5 ways we try to create a #brightfuture for our children

Today we are sharing the everyday actions we take as a family to help make the world a better place. I really believe that these small changes we make to everyday life have a positive impact on the environment and will help make a #brightFuture for our boys.

This post is an entry for BritMums #brightFuture Challenge, sponsored by Unilever.

Get outside and play

We love outdoor play, even if it’s just a quick pop to the local park; I think it’s so important to have outdoor time every day. I read somewhere that children who play outside between 3pm and 4pm will sleep better than children who play outdoors during other times of the day. A couple of advantages to playing outdoors are that you use less electricity in the house, and the kids learn about the world we live in, with all the challenges, dirt, and creatures too.

Wash clothes at lower temperatures

When we do laundry we wash at lower temperatures, because just a little thing like reducing from 40 to 30 will make a difference. Washing detergents these days are just as effective at lower temperatures, and why use more electricity than you need to? Washing at lower temperatures uses less energy and so the wash is cheaper. We’re not scared of wearing white while we explore rock pools on the local beach!

Recycle

One of James’ favourite things is to grab a box and turn it into a robot, an aeroplane, or even a weather changing machine! We recycle as much as we can, and it’s good to know Persil’s bottles are made of recyclable material if James doesn’t want to turn it into an alien or something else!
I really like the fact that James is now 4 and yet pretty switched on with what goes in the recycling and what doesn’t. He asks questions about what happens to waste when the bin men collect it, and I think every little thing we do as a family can help to improve the future of the environment.

Some interesting figures:

• Six out of ten parents saying that they have started to live in a ‘greener’ way at home at the suggestion of their children.
• 83% of children continue to feel optimistic about their own future and 59% feel optimistic about the future of the environment.
• Most parents (between 70-80%) believe that, compared with themselves, their children will live longer, have a better education and better job prospects, and will enjoy life more, even if they will have to work harder to reap the rewards of the greater benefits ahead.

Use washable versions

We love reusable cloth nappies, Noah wears washable swim pants, and we use cloth wipes too. It is on my list every year to make a washable version of paper towels like these in this fab tutorial, but I never quite make it. In the meantime we are definitely cutting down on the times we use kitchen paper for spills by using Rob’s old bar towel collection!

Waste less food

It is very rare that we have any left-over food because I’ve got a Rob, who will eat for England, should anyone wish to begin a challenge. However, I do try to make sure I fill the kids’ plates with ‘just enough’, and not over face them with a huge portion. When they complain they’re stuffed full, I will put the plate on one side for them to have another go later. After a while, I put the left-overs in the freezer in little bags, so I can make really quick, kid-sized meals when I need to.
We also make a lot of our meals together. James is really good at mixing, chopping, and he’s picking up the idea of measuring ingredients, too, by looking out for the right numbers on the scales. I think if the boys have helped to make the meal, they’re more likely to want to eat the product of their labours.

What do you do to try to make your #brightFuture? This post was a collaboration with Unilever, who sent me a bag of products. I really was impressed by Unilever’s achievements as a sustainable, green company.

• Unilever’s brightFuture initiative focuses on small changes that can make big differences and how we can build a world where everyone lives well and lives sustainably. Since the launch of the Sustainable Living Plan, Unilever has helped 482 million people to improve their health and hygiene, including through hand washing, improving self-esteem, and oral hygiene.
• This is exemplified in the work undertaken by Domestos that has committed to helping 25 million people gain improved access to a toilet by 2020. Access to clean sanitation can protect people from preventable diseases, reduce mortality rates, help reduce school dropout rates and improve quality of life.
• Furthermore, Persil has backed a global initiative ‘Learning for Tomorrow’ partnering with UNICEF to help give children in some of the world’s toughest areas the opportunity of a quality education.