Earth Month on ParentsConnect

April is Earth Month—the perfect time to make little changes to your life that'll have a big impact on your carbon footprint. Here are some easy ways to go green and make a better planet for your kids (and future grandkids!).

Earth-friendly bonding: Your kids think everything you say is gospel (for now, anyway), so use this fleeting opportunity to teach them how to live earth-friendly lives. Make green living a family affair. Choose one thing off our list of things your family can do to save the planet each month. Or pick up a copy of 1,001 Ways to Save the Earth for some good earth-friendly living tips. Plan activities that teach your kids about the environment. Make birdseed and then head to the park to feed the birds. Grow a simple egg-carton garden (no muddy fingernails involved) or make a cool bird's nest. You can also make an impact on your own neighborhood. Spend an afternoon cleaning up trash or make a compost pot. Remember: The best way to teach your kids about living green is to actually live green yourself.

Chem-free cleaning: Sure, all those grease-cutting scrubs and grime-busting lathers make things appear clean, but really, they're loaded with chemicals that are not only bad for the environment, they're bad for you, too. The good news is that the supply-and-demand chain has encouraged companies to create chemical-free, natural cleaning products that actually work (like Eco-Me Cleaning Products). You can also make your own all-purpose cleaner with this simple natural cleanser recipe. You also might want to look into earth-friendly laundry soap and chemical-free shampoos and soaps 'cause washing your kid's little tushy with chemicals doesn't sound very earth-friendly or kid-friendly to us.

Green babies: More than 18 billion disposable diapers make their way into our landfills each year—and disposable diapers take years to decompose. Of course, the flip side is that cloth diapers waste a lot of water, so the cloth vs. disposable debate rages on. For a more earth-friendly alternative, try Seventh Generation Diapers. They are chem-free and decompose much faster than regular diapers. Or (even better!) try super-green gDiapers, which are neither cloth nor disposable. Biodegradable, flushable liners fit inside adorable 'lil g-pants for diapers that are both cloth and disposable.

Green-living tips: Living green can be as simple as making easy changes to your everyday routine. Instead of reaching for the Raid next time you see an ant, try this earth-friendly natural pest control method. Try serving snacks in coffee filters, which fit perfectly in kid-sized hands. Easiest (and cheapest) of all, every time you send a free Care2 e-card, they donate a dollar to save a rain forest.

Go organic and go local: OK, so eating 100 percent local, organic food just isn't feasible for most of us (um, there's no way you're giving up coffee), but every little bit counts. Organic and local food is better for your kids (the less chemicals the better, right?) and better for the environment (ditto on the less chemicals thing). Try going organic a little bit at a time, or head to the farmers market once a week to buy seasonal, local produce. You can also go organic with your clothing. There are tons of cool organic cotton options, from American Apparel sustainable baby clothes to organic sleep sacks and organic maternity clothes.

Buy green: Buying earth-friendly gear can be expensive! But you don't have to chuck everything just to turn over a new, greener leaf. When it's time to replace old things, do a little research before making a purchase and see if you can green it up a notch. Check out our lists of BPA-free kids' gear and green toys for inspiration. Green products are available just about everywhere, from recycled children's books to reusable bags. Some of our favorites? Check out Klean Kanteen Water Bottles, the Moby chem-free bath spout cover, the Hugg-a-Planet Soft Globe, organic baby gear and str-e-e-e-tchy its-laS-tik reusable bags, which aid Hurricane Katrina relief.

Talk about it: Celebrities usually pave the green path. On ParentsConnect, Natalie Morales keeps it eco-friendly, Donna D'Errico cooks it eco-friendly and Kim Fields goes organic. Even if you're not a celeb, it's easy to get in on the green action. Share your enviro-friendly tips (we love nabbing other people's green-living ideas). Read about why some parents choose to go organic or at least feed their kids an all-organic diet. Find out why one mom is ready to give BPA-free bottles a try. Read why others think the health-food craze has gone a little too far, and share your own stories about earth-friendly living.

For more earth-saving tips, visit Nick Jr's Big Green Help.