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Kids have a LOT of stuff. Here’s 5 ways to parent more sustainably.
Lifestyle

Kids have a LOT of stuff. Here’s 5 ways to parent more sustainably.

Parenting is hard. But leading a more sustainable lifestyle doesn’t have to be, according to local business owners.

As the New Year unfolded, many of us created resolutions to lead healthier, productive, and organized lives. As parents, we strive for these values so we can lead restful and somewhat less chaotic lives. 

After having my children, I became overwhelmed with managing the amount of stuff we continuously accumulate. In the United States, an average family can go through an average of 3,000 disposable diapers per year —an enormous contributor to household waste.  Toys and clothing often have short lifespans, frequently discarded when children outgrow them, ending up in landfills.

Plus, climate change is the top issue the next generation will face. This past Halloween 2024 was one of the warmest on record at 82?.

To determine how to lessen the carbon footprints of these adorable little feet, I chatted with three mompreneurs who are forging accessible, sustainable parenting communities in our city. After becoming parents, they have filled a gap in the parenting marketplace in Philadelphia.

5 Simple and Low-Stress Tips to Start Your Green Parenting Journey

Here are a few quick tips from our business owners that they recommend for starting your green.

  1. Don’t Stress the Mess. Whoosah, take a breath. You’re doing great. Although sustainability can seem overwhelming, you don’t need to know the exact science (unless it sparks your interest) to make a change.

Krystal Cunillera, owner of Rutabaga Toy Library in East Falls, describes, “As parents, we already have a lot on our plates without pressuring ourselves to get sustainability right the first time.” Taking small steps in your daily habits will lead to sustainable changes.

2. Try upcycling. We’re familiar with the 3Rs: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. The concept of upcycling extends household items’ usage to a second life. Think DIY. Upcycling defers from “reusing or recycling” because items are being repurposed for new functionality. 

For example, a simple upcycling hack that Kyrstal does is cutting up old T-shirts and using them as cleaning rags. Or the next time you need to wrap a gift, create your gift wrap by decorating a brown paper bag instead of buying single-use wrapping paper. 

3. Embrace circularity.How often do you “begin with the end in mind” during a shopping trip? In our capitalistic economy, items serve us for a short time and are quickly discarded after a single use. The shift to a “circular economy” starts with making mindful purchases and understanding the life cycle of the products we purchase. 

Membership subscriptions to businesses like Rutabaga Toy Library and Baby Gear Group are affordable alternatives to traditional shopping methods. Whether it is a subscription for yourself or a gift to a friend, rethink the impact of your purchasing choices. 

4. Curate your Social Media. “Make the algorithm work for you,” Bo Zhao, founder of Baby Gear Group shared as her pearl of wisdom to utilize the technology readily at your fingertips. While you scroll social media, search for keywords and phrases like: “green parenting, eco-friendly families, sustainability and parenting,” push content with these tag phrases to become more relevant. 

Bo Zhao, Baby Gear Group.
Photo by BeauMonde Originals

Eden Coffey, co-owner of Kith + Kin in Brewerytown, discusses the opportunity to build greener communities when parents share resources. “Sharing resources is a part of sustainability. Sharing babysitters, tips, websites. Parenting is so much of what you gain and learn from others. Utilizing the city’s resources, like parks and free events, that don’t leave a footprint, celebrates the idea of sustainable parenting.” 

5. Get Outside! One thing the mompreneurs can attest to is that being a parent, especially a new parent, can feel very isolating. Expanding your community with other like-minded parents can help you find others who are going through the same stages as you. Exploring the nature around our city is a great place to start in every season. During the summer and fall, Kith + Kin partners with Jazz in Fairmount for a community concert series at Lemon Hill. 

Making small adjustments that fit your family’s needs will naturally guide them to make mindful, greener, and cleaner choices.

Which of these green parenting tips are you excited to try out this New Year? What other tips do you have? Please share your thoughts in the comments or on our social media, and let’s continue to grow our sustainable parenting community together. 

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Jasmine Joseph is a wife, mom of two, teacher turned copywriter, and a proud Philly native. A graduate of Howard University (BA) and Saint Joseph's University (M.S.Ed.), she combines her passion for education with her love for writing. She believes in the transformative power of sustainability to drive a circular economy and inspire action through powerful storytelling. Outside of her work, Jasmine enjoys following all Philly sports teams, knitting, baking, and finding new places to explore in the city with her family. View all posts by Jasmine Joseph
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