Opportunities to change . . .

September always brings about great opportunities for change. Although not technically the start of a new year, our children welcome a fresh start as their school year begins. As we prepared for our girls to start school, we considered small changes that we could make to ensure their health and safety.

As a mom to children with asthma, I am painfully reminded of the link between environmental chemicals and toxins and children's health. Although our home is as toxin free as we can make it, I worry about their school environment. This year I took some extra time to find school supplies that were non toxic. Luckily, we have so many safer choices these days...the market for "green" products has grown significantly - providing affordable and efficient options. I focused on the following items:

Lunch boxes. Traditional plastic lunch boxes are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and can contain harmful toxins such as lead and phthalates. When buying a lunch box, try to look for labels that read lead free, pvc free, lead free or vinyl free. A love the products that are available at www.laptoplunches.com. As an alternative, cotton or stainless steel bags and boxes are wonderful alternatives. Pottery Barn kids has a great variety in many colors and patterns - http://www.potterybarnkids.com/shop/kids/backpacks-luggage/shop-all-lunch-bags/

Water bottles. By now, most of us have heard about BPA and try to look for labels that say BPA free. However, using reusable water bottles, puts our children at risk for BPA exposure - some plastics still contain it. Stainless steel is the best choice!

Art Supplies. Most of us do not have much control over the art supplies that our children use at school.But for home based projects, try to purchase water based paints, glues and adhesives. Children should avoid oil based paints and imported pastels - they can contain lead, cadmium and mercury. Try to stay away from "rubber cement" and "super" glue by using white glue and glue sticks. Don't be fooled by labels that read ASTMD D-4236 - although it does mean that the government finds the product to be non toxic, it does not mean that it is safe for children.

Scented markers. Markers, pencils and pens that are scented most likely contain phthylates. The attractive smells also tempt children to taste them...these are not products that our children should be eating!

Of course, there are many other areas where chemicals and toxins can be found, I will discuss them in future posts. The above are simple changes that make a big impact. As parents, we will always worry about our children's safety. We can not protect them from everything but we can make healthier choices.

Not long ago, and not far from where you are reading this, a mother was becoming increasingly concerned about her children's well-being. She didn’t think her children were having the kind of childhood she hoped for; there were too many ear infections, too much medication, too many hospital visits, and an asthma diagnosis for each one. This mom decided that things had to change.

In her work as an executive in the hotel industry, Annalise Stack was hearing more and more about the benefits of “green” sleeping and working spaces. After absorbing the best practices from the hotel industry, she earned an MBA in Sustainability from Green Mountain College and a LEED accreditation. In time, this mom created a healthier home for her family. The benefits of this transition to a more healthy and sustainable living environment were paid back through significantly improved health and happiness for her entire family.

Roan Skye was born! Annalise decided to bring her knowledge and understanding of how to create a healthy home to other families. There were others who needed to address the needs of their children and have a home where their family could gather comfortably and grow strong.

While a healthy family is a goal for all of us, Roan Skye also considers the sustainability of our habits and practices. They seek to ensure that the wonderful lives our families enjoy, remain available to future generations as well.

Please take a look around our site to learn more about how Roan Skye can help. If you have concerns about the health of your children and family, please consider setting up an initial consultation so Annalise can evaluate your situation and provide guidance on ways to make your family’s life healthier for years to come.