Review of the Three Best Kids' Environmental Sites
Review of online sites:
www.kidsface.org;
www.timeforkids.com;
www.dannyseo.com
Age requirement: 7-16; younger viewers can browse
with their parents for reading help and explanations
Child Friendly: yes, all three
April 22 was Earth Day--a moment in time where
humanity around the world pauses to remind itself of its connection with,
and impact on, the environment. Why should you take the time to
care? Take a look at some interesting facts:
- The EPA has issued an advisory for pregnant
women not to eat certain species of fish due to high levels of mercury and
other pollutants. The National Academy of Sciences reported that as
many as 60,000 children will be born this year with neurological problems
because of such exposures.
(ABCNews.com )
- ·Children exposed to pesticides used in the home
and garden are three to six times more likely to develop leukemia than
children who are not exposed.
(Journal of the National Cancer Institute)
- Over 360 chemical compounds have been found in
the great lakes. Various species of the lakes' fish (edible and otherwise)
now suffer from tumors and lesions, and their reproductive capacities are
decreasing. (Environment Canada)
- Pollutants such as PCB's have been shown to be
directly responsible for alarmingly high incidences of abnormal and/or
mutated reproductive organ development in polar bears in the Artic islands.
(Norwegian Polar Institute)
Why am I mentioning this in a column for software
and website reviews? Because children today are both the victims of
this problem as well as the key to its solution. We're going to require the
awareness of parents and the talents of kids everywhere working together to
solve these issues.
Fortunately, there are websites out there already
aware of this huge need and actively tackling the issue. I'm reviewing
only three of the many, but these three were picked because of their
excellence in encouragement as well as information. They are, in no particular order:
Let's review them!
www.kidsface.org
Founded by nine-year old Melissa Poe from
Nashville, Tennessee, this organization has grown from just 6 members to
over 300,000 from all over the world. Kids F.A.C.E. (Kids For A Clean
Environment) members have planted over one million trees, have created the world's
largest environmental flag, and have been featured on the TODAY show. This
has a couple of different ways to participate in their philosophy: you can
become a member, or start a chapter yourself. The most impressive feature is
the toll-free hot line number they provide for questions and
memberships. This is a good site where you can capitalize on your feeling to jump in and
get involved in an organization that is time-proven and kid-worthy.
www.timeforkids.com
A collaboration between the Ford Motor Company
and Time Magazine, this website is devoted to showcasing kids who have
taken action to change their corner of the environment. You can read about
kids all over the world (and in your own back yard) and what they are doing to
preserve the environment.
This is truly and inspiring site for those who
want to be involved but feel alone and awkward. It also gives you the sense of
hope for the small things involved in conservation, like recycling cans and
newspapers. Kids can give feedback, promote their own conservation efforts,
and learn how to do more with the interests they have.
www.dannyseo.com
This is a more sophisticated website, featuring
Danny Seo, an environmentalist philanthropist. Born on April 22
(International Earth Day), Danny started his career at the age of 12 and
hasn't stopped since. Featured on Oprah, CNN, and in TIME Magazine, People
Magazine, and The Washington Post, he is the recipient of the prestigious
Albert Schweitzer Reverence for Life Award. On his website, you can find out
where to recycle interesting items such as cell phones, unopened bottles of
medicine, eyeglasses and shoes. A useful, practical, valuable site for
both older kids and their parents.
My Final Answer is…
It is my hope that you sit down with your kids
and browse through some of these websites. As a mom who has a full-time job,
two kids with Scouts, soccer, and ballet practices, and little time for
laundry and cleaning--let alone saving the environment--I can empathize
with your feeling of helplessness. However, I also happen to live in a
small Ohio town that, due to the environment, has been recently designated
a "hot spot" for a deadly form of childhood leukemia. And, on a trip to the
Florida Everglades in January of this year, I noticed a complete lack
of birds. Long-time residents there informed me that they had all
moved elsewhere due to pollution build-up.
We can't hope to change the world overnight. But
we can take small, painless steps everyday toward changing our awareness, our
attitudes, and eventually, the fate of our children's future. Won't you
please join me?
Featured links:
http://www.kidsface.org/
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/explore/story/0,6079,56763,00.html
http://www.dannyseo.com/
_______________________________________
Questions? Contact me at
Alicia@ChildCareMagazine.zzn.com.
