel good about using.

Better Than Sunscreen: Sun-Protective Clothing

From hats to full body suis, I like Imse Vimse’s line of non-toxic SPF 50 clothing.

For what it’s worth, my kids are super pale, go outside daily, never wear sunscreen unless we are at the beach or outside all day, and don’t seem to get sunburns. Their grandfather is black, though, so maybe those genes help even if they didn’t present themselves in any obvious way!

Bottom Line on Natural Sunscreen

We sell natural sunscreen in our online store, but I still tell my private clients to let their kids get some sun! Of course I’m not a pediatrician, and you should talk to your own about this—but I think it’s unnecessary and potentially harmful to keep children slathered in sunscreen year-round–even if it’s safe, natural sunscreen.

(Read more about natural sunscreen in our blog post on nanoparticles of zinc oxide and melanoma.)

Felix and Wolfie in sun-protective shirts in Costa Rica, 2018.

Okay, I’m done preaching. Here’s some info on the Good Stuff when it comes to natural sunscreen (plus the Bad and the Sneaky Stuff).

The Good Stuff: Natural Sunscreen

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The Bad Stuff

The Sneaky Stuff

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By John, Certified Holistic Health Coach

This January, instead of making the usual resolutions that we’ve given up on by the end of the month, we decided to break it up by dividing some big goals into manageable chunks.

Each month, we invite you to overhaul one aspect of your life to reduce toxins, improve health, and increase your peace of mind. Our promise is that these changes will be easy to implement, helping you avoid resolution overwhelm. 

(If you’re just joining us, here is January’s mini resolution on upgrading junk foods, February’s with a medicine cabinet detox, March’s on improving indoor air quality, and April’s five ways to clean up your cleaning products.)

With spring finally here…YAY!… it’s the time of year when some of us get ready for the annual rites of lawn care. That often involves a call to a lawn care specialist who will spread various “potions” on the lawn to make it green and healthy looking. That’s one way to do it. The other way is to get out there and do it yourself!

In either case, there are a few things to consider before digging in.

Lawn care done the standard, modern way is likely considerably more toxic than you might think. For decades, most commercial lawn care companies have used products that often require a recommendation that pets and children stay off the lawn for a few days after treatment! YIKES! The same goes for many of the lawn care products available to homeowners.

In layman’s terms, a lot of lawn care is done to create a thick green lawn, free from weeds…but this does not mean the grass is healthy. What’s happening is that the chemistry of these products forces the grass to grow and be green, but that is not the only way to get a great lawn. You can eliminate the toxins and have a great lawn as well.

Grass is part of a much larger web of life. To the degree that the soil beneath the grass is healthy, your lawn will be healthy. To the degree that the trillions of organisms that live beneath your lawn are healthy, the soil will be healthy.

So there are two paths to a healthy, non-toxic lawn:

1. Use potentially toxic stuff to trick the lawns in appearing healthy,
2. Properly feed the soil, thus producing a non-toxic lawn that is actually healthy.

If option #2 appeals to you, here are a few tips to give you a healthy, non-toxic lawn:

1) Over-seed.
It might seem odd to spread new grass seed into an existing lawn, but this is one of the best methods of keeping weeds down and having a healthy, non-toxic lawn.

2) Cut high.
Set your mower to leave at least four inches of grass. This greatly discourages weeds and helps retain moisture. Blades of grass gather sunlight and this feeds the roots. Strong roots = strong grass.

3) Leave it.
Use a mulching mower and leave the clipping on the lawn. Clippings turn into compost/worm food. This is good!

4) Feed it food.
The best lawn food is compost…ORGANIC compost! Spread it into your lawn with a rake or use a spreader like this one. This feeds the organisms in the lawn that help keep it healthy. Composting also helps reduce the amount of water a lawn needs.

5) Smart water.

Water early in the morning and water deeply. This causes deep root growth. Also, select a grass species that is appropriate for your climate and conditions.

6) Feed the soil, not just the grass.
Use organic fertilizers. These release nutrients slowly, giving the micro-organisms time to break them down so that the grass can actually use it. Don’t over feed!

7) Aerate.
This is nothing more than punching lots of small holes into the turf. These give underground organisms a boost and allow for deeper water and fertilizer penetration. It also stimulates grass roots into spreading. Professional lawn care companies have machines made for this task, but DIYers can start on a pair of these. Simply walk around the yard. Good for you and good for your lawn.

You might also consider hiring a lawn care service that is dedicated to using organic methods. Some of the large franchises now offer an “organic” version, but I prefer a specialist who centers their business around organic, non-toxic lawn care and really knows what they are doing.

Go Spring!

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By John, Certified Holistic Health Coach

If you know us by now, you know that we are always trying to find products and solutions that keep toxins away from our homes and families.

Sometime there are problems difficult enough to make us pay even closer attention. A good example of this is the problems with ticks and the diseases they spread.

Ticks & Pets

We walk our new puppy, Koa, twice a day. There is a great park nearby with a perfect place to take long walks by the river. Koa can be off-leash and we have a great time exploring nature. But nature isn’t always nice.

As Koa explores he runs through tall grass and brush, and ticks are a natural result. We are in the mid-Atlantic and Lyme disease is common.

Because we’d rather deal with these sorts of things in non-toxic ways, we thought that we would use herbal means to discourage ticks. And for simple mosquitos–especially if you’re not in a Zika-prone area, we like Green Goo’s Buge Be Gone product. (My wife, Suzanne, actually only uses this repellent and has not yet gotten any ticks!). But does non-toxic bug spray for ticks really work?

Non-Toxic Bug Spray for Ticks  Didn’t Work for (Some of) Us

Unfortunately, the herbal repellents we’ve tried have not been effective enough. Ticks continued to show up on the dog and on me!

The threat of Lyme and other very serious diseases has caused us to reconsider our approach. We take Koa to a holistic veterinarian. She told us that despite all her efforts to avoid typical tick repellents, she has finally decided to use Frontline (which contains the chemical fipronil) on her pets.

If any of you have seen the results of Lyme disease you’ll know that it is not pretty. We know folks who were not diagnosed early enough and they live with very serious disabilities. Lyme is also devastating to dogs–especially labs.

The breeder who sold us Koa is into all organic raw food and holistic care. They even sell an herbal insect repellent. But a few weeks ago they lost one of their dogs to Lyme (liver failure). They sent out an email informing their community that the time had come for them to recommend using standard repellents like Frontline.

We had simultaneously reached the same conclusion.

Why We Use Frontline

I have read on many websites that fipronil will potentially cause a wide range of maladies, and there is no doubt that it is worth being concerned about. The problem is that there are simply no good scientific studies showing an “all natural” solution.

Yes, there seems to be a lot of anecdotal evidence to warrant concern. There is, however considerable evidence that fipronil works and does not present an imminent threat to a healthy dog. Many folks in the holistic world disagree.

It is a difficult choice, but having spent decades in the northeast, we have seen Lyme disease up close and for us the stakes are simply too high. The choice is between something of concern and something far worse.

Koa is 4 months old. We expect to walk him out in nature for the next 15 years. Statistically, there is zero chance that he will not, at some point, come home with a tick that carries the spirochetes that produce Lyme disease. In fact, it is far more likely that he has already had at least one such tick on him. With 5 grandchildren who play with Koa, it is important that they too are protected. And speaking of people….

Ticks & Humans

Not only have we gone to the dark side and started using Frontline for Koa, but I’ve also started using Off! to protect myself. Yes, DEET is the Bad Stuff. But Lyme is worse and I’m just not convinced that herbal repellents are effective. Maia is also using Off! on her kids when they are in tick-heavy areas.

Here’s how we try to make my use of Off! a little less toxic:

• We don’t use the aerosol spray, but instead the spritz bottle.
• We try to mostly spray on clothing to avoid putting the stuff directly on our skin.
• We only apply it in well-ventilated areas (outside) and do our best not to breathe it in.
• We get the formula that isn’t loaded with a bunch of other toxins (synthetic fragrances, etc.).

Tips for Preventing Lyme Disease

You probably already know that you should check yourself and your children meticulously after being out in tick-heavy areas (having blond kids makes this easier!). Ticks don’t like cold water, so jumping in a pool after a hike through the woods is a good idea, as is taking a cold shower. You should launder any clothing that you’ve worn outside (or at least run through the hot dryer).

Here’s what else we’ve purchased to prevent getting bitten by ticks:

• A lint roller to run over your body when you come inside (this can grab ticks that haven’t yet dug in). 
• A natural loofah to use in the shower after coming indoors (this can scrape off ticks you haven’t seen).
• Tall white socks to tuck pants into when walking outside (this makes it easy to spot ticks you might pick up).
• Permethrin to use on your clothing, which will last through up to six washes (and yes, this is also a chemical!).
• Tick-repellent clothing, which is good for up to 70 washes.

We’d love to hear your solutions to this difficult problem. For now we are living with the lesser of two evils.

Stay sane,

P.S. There is one less toxic bug spray on the market that looks promising, but about which I haven’t learned enough to make an official recommendation. BioUD’s Insect Repellent is derived from a tomato plant and appears to be extremely effective at repelling ticks as well as mosquitos. Users do complain of the smell, but I just bought a bottle and am going to give it a try. Maybe this is the non-toxic bug spray for ticks that we’ve all been waiting for!

P.P.S. If you are only worried about mosquitos and not ticks, Maia wrote about Zika protection here.

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Written by Maia, President & Founder

It’s been a very wet April here in Brooklyn! I hate to rain on your parade, but gear like raincoats, rain pants, rain boots and umbrellas can be made with toxic materials that are bad for consumers, workers, and the environment. In the past, some studies have found worrisome stuff like heavy metals and phthalates in kids’ rain gear. Aren’t I just a ray of sunshine, as usual? 😉

Actually, there’s good news: it appears that the industry is slowly shifting to avoid the worst materials (like PVC/vinyl and toxic waterproofing treatments) in favor of safer ones. However, it makes sense to be careful about your choices of rain gear, especially what you’re buying for kids.

Read on for more information about what to watch out for in rain gear, as well as my top picks for safer rain gear for babies and kids.

What’s wrong with kids’ rain gear and boots?

Sadly, the safeguards that limit toxic substances in kids’ toys don’t apply to products like rain gear and rain boots.

Here are the most concerning materials to watch out for in rain coats, rain pants, rain boots, and umbrellas:

• Polyvinyl chloride (aka PVC or “vinyl”) is perhaps best known as the plastic material that makes those shower curtain liners that are stinky for weeks after you open them. PVC is also used to make some rain boots (like the clear, light-up ones from Western Chief) and can provide a waterproofing layer on fabric. Some raingear has PVC-sealed seams. PVC can also be used to make colorful patterns and decals on fabrics. Unfortunately, PVC is among the most toxic of plastics. From production to use to disposal, it’s bad for people, wildlife, and the environment. It contains bad stuff like endocrine-disrupting phthalates and heavy metals (cadmium and lead), and this stuff continues to leach out over time to be absorbed through skin and ingested or inhaled.
• Synthetic, petroleum-based rubber is common in rain boots. Most rain boots are a combination of natural and synthetic rubbers. Synthetic rubber is possibly less problematic than PVC, but it still contains often-undisclosed additives (most companies won’t share the details of their proprietary formulas). It’s hard to know what’s in a “rubber” boot.
• Chemicals from the family of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)—think Teflon and other nonstick coatings on cookware and bakeware —are also used to make waterproof fabrics because they repel water. Many PFCs are bad for people and the environment. Companies like Gore Fabrics, makers of Gore-Tex, are slowly phasing out their use of the most concerning PFCs. In the meantime, you have to watch out for them in raincoats, rain pants, and other waterproof clothing.

What’s the alternative to toxic rain gear and rain boots?

As I mentioned, the good news is that it appears that many companies that produce rain gear and rain boots are shifting away from the most toxic materials. And there are several companies deliberately making safer products for babies and kids. You also have the option of using products that aren’t technically rain gear, but that have water-resistant properties (more on that in a minute).

When shopping for rain gear, look for products that are:

• PVC/vinyl-free
• Phthalate-free
• Lead-free (and/or free from heavy metals in general)
• Free from PFC-based waterproof materials, like PTFE (aka Teflon) and PFOA (a component of Teflon and other materials)

Safer materials include:

• “Natural” rubber: We’ve been told that there’s no such thing as “100% natural rubber” boots, because some additives are necessary to make the rubber material functional, but you can find boots made primarily from natural rubber (rather than mostly synthetic rubber or PVC).
• Nylon and polyurethane fabrics can be inert (stable when not heated) and waterproof or water resistant without the need for the most concerning waterproofing materials.

My top picks for safer rain gear

Below are some of the companies that are making safer rain gear for babies and kids (listed in alphabetical order):

Hatley offers good rainwear and boots for children. Their kids’ raincoats/jackets, pants, and one-piece rain suits are made from polyurethane outer fabric with no worrisome coating, plus a woven polyester lining, and are PVC-free. Seams are heat-sealed with no additional materials (like PVC). Hatley boots, available in toddler and kids’ sizes, are also a PVC-free; they’re a combo of natural and synthetic rubbers, with a high content of natural rubber. The boots are third-party tested to ensure safety and compliance with North American laws. I like their kids’ umbrellas because they have wooden handles, rather than EVA foam handles, and there is no worrisome coating on the fabric. All the photos on this page of my own kids feature Hatley gear!

i play Play Wear has a rainwear line in baby and toddler sizes. Their raincoats and rain pants are Good Stuff because they are made from woven polyester with a polyurethane coating and are PVC-free, formaldehyde-free, and azo dye-free. I’m not as crazy about the umbrellas, because the handle is EVA foam. EVA (aka PEVA) is often marketed as being “safe” and “eco-friendly,” because it’s less problematic than other vinyl-containing materials like PVC, but it still raises red flags and is best to avoid if possible, especially for products that come in contact with little hands.

Puddlegear makes Good Stuff for babies, toddlers, and kids: rain jackets, bib-style rain pants, and waterproof mittens and hats. The primary material is a high-quality, thick, uncoated polyurethane fabric that is PVC free and phthalate free, and the seams are heat-sealed. Unfortunately, Puddlegear does not yet make boots.

Stonz offers several kinds of boots for babies, toddlers and children. We haven’t heard back from them yet about details regarding their materials, but I’m fairly confident that their toddler-sized Rain Bootz are Good Stuff. Stonz states that these boots are “100% natural rubber,” which can’t be fully true, but I do like that they are free from the most concerning stuff—PVC, phthalates, lead, and formaldehyde.

Are Hunter boots safe?

Short answer—I’m not sure, because Hunter hasn’t responded to our questions about the materials they use in their products.

The longer answer is that I’m a little concerned. Hunter lists “natural rubber” on their website as the material used to make their kids’ boots, but the boots can’t be made with natural rubber alone. I also wonder about the materials they use to get the high-gloss, metallic and glitter finishes on some of their boots. Hunter claims to watch out for “restricted substances” in their supply chain, but I couldn’t find any statements that their boots are free from PVC, phthalates, etc.

If you’re a Hunter devotee and don’t want to part with your favorite wellies, check out my three habits for safer rain gear, at the end of this post.

Are Crocs non-toxic?

If you’re someone with a latex/rubber allergy, Crocs makes simple rain boots that are free of these allergens. Unfortunately, the company is really coy about their proprietary material.

They say it’s not EVA foam, and it doesn’t contain phthalates (and a couple of other bad things), but they don’t really say what it DOES contain (beyond using vague terms like it’s “a closed-cell resin”), and the vinyl content is hard to confirm or deny. I’m not too worried about Crocs rain boots since boots would be worn with socks and Crocs material tends not to be as smelly as most rubber mixtures or PVC, but I can’t quite call Crocs Good Stuff.

Do you really need rain gear?

Depending on your climate and how much time you spend out in the elements, you may be able to get by with other materials that aren’t technically rain gear but that have water-repellant properties, such as:

• • Wool naturally repels water and provides warmth—that’s why sheep wear it! Wool is one of the materials that kept people warm and dry before plastics came along. Consider wool shirts, coats, pants and socks. The tighter the weave, the better the moisture protection. My favorite brand is Hocasa.
  • Other traditionally waterproof fabrics include oilcloth, waxed cotton, and waxed canvas. (But watch out for modern “oilcloth,” which is actually coated with vinyl!) If you’re a DIY-er, you can apply wax-based waterproofing treatments to natural fabrics like cotton and hemp.
    
    
    
  • Polar fleece jackets and pants made from inert plastic fibers like polyester can be water repellant.

Three habits for less toxin rain gear

Here are three easy things you can do to make any kind of rain gear safer for your kids:

1. When you buy new rain gear, if there is any kind of smell, give the products a chance to off-gas in a well-ventilated area. This is most likely to happen with boots and other rubber products.
2. Always wear socks with rain boots.
3. Make sure that kids wash their hands when they come inside, especially before eating.

Stay sane (and dry!),

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Written by Suzanne, Chief Health Officer and Resident Grandmother

Kid-friendly activities are a big topic for my husband and me because we’re lucky enough to have four young grandsons who are a regular part of our lives. We’re always looking for ways to engage them, and often this means luring them away from the glow of screens! This is particularly true as the weather turns cooler and the days get shorter. I know that many of you face the same struggle, so I wanted to share five free, simple and fresh strategies to encourage screen-free play:

Strategy #1: Use Water Play

Wolfie’s preschool is big on water play…for good reason!

Kids love water play of any kind. You don’t have to have access to a swimming pool for them to enjoy the natural pleasures of playing with water. Buckets, kiddie pools, bathtubs, and sinks are all ways to get kids engaged in water play. Give them some little containers and objects so they can experiment with floating and pouring. One of our grandsons could easily spend an hour playing at the sink!

Of course, water can be a drowning, slipping, and burning hazard, so make sure your kids have an age-appropriate level of supervision when they’re around water.

Strategy #2: Model Curiosity

Kids are imitators and want to be like the adults that love them. Kids are also naturally curious. One way to keep them off screens is to model curiosity. It’s great to talk and explain things to children, but sometimes just quietly leading them to an activity works best and avoids power struggles.

For example, the other day, Wolfie, one of my grandsons, was on the iPad. When I suggested he turn it off, he wasn’t interested. (Surprise, right?) I decided to switch things up by telling him that I was going out to the garden to work and he could come if he wanted. I went out, and in about two minutes, Wolfie was out there with me and we were talking about the birds we heard, and he wanted to help me in the garden. Then Wolfie was off playing an imaginary game in the grass. Score!

Another time recently, the boys were all fussing about what to do, and my husband quietly got on the floor and started building something with Legos. Pretty soon, all the boys were on the floor playing with Legos. He then backed away, and they continued to play for another hour. Score again!

Wolfie had a great time making muffins, and the results were delicious!

Strategy #3: Bake & Cook with Kids

Kids love mixing ingredients and preparing food. Cooking and baking are a great way to teach them about where their food comes from. They can also learn things like measuring, counting, patience, safety, and cleanup. Remind yourself of these benefits when you’re otherwise cringing over the extra mess that kids tend to make in the kitchen! It’s worth it—I promise.

Almost any recipe involves at least a couple of tasks that are safe and simple enough for kids to do. Recently, we made oatmeal muffins with Wolfie. He loved the whole process– mixing, baking, and eating (of course!). He also loved having muffins to enjoy later in his lunchbox. Comment below if you’d like me to share the healthy recipe we used.

Strategy #4: Do Simple Arts & Crafts

You don’t have to hit up Pinterest to organize a spectacular art or craft project. (That’s great, but it but can be overwhelming!).

Just setting up a table with simple art materials and beginning to use them with your kids will often get them excited. Remember that as your kids get older, their attention span grows, so they’ll sit for longer periods and create independently.

One of my favorite materials is bees wax crayons because of they are made from bees wax and their colors are more vibrant. I love the block crayons for little ones because they’re easier to grip. The bees wax stick crayons are nice too and don’t break as easily as regular crayons. For younger children, modeling drawing works well as you sit and create, they will join in. With the block crayons, you can just play with colors and shapes and not be overly concerned with details.

This worm was one of the best outdoor treasures Wolfie has found.

Strategy #5: Spend Time in Nature and Gather Some Treasures

Okay, I admit, this isn’t a fresh strategy—I’ve blogged about five outdoor activities to help children avoid screen time and strategies for winter play. I’m a bit obsessed with nature play, and because it’s one of my go-to strategies for engaging kids, I couldn’t help but include it here again.

Kids love being outdoors, whether it’s the woods, the ocean, a riverbank, a park, a neighborhood, the mountains, a meadow, or a city street. Kids have a way of finding their own games to play outdoors. Fall in particular is perfect for gathering acorns, pinecones, and leaves.

Bonus for parents: Children will go to bed easier and sleep better after getting lots of fresh air! Try this and you will see how much better they behave indoors and how much easier bedtime is. They’ll also probably get sick less, too.

Please share some easy things you do with your kids to keep them off of screens.

To your health,

P.S. No wonder Wolfie likes looking at screens, when this is what his parents were doing during a recent trip to the circus!

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Written by Maia, President

With temperatures feeling distinctly summer-like in much of the country, I’m not surprised that many of you are asking about my top sunscreen recommendation, and what I put on my own children.

Here’s the truth: my kids don’t wear sunscreen every day, even in the summer. Of course, if we are at the beach or even at the park for hours, I slather them up. But I’m convinced that some vitamin D is good for us, and that it’s hard to get enough from food or even supplements (if you do want to supplement, this is the one I give my kids).

You’ll have to decide how much sun, if any, you feel comfortable allowing your kids to have before applying sunscreen. Mine can handle an hour or so before they are at risk of turning pink, depending on the time of day and if they are in and out of direct sunlight (if we are at the beach midday, I wouldn’t do more than about 20 minutes). It’s worth noting that a client’s friend is a dermatologist specializing in melanoma and she feels that children shouldn’t be in ANY direct sunlight between the hours of 10:00 and 2:00.

Anyway, back to the question of the best sunscreen. I think there are two:

1) Kabana Green Screen has a short list of entirely safe ingredients (including zero chemical sunscreens and non-nano zinc oxide), and it is the only sunscreen on the market that contains added vitamin D, which can safely be delivered transdermally. If your kids wear sunscreen whenever they are outside, Kabana is a clear winner.

2) Despite my high regard for Kabana Green Screen, it’s actually not what we are using this summer. Although I figured out a way to apply it so it leaves almost no white sheen (the trick is rubbing it in VERY quickly after squeezing it onto the skin), my kids still hate the application process. Because of this, Babo Sheer Zinc Continuous Spray has been a total game-changer, and it’s all we use.

What’s your favorite natural sunscreen?

Stay sane,

P.S. We were reminded of the importance of reapplying sunscreen throughout the day after a 4-hour canoe ride resulted in pink thighs for my son–his first ever sunburn! 🙁 I felt terribly!

(By the way, this was his first canoe ride and he LOVED it, proving my mom’s point that kids need more time in nature!)

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Written by Suzanne, Chief Health Officer and Resident Grandmother

You know that I’m all about nature, especially when it comes to kids. The outdoors offers both a stimulating environment that kids love and it never squashes their imagination. This is a magical combination, and one that is increasingly under-utilized.

Spring is the perfect time to get back in the habit of outdoor play. With spring come the many sights, smells, and sounds of nature. Plus, warmer weather means it’s easier and more pleasant to be outside. And the rain? Unless thunderstorms or flooding are in the forecast, don’t let wet conditions keep you indoors. Most kids love the rain and puddles and mud. There are few puddle-jumping messes that a bath and washing machine won’t take care of!

Non-toxic Rain Gear
Be sure to choose only the Good Stuff when it comes to rain boots and jackets (which basically means avoiding PVC). We like PuddleGear, Hatley, Hunter, and Tretorn.

Having four young grandsons means I get to observe and experiment with a lot of outdoor play. Below are some of my favorite outdoor activities for toddlers and older kids.

Outdoor Play for Toddlers

For younger children, simply spending time outside and allowing them to explore is best. If you live in a city, find a park with some wild places. If you can, get in deep enough to avoid some of the transportation noise.

My two-year-old grandson goes to a “Forest School” in his local park. The children have sticks and rocks and play in the dirt under the trees. It’s so simple, and they love it!

This goes without saying, but you do have to supervise toddlers so that no one gets hurt or wanders off. Also, think of playing in nature as a good opportunity to teach kids to be gentle with trees, plants, and small creatures. Toddlers are naturally curious and can sometimes be a little destructive, but you can model gentle play. Teach kids to follow their curiosity without leaving a path of torn plants and squashed beetles in their wake.

Outdoor Play for School-Aged Kids

Joseph Cornell’s Sharing Nature with Children is a classic book that I used when my children were young. These days, it continues to inspire me as a grandmother. It’s full of activities to increase children’s awareness of nature and develop their minds and senses.

Just exploring outside can be enough, but for school-age children, Cornell’s Blind Walk is a great activity. It is best for children who are seven years old or older. According to Cornell,

Blindfolded activities dislodge our thoughts from self-preoccupation, and free our awareness to embrace more of the world around us. Vision is the sense we depend on the most. Deprived of it, we must fall back on our less-used senses of hearing, touch and smell. Our attention is powerfully focused on these senses, and our perceptions through them are intensified. The babbling of our mind slows down, overwhelmed by the information that our fully awake senses are giving us.

A Blind Walk is simple to organize and lead. For supplies, all you need is one blindfold per pair of people. Here’s how to do a Blind Walk:

• Form pairs, with mixed adults and children, or children together if they’re mature enough.
• Each pair decides who will be the leader first and who will be blindfolded. The leader guides his partner along any route that looks interesting. Be very careful to watch for logs, low branches, and so on.
• The leader also guides his blind partner’s hands to interesting objects and brings him within range of interesting sounds and smells.
• Remember to demonstrate how to guide a partner safely. Remind the leaders that they are the eyes of their blindfolded partners.
• Have partners switch roles, transfer the blindfolds, and repeat the process.

When people try something new, they’re often nervous and cover it up by joking and laughing. Since covering one’s eyes is a novel experience for many children, it’s helpful to play the following game to warm up for a Blind Walk:

• Ask everyone to sit in a circle and close their eyes.
• Tell them that you are going to pass an object around the circle and each person is to use their sense of smell, touch, and possibly hearing to discover something new about the object. (A stick, stone, pinecone or leaf will do the job.)
• Have each player share his or her discovery before passing the object to the next player.

Note: You can also use this warm-up activity on its own. It’s great for exploring natural objects if you’re otherwise cooped up inside.

Get Out and Play!

My Brooklyn grandsons don’t get nearly enough time in the grass.

Try some of these activities and let us know how it goes, or tell us about your favorite ways to help your kids enjoy and learn from nature. And of course, be sure to be equipped for spring with puddle boots (see above for safe brands). Readers also love our Baby’s Day Out 3-Pack, which includes Baby Fix It, Baby Sun, and Baby Bug. Also, we have various safe sunscreens, bug dopes, and first aid creams available in our store–all free of Bad Stuff!

Be well,

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Written by Suzanne, Chief Health Officer and Resident Grandmother

As a parent, grandmother and educator, I have spent a lot of time around young children. I have observed that they are blessed with active imaginations. Active, creative play helps children learn about the world. We can support creative play by offering children toys and materials from nature and by making opportunities for them to spend time in nature—yes, even in the wintertime!

We tend to spend more time indoors and on our devices this time of year. In the fall, I shared five activities to help children avoid screen time. Some of those activities can be done any time of year, and depending on where you live, you might also be able to jump in puddles (activity #2). But winter does present unique challenges.

Here are my five tips for screen-free winter fun:

1. Bundle up and get outside (unless it’s in the single digits and windy).

If you dress warm and there isn’t too much wind, cold temperatures are refreshing and healthy for all of us, especially children. I’ve noticed that children tend to sleep better and get sick less when they spend time outside everyday. As a person who doesn’t like the cold, I know that getting yourself and your kids outside in winter isn’t easy. But it’s worth it! Another bonus of outdoor play is that you don’t have to lead activities–kids will find their own ways to get engaged and have fun.

Make sure your children have adequate winter clothing, right down to their mittens and socks. If your child is in day care or school, advocate for time outside everyday. Teachers and caregivers often say that they can’t take kids outside because parents don’t dress them warm enough. As a former teacher, I know it’s also true that we adults often don’t want to go outside ourselves! Let’s all step up a bit so kids can spend more time outside this winter.

2. Gather simple toys from nature.

Here is the corner of the playroom I’ve set up for my grandkids in my home.

The simplest toys are great because they require the child to use their imagination and they don’t thwart children’s innate creativity. A toy that can be used for different purposes requires more from the player than a toy that has only one purpose. For example, with a basket of stones, a kid can build a wall or a road; make stone soup; count “money”; make dishes for a playhouse party; etc. A toy spaceship, on the other hand, is just a spaceship.

Many toys from nature have the added benefit of being naturally non-toxic. Toys from nature are also durable and interesting in their shape, form and color. Go out with your kids and gather things like stones, shells, pinecones, and small branches.

When you buy toys, look for ones made from wood, wool, and cloth. Nova Natural Toys & Crafts is a great source for Waldorf-inspired toys. You can find the gnome treehouse and Playsilks pictured here on Amazon.

3. Care for birds and squirrels.

My grandchildren love sitting by the window and watching animals. Birds and squirrels are the wildest creatures that many children get to see outside the zoo. Caring for them is a simple way to help kids feel a connection to nature and a responsibility for its well-being.

Here are some tips, inspired by Carol Petrash’s Earthways.

• Set up a feeding station in a place that’s within view of your window. If you’re not on the ground floor, consider using an external windowsill. (Maia has this window bird feeder attached to the window of her Brooklyn apartment.)
• Birds like a protected area, so a bush or tree is a great place to hang a bird feeder. Larger container plantings will work too. You can buy a bird feeder or make one with your kids (see instructions at the end of this post).
• For squirrels, place nuts on the ground or on a low stump or rock. Squirrels also like corn cobs, apple cores, carrot tops and pumpkin seeds.
• Offer a birdbath. You can use a traditional birdbath or a large shallow pan, dish, or plant saucer. The birdbath should be emptied and cleaned weekly (scrub it with a brush and water–don’t use soap).

If the birds and squirrels don’t come right away, be patient! They’ll soon find your offerings. Maia’s boys had nearly given up on seeing birds and now they see dozens daily.

Related Post: 5 Fresh Strategies for Screen-Free Play

4. Sit and watch.

Ernest Thompson Seton, a naturalist and co-founder of the Boy Scouts of America, learned the secrets of Mother Nature by sitting quietly and tuning into his natural surroundings. His work inspired this “sit and watch” activity, also known as the Seton Watch. This activity involves sitting still for five to ten minutes, so it’s best for school-aged kids. Here’s how to do it (from Joanne Dennee’s Exploring the Forest With Grandfather Tree.):

• Find a comfortable place to sit outside.
• Be quiet and tune into your surroundings with all of your senses. Try to feel what’s going on around you.
• After five to ten minutes, Mother Nature may reveal some almost invisible, magical details of winter, things you might otherwise miss. Watch and listen for insects or animals; look at colors and silhouettes of the winter landscape; look for snow crystals or frost formations shimmering in the sunshine; listen to and feel the wind; listen to the questions that your quiet self wants to ask.
• When you come inside, draw a picture of yourself in the winter landscape. You can also read aloud stories from Seton’s Wild Animals I Have Known.

5. Enjoy finger games, circle games, and singing.

Children naturally love music, rhyming, and games. These activities are great ways to spend screen-free time indoors:

• Finger games like “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” delight little ones and require nothing more than their fingers. Finger play help kids to be more present in their bodies and helps develop their fine motor skills, which are needed for school activities like writing. Child development shows that touch is one of the senses that is first explored and used.
• Circle games like “Ring Around the Rosy” and “Head and Shoulders” are fun because they combine whole-body movement with song and music.
• Music and singing are so natural to children. Your kids don’t care if you have a Grammy-worthy voice; add some live music into their lives, and they will be thrilled! Maia told me she and Wolfie have been listening to The Little Mermaid soundtrack on repeat on these cold indoor days.

Want more of this Good Stuff? You can find many more ideas in books and online. Here are some of my favorite books for wholesome activities with kids:

• Games Children Play, by Kim Payne
• Small Wonders, by Linda Garrett and Hannah Thomas
• Earthways, by Carol Petrash

Pine Cone Bird Feeder

From Earthways, by Carol Petrash

These are easy to make with kids, and the birds will love them! I made one with my grandson Theo this week.

Materials:

• Pine cones (long ones work best, but any kind will do)
• Peanut butter (or any nut butter; you can make approximately 10 pine cone bird feeders per pound of butter)
• Popsicle or craft sticks or tongue depressors (a spoon or butter knife works too)
• Birdseed
• Cookie sheet or pie plate to hold the seed
• Heavy string, twine or yarn

Instructions:

1. Apply the nut butter to the pine cones with the craft sticks, pressing it into all the nooks and crannies.

2. Roll the peanut butter-covered pine cones in the pan of birdseed. Gently shake off the excess seeds.

3. Tie the string or yarn tightly around the base or top of each pine cone.

4. Hang in a tree and watch the birds come!

Be well,

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The post 5 Tips for Screen-Free Winter Play appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Maia, President

Even those of us in wintery climates can’t ignore headlines about the mosquito-born Zika virus. The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency as experts scramble to understand more about the virus.

Zika’s certainly on my radar. My family and I are escaping the snow to go to the Bahamas next week, and in May, I’m traveling to Nicaragua for a wedding. I’m not planning another pregnancy, but many of my friends are worried about Zika. And apparently it’s not only a concern for women and their babies. Zika is also linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, an autoimmune condition that involves temporary paralysis and can be serious, even fatal.

What About Non-Toxic Bug Spray for Zika?

When it comes to fending off pesky mosquitoes, I normally shy away from chemical insect repellents and recommend this natural bug spray.

But Zika is a different story. To ward off mosquitoes carrying serious health risks, I would feel better with something stronger. Fortunately, experts are saying that you don’t have to resort to DEET, which is a neurotoxin.

Better Than DEET for Zika Protection

It turns out that Picaridin—a milder chemical–may actually perform better than DEET when it comes to Zika protection. Consumer Reports showed that Picaridin is more effective at repelling the Aedes mosquito, the type that carries the Zika virus.

Here’s more good news: unlike DEET, Picaridin did not cause cancer in animal studies, nor did it appear to lead to reproductive damage. It’s also less likely than DEET to irritate your skin.

Human studies on Picaridin are lacking, and Picaridin is by no means entirely non-toxic, but I would feel okay using it in a place where there are Zika-carrying mosquitoes, given the risks of this virus.

Check out Picaridin products like Sawyer’s Fisherman’s Formula, which you can get on Amazon. I would never apply this product directly to the skin, but plan to put it on our clothing when we are in mosquito-heavy areas.

Stay sane,

P.S. I also read that the Aedes variety of mosquito likes the smell of feet, so you might consider shoes and socks for yourself or your kids if you’re in a Zika-affected region of the world.

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Written by Suzanne, Chief Health Officer and Resident Grandmother

“Screen time” is something both of my children struggle to manage for their own children. As a grandmother who spends a lot of time with my grandsons, I feel their pain! It often feels like a constant battle to keep Felix, Theo, Wolfie, and Lincoln away from TVs, iPads, and phones!

Years ago, I read Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods, which discusses his findings regarding Nature Deficit Disorder (his term). Nature Deficit Disorder is not a medical diagnosis, but a summation of his observations. More than ever, I think his theory makes sense.

Louv spent 10 years traveling and interviewing parents and children about their time spent in nature. His conclusion is that sensational media coverage and paranoid parents have literally, “scared children out of the woods and fields,” while promoting a litigious culture of fear that favors “safe” regimented sports over imaginative play. I would add that busy working parents and lots of attractive smartphone and tablet screens have only added to this dilemma!

Boomers Vs. Millenials

As a child in the 1950’s, I was sent outside after school every day, and all day long in the summer, to play. We didn’t have a toy room, but we had board games, playing cards, dolls, and toy soldiers. With our only screen time being Saturday morning cartoons, there was a lot more for us to do outdoors. Our parents might be seen, by today’s standards, as less protective. Our neighborhood seemed far less “dangerous” then, even though, in fact, it has not changed much since.

When I had my own children in the 1980’s (making them millennials), I was much more protective than my parents had been. I opted to stay home with my children, and I took them outside every day to make sure that they had time in nature. My grown children today don’t have that luxury with their own kids because they both work, and they struggle with keeping their children off screens and giving them time in nature.

Forest School Fun

Even with less unstructured time outside being the norm, we can find ways to increase a child’s time in nature. There are some organized opportunities to give children that time. Last week, I accompanied my daughter to “Forest School” in Brooklyn with her 2-year-old. During this outdoor program, the teachers didn’t direct children; they just had a place in the woods of a park where the children could play with nature. Sticks, mud, fallen nuts, leaves, wooden spoons, and little tin buckets were placed under a tree in the dirt. All of the 2-year-olds immediately were on the ground playing. It was even raining a bit, which made the mud all the more fun! It’s so much easier parenting in nature. Children just naturally are entertained…just like they are with screens, in fact! The moms (and one dad) were free to chat or observe their children–when inside, kids seem much more demanding of adult attention, don’t you think?

Outdoor Adventures

Just yesterday, I spent time with my son’s 4-year-old boy, who is only allowed screen time for an hour at 3:00 p.m. each day. We went to the library and then to a field to fly a kite. He loved the kite-flying, but afterward was playing his own made-up games that included jumping off of rocks, rolling down a grassy hill, playing shadow games, and following a jumping grasshopper. Although many of his games were peppered with superhero moves he learned from the screen, he was making up his own games with them.

As time passed, he once mentioned that he wanted to go home for his screen time, but he kept finding new games to play outdoors and he didn’t want to go home until 5:00 p.m. My son was thrilled because by the time we got home, it was time for dinner and bed (no time for screen time that day!).

With the pace and pressures of modern life, it’s often difficult to get the kids outside even though we know how good it is for them, and us!

My Five Sans-Screen Favorites

You can incorporate some of these activities on a walk to school as I did the other day with my grandson, hunting under every oak tree for the perfect acorn to take home.

1. Autumn table. Fall is my favorite time to take children on a treasure hunt for
   leaves, acorns (make sure the acorns have their hats–children love this), various fallen nuts, and whatever else they find. Then when you get home, make a seasonal table and add the child’s treasures, plus other things from nature, such as gourds, tiny pumpkins, a beeswax candle, a small vase of fall flowers, a bowl of shiny apples (you can give your child a cloth to shine them), and miniature wooden animals. You can see my autumn table here.
2. Muddy puddles. Every child should have a raincoat and good pair of mud boots. They love playing in the rain, and as my one grandson says, “Nana, let’s go find some muddy puddles to jump in!” Of course, this shot is of the boys just playing in a shallow creek, which they will do for hours!
3. Grassy hills. Everyone loves rolling down a grassy hill and children cannot resist this activity.
4. Pond watching. When it’s raining, the ripples make the water such a delight to watch. The other day in Brooklyn a turtle repeatedly popped his head up. You can also see ducks, fish, and water bugs.
5. Rock stacking. This is a favorite pastime that kids love. First you have to go to a place where there are rocks; riverbeds or hiking trails are good. Then you might bring some rocks home and stack them. Stacking one dozen is a record here! My windowsills have rocks and seashells that I have gathered with my grandchildren.

Try any of these activities and you will have happy children and you will also have fun!

For an extra treat, watch the trees for a windy day and try kite flying with your little ones.

Winter is just around the corner, and in upcoming blog posts I will focus on limiting screen time in the winter months.

Be well,

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The post Five Tips to Make Parenting Easier and Minimize Screen Time appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Suzanne, Chief Health Officer and Resident Grandmother

If you are looking for an activity to do with children on a summer weekend, picking fresh fruit is a wonderful choice!

Even picky eaters usually eat fruit, but for those who won’t, this is a fun activity nonetheless and may encourage your picky eater to try some of the antioxidant-filled, vitamin-rich Good Stuff! The best part is that going to pick fruit connects children to where their food comes from, and connects them to nature, which we continue to learn is critical to mental health (have you seen the latest studies?).

Here in Pennsylvania, I have taken my grandsons to pick strawberries, blueberries, peaches, wild raspberries, and apples. Unfortunately, we missed cherries this year but those are fun to pick, too. Wherever you live, you can find out what fruit grows in your local area and explore this wonderful activity with your child.

A few years ago we spent a month in Vermont, and Felix, then 4, wouldn’t eat blueberries (although he will now)–and still he loved picking us a pint each morning for breakfast! Eventually, he grew brave enough to try some.

Blueberry picking

Here are a few simple ways to get your picky eaters picking fruit!

1. You don’t need a garden to grow berries. You can grow something in your garden or even a small container. I have planted strawberries in a pot on my patio, and blueberry bushes are great even in a small yard.
2. Plant a fruit tree. I have Asian pear trees and cherry trees in my small suburban yard.
3. Visit a strawberry or blueberry farm where they offer pick your own. Lots of people go apple-picking, but berry-picking is even more kid friendly, especially when it comes to toddlers.
4. Hunt for wild fruit. Raspberries or blackberries are the easiest to find, and part of the fun is driving to the country and searching for them. My grandsons and I recently discovered a new wild raspberry patch while on a walk near a river. If you ask around, someone will be able to tell you where you can find wild fruit for the taking. The wonderful thing about wild fruit is that it is not sprayed with pesticides and herbicides, so I don’t worry about my grandsons eating the berries right off the bush.
5. Visit a local organic orchard during its season. Here in Pennsylvania, we have lots of orchards to visit, but the tricky part is finding an organic one. Organic apple orchards are fairly easy to find, but now that peach season is upon us, I have been unable to find a place to pick organic peaches! Your best bet may to be to talk with various orchards and try to find someone who is aware of the problems with pesticides and works to manage pests with the least amount of pesticides possible. A bonus to asking your farmers about their pest control: the more consumers demand healthy, safe produce, the more the market will respond!

Along with the fun of collecting the fruit can be various harvest and preparation activities. Baking, canning, freezing, and eating your gatherings all can be fun and educational. Here is a favorite healthful raspberry dessert recipe to celebrate almost the end of raspberry season!

Be well,

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The post A Cure for Fruit-Averse Kids: Picking Wild or Locally Grown Fruit appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Alison Relyea, Guest Blogger

On a Monday in early March, I found myself in SeaWorld, Orlando, contemplating environmental issues and animal rights while simultaneously marveling at sea life and riding kiddie rides alongside my three young children. My husband, Rich, and I had decided to make the most of an extra day in sunny Florida after a winter storm in the northeast ruined our Sunday night travel plans.

We considered going to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but I wanted something a little more relaxed than a Disney park and remembered loving SeaWorld as a kid. I was torn because of the ethical issues surrounding SeaWorld’s treatment of animals. I hadn’t actually seen Blackfish, the documentary about SeaWorld’s orca whales, but I had read some research and statistics regarding their shortened life span and related health problems in captivity. I decided to go this one time and see for myself how I felt about the theme park and specifically Shamu, the park’s orca whale mascot.

The experience left me questioning not only SeaWorld’s ethics, but also my own lifestyle choices.

A Depressing Orca Show

We had a picture-perfect day at SeaWorld. The weather was warm and sunny, the rides were appropriate for all three of our kids, and the food was even pretty tasty, rare for a theme park. The true lowlight of the day was the orca whale show, called One Ocean. It was kind of boring at best, and hypocritical and disturbing at worst.

The Shamu show left me feeling depressed.

While the audience watches the whales jumping around at their trainers’ commands, a movie about ocean conservation plays on giant screens above the pools. As an audience member, this movie made me very aware that while SeaWorld may be a leading supporter of keeping the oceans healthy, these animals are not swimming in that beautiful, underwater world projected above them. They are in saltwater pools in central Florida, performing choreographed shows multiple times a day for an eager audience.

It seemed eerily unnatural, and I became convinced that Sea World would be better off without this whale show. For the past few years, the company has been trying to defend its practices and make slight changes to please animal rights activists when maybe they should try freeing Shamu and focus on preserving the oceans.

But It Wasn’t All Bad

SeaWorld actually surprised me with its philanthropic efforts in other areas. It has a lively and humorous show called Pets Ahoy that features cats, dogs, and other rescued pets who are seemingly living much better lives following their adoption by the park. It was adorable and my kids really connected to the animals and the mission, much more than with the orca show.

I left SeaWorld remembering that no company is perfect, just as no person is perfect. Individuals and companies do make choices, though, that impact the larger world. We each have some power to make a positive difference if we pay attention to these choices.

While I’ve never considered myself to be an aggressive environmentalist, I care deeply about the environment and want to take care of it for my children and all future generations. Sometimes that goal feels hopeless to me, as I see evidence of global warming, videos of plastic swirling in the oceans, and watch my own recycling bins fill up weekly, not confident that the paper and plastic will ever be repurposed once the truck takes them away.

Rather than get down about it, I remind myself that small steps can make a difference and it is not my responsibility to save the world, but to make it a little better. Just as SeaWorld might not need Shamu, surely there are things in my life that I do not need.

As parents, we think about making good food and health choices for the kids and for ourselves, but we don’t always think about making good choices for the health of the world around us.

What I’ve Pledged to Do

Not long after the trip to Florida, I found myself walking alone on a beach and thinking about the SeaWorld experience again. I grew up spending summers at the beach, and have always felt a strong connection to the ocean. It made sense that I take this rare quiet time with waves crashing in the background to brainstorm. If I think of ways to live a bit more mindfully, I can reduce how much we waste and teach my children about the importance of conservation. I decided to make a list of natural environments that are close to my heart, and for each one, find something I can do to be less wasteful in my everyday life. Here are some excerpts from my list:

1. Stone Harbor, New Jersey: No more Ziploc bags for lunch snacks or sandwiches; use reusable fabric bags instead.
2. Shelter Island, New York: Remember to bring the brown paper bags back to Whole Foods or Trader Joes each week.
3. Chincoteague, Virginia: Stop using disposable coffee pods and switch to drip or reusable pods.
4. Camden, Maine: Bring reusable produce bags to the store rather than using the plastic ones they supply.
5. Kauai, Hawaii: Wipe up spills with cloth, not paper towels.
6. Stoney Lake, Ontario: Shorter baths and showers for everyone in the house, and do not let water run unnecessarily.

The list is quite long, and surely I won’t be perfect every time, but the goal is improvement. Years ago, in the early days of online quizzes, I was drawn in by a tool that promised to calculate my global footprint. I was getting on a plane later that day to Rincon, Puerto Rico for a weekend with friends and one of the questions asked how many flights I take in a year. It left me feeling a little guilty and very aware of how much air travel had increased in my lifetime. At the time, I traveled a great deal more than I do now. I accepted almost every wedding invitation, often destination weddings. I visited friends in other cities, went to Europe on vacation, and ate out regularly. I don’t think I was overly wasteful, and the quiz judged me as slightly better than average, but I wasn’t going to great lengths to protect the environment, either.

Moms Can Be Environmentalists, Too

Now I have three kids. Flights are limited, as are dinners out, but five people in a house means a lot of groceries, laundry, and trash. As parents, we think about making good food and health choices for the kids and for ourselves, but we don’t always think about making good choices for the health of the world around us. Our children learn from what we model, and in their lifetime, some of the places that we’ve loved and treasured may be destroyed or changed forever. It is easy to point fingers at big companies, fast-food restaurants, the oil industry and places like SeaWorld for the damage they do to natural habitats, but we have to look at ourselves, too. While we might not be housing endangered aquatic species in our basements, surely we have some practices that could be changed for the better. It is time to start thinking bigger while taking small steps in the right direction.

About the Author

My name is Alison Cupp Relyea and I’m a 38-year-old, mother, teacher and former marketing professional now trying my hand at writing. I live with my three children and my husband in Rye, New York. After sixteen years in Manhattan, we left the city for the suburbs. I am currently taking a break from teaching elementary school to be home with my kids and explore some of my other interests. Writing has always been a passion of mine and part of my professional life, and now use it as a creative outlet to share my stories and connect with people. Writing helps me stay engaged, think critically, and find humor in the everyday moments life brings us. I hope you enjoy this piece and please check out my other work at alicupp.wordpress.com.

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Halfway through the trip, we were out of the Good Stuff (which for us is either Kabana Green Screen or Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen), so I headed to the resort’s sundries shop to see what I could find. Surprisingly, they carried BabyGanics Cover-Up Baby Sunscreen, which is for sure better than the alternatives they had (ubertoxic Coppertone and the like).

I’ll admit that the spray-on feature of BabyGanics is really nice (I hope Kabana or Babo follow suit!), but the ingredients are far from natural, despite the “mineral-based” claim on the label. In addition to minerals, you’ll find octinoxate (which is a chemical sunscreen ingredient, as opposed to a barrier ingredient like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide), phenoxyethanol, polysorbate-60, and lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 methicone–all of which represent a variety of risks, from hormone disruption to worse.

The white sheen of Badger sunscreen

While my kids appear to have survived the week of chemical spray, I will be sure to pack three tubes of truly safe sunscreen the next time we travel. While Kabana (the very safest sunscreen on the market, I believe) leaves a white sheen unless you REALLY rub it in, the Babo Botanicals sunscreen we now carry is totally clear, so my husband and I opt for that on our own faces–otherwise, we look like our friend Joe, pictured here a few summers ago (in Badger sunscreen, when I made everyone test out all the natural brands I was reviewing).

If you want my top picks for sunscreen, check out our Safe Sunscreen Guide for our top picks.

Want the bottom line? I’d go with Kabana Green Screen for your kids (because it’s got added vitamin D) and Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen Lotion for you (because it goes on clear).

Stay sane,

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Whenever possible, I keep Felix in the shade.

1. I can see when I miss a spot. Felix rarely sits still long enough for me to rub his entire body in sunblock, so if I do one leg and not the other and he runs off, it’s very easy to see which parts of his body are unprotected.

2. You don’t have to wait to go in the sun. Chemical sunscreens take a while to be absorbed by the skin–so technically you’re supposed to apply them about a half an hour BEFORE you get out in the sun. The beauty of a mineral-based sunlock is that it sits on your skin and deflects the sunlight–meaning it starts working as soon as you rub it on.

I still don’t like to overuse sunblock–I think vitamin D is important (which is why I love Kabana’s Green Screen with added vitamin D). But when we are at the beach for the day, we all need coverage. I tend to sit in the shade, but Felix prefers to be in direct sunlight. And now, I take comfort in the white sheen of zinc that covers him from head to toe.

Stay sane,

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Buggin’ Out About Insect Repellent

Insect bites can be a mere nuisance or a serious health hazard. Gardening during black-fly season in Vermont is a maddening, uncomfortable experience, but it’s nothing compared to the problems associated with tick-borne Lyme disease, which always seems to be on the rise.

It’s no wonder that this time of year we see so many choices of insect repellent in every drug store. So what’s wrong with using Off or another conventional brand?

How Insect Repellent Works

Insect repellents are designed to confuse, discourage, and even kill bugs so that they don’t find us or bite us. The most commonly found active ingredient in commercial insect repellents is deet (chemical names: N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide or N.N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide), and by now most of us know that it’s not good stuff. But what exactly is so bad about it?

The Deets on Deet

According to a 2009 study, deet is “not simply a behaviour-modifying chemical but also inhibits the activity of a key central nervous system enzyme, acetylcholinesterase, in both insects and mammals.”

So…I’m a mammal. I’m pretty sure most of the people I know are mammals, too.

The scientists conducting this study found that, in rodents, deet blocked cholinesterase, an enzyme that is responsible for transmitting messages from brain to muscle.

When deet is sprayed on your skin, it is absorbed and eventually enters your bloodstream, where it is pumped through your nervous system, potentially causing neurological damage. Heavy exposure to deet can result in memory loss, headache, pain, and shortness of breath. According to the EPA, At least 14 seizures and four deaths have been attributed to deet toxicity, although considering how many people are exposed to deet each year, the odds of such an event are of course exceedingly low.

In any event, the more you learn about deet, the less terrible the itching of a mosquito bite seems.

Better Bets for Bugs

Ok, so you want to avoid deet when buying an insect repellent, but beyond that I always prefer plant-based products (conventional brands like Off typically contain fragrance and other chemicals in addition to deet). My favorite natural repellent is Bugs Be Gone by Sierra Sage, which is both effective in keeping insects at bay, and also totally lacks that gross citronella scent (I know some of you probably dig that smell; I don’t!). An added bonus: all ingredients are organic. We now carry Bugs Be Gone in our online store.

Note that the good stuff–be it Bugs be Gone or another natural brand– always requires more frequent applications than products containing deet. But because Bugs Be Gone is so pure, there is no need to rinse it off when not outside with the bugs. The EPA warns us that we should indeed wash deet from our skin after each use, in order to avoid “side effects.” Manufacturers tell us that conventional bug spray should not be used under clothing or on damaged skin, and to always wash it off between applications. This sort of warning doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

This summer, be smart about biting insects…but be just as smart about the bug spray you choose.

Stay sane,

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Zinc oxide=free radicals=DNA damage=melanoma?
According to this study, zinc oxide–an ingredient commonly used in natural sunscreens–undergoes a chemical reaction when exposed to ultraviolet light that may release free radicals. Free radicals can damage DNA, thus increasing the risk of skin cancer.

It is important to note that this new research only looked at nanoparticles of zinc oxide. Hopefully, the same free radical formation doesn’t occur with micronized or larger particles. (Read on for more about nano and micronized particles.)

Chemical Sunscreen Versus Mineral Sunblock

You can read about my feelings on sun safety (and vitamin D deficiencies) in our review of natural sunscreens, but I’ll try to give you a not-too-confusing rundown of sunscreen/sunblock safety here:

• There are two types of sun protection lotions–chemical (sunscreens) and physical (sunblocks).
• Chemical sunscreens penetrate the skin and absorb the sun’s rays.
• The most common active ingredient in chemical sunscreens is carcinogenic, hormone-disrupting oxybenzone, which–when exposed to sunlight–is associated with the production of free radicals (ironically, free radicals are what lead to wrinkles and premature aging).
• Physical sunblocks, on the other hand, contain minerals (usually zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that form a barrier on top of the skin that blocks or deflects the sun. Most sunscreens advertised as “natural” do not contain oxybenzone and instead are mineral-based, although there are some exceptions.
• Because mineral sunscreens leave a white sheen on the skin, manufacturers usually use nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide in their formulas, and these microscopic molecules are suspected to contribute to the formation of free radicals. The newest study, mentioned above, looked at nanoparticles of zinc oxide.
• In response to the bad press about nanoparticles, many natural sunscreen manufacturers now use micronized particles of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These are slightly larger than nanoparticles, and may or may not carry with them similar health concerns; there is a lack of research on their safety.

So what’s a concerned parent/human to do?

My recommendation is to skip the sunscreen, and let your kid enjoy a few minutes of vitamin D exposure each morning or afternoon. Get inside during the hottest hours of the day. Use hats and umbrellas if you can. When you’re at the beach or otherwise unable to avoid heavy sun exposure, stick to a non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sunblock (I might favor the titanium dioxide formulas for the time being). And remember: the whiter the sunscreen goes on, the better!
Read Gimme the Good Stuff’s Sunscreen Safety Review for your safest bets.

Stay sane,

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When I spend time with my grandsons, Felix and Theo, I see the world anew through their eyes. The boys delight in watching a bunny crossing the front lawn, or a pesky squirrel scurrying up a tree. They love to stop and pick up a speckled rock or observe a tiny mushroom; they are attracted to the bright colors of flowers; tiny insects crawling across the kitchen floor fascinate them.

Kids Love Nature!

Children naturally gravitate toward and delight in the natural world, and Theo and Felix inspire me to more closely tune into the sights, sounds, and smells of the outdoors. When I do, time slows down. My professional training is in education for early childhood and elementary age children, and I’ve taught in Waldorf classrooms as well as public schools, in addition to being an educational consultant for the past several years. I–along with many educators, scientists, and parents–am concerned that many (perhaps most) children in our modern world are out of touch with nature.

Too Much Screen Time

An article in October 25th’s New York Times revealed that, “despite the American Academy of Pediatricians’ longstanding  recommendations to the contrary, children under 8 are spending more time than ever in front of screens.” Screen-time for children under 8 years old is more than 3 hours a day, and while this number includes the use of various forms of media, more than half of that time is spent watching television. Even more shocking, 30 percent of children under one year old have a TV in their bedroom! (44 percent of children aged 2 to 4 and 47 percent of children aged 5 to 8 have TVs in their rooms.)

Certainly, the availability of media has increased since I raised my two children. When Maia was born in 1980, there were no VCRs, much less computers or cell phones. We got our first VCR when Maia was 5, and we were the first in our group of friends to have one! My mother-in-law got a huge bag phone for her car around the same time. We bought our first computer when Maia was in junior high. Now, of course, we have hundreds of cable TV channels and we can stream movies instantly. Hardly a tech-junkie myself, my smart phone is rarely out of my grasp, and I covet Maia’s iPad. I can only image where things will be in another 30 years!

Nature-Deficit Disorder?

It will be some time before science can illuminate the long-term impact of all of this technology on children, but we can intuit that it will mostly be negative. Experiencing the changing of seasons, watching the behavior of animals in nature, observing the weather, and seeing a garden grow (indoor or out!) has got to be better for children than all those hours each day spent in front of a screen of one kind or another. Of course, children want to imitate their parents (and grandparents); they see us constantly checking our iPhones and laptops, so of course they want to be part of that. We must remember to put away those devices now and then, be present for our children, and instill in them a respect for the natural world. If children appreciate and love nature, they may grow into adults who protect it.

Richard Louv, author of the national bestseller Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, sites studies that point to direct exposure to nature as essential for a child’s healthy physical and emotional development. The book includes a field guide with one hundred practical actions that we can take as parents, grandparents, and citizens. Louv claims that unlike television, nature does not steal time; it amplifies it. While the notion of nature-deficit disorder may seem like a bit of a stretch, the book points to new and updated research that might change the way you think about nature and children.

Seasonal Nature Table
Fall is an especially great time to enjoy nature with children. Felix’s love of acorns began a year ago, when he and I were walking one autumn afternoon and came upon an oak tree. As we began to gather the acorns from the ground, I told him a story about squirrels collecting acorns and saving them to eat in the winter. Felix and I came home with handfuls of acorns, which, along with yellow leaves and bumpy gourds, we placed on our “nature table.” Every time we are outside, we look for treasures to add to the table, and of course these items change as the seasons pass. You can place your bits of nature on a piece of silk cloth or cotton that is a color that represents the season (brown, rust, or orange in the fall; soft blue or white in the winter; bright green in the spring; and yellow in the summer.) This activity might be especially rewarding if you live in an urban environment (as Felix does), where interactions with nature are few and far between.

For More Information

In addition to Louv’s Last Child in the Woods, check out the following resources for more on kids and nature:

• The Children and Nature Network (www.cnaturenet.org).
• I Love Dirt, by Jennifer Ward, outlines 52 activities (divided up seasonally) for caregivers to do with youngsters.

Be well,

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