Growing a green kid
School’s in! (What parents can do)
Back to school
Mom, I’m hungry!
Cottoning on to organics
Anti-idling zone
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Anti-idling zone

As the proverb goes, idle hands are the devil’s tools. And it turns out the same is true for cars.

How often do you see a row of parents in their cars idling as they wait to collect their kids from school or extra-curricular activities? All that idling isn’t good for the smog that chokes our cities or the health of our kids.

There’s a simple way to reduce air pollution and global warming emissions. If you’re waiting on your kids at school—don’t idle.

You can do away with the car altogether and arrange a "walking schoolbus" with your child’s friends a couple times a week. You can also get the whole gang to take public transit together or arrange a carpool. (Their parents will “tank” you for it!)

To help counter the effects of sprawl, walking and cycling are ideal alternatives. Not only do they save on pollution and fuel, but both are forms of exercise that get kids in touch with their communities.

For more info:
• Natural Resources Canada has a good site devoted to anti-idling: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/personal/idling.cfm?attr=8
•Go for Green: This organization encourages Canadians to pursue healthy, outdoor physical activities: http://www.goforgreen.ca 

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