Help Your Kids Save the Planet at Christmas

The gift giving spirit of Christmas time creates aprocess simpler, a leftover piece of plain packing
flurry of cheerful and colorful presents, lights andpaper can be used as a base to which the kids tape
ornaments every year which helps one enjoy thisor glue the festive bits of Christmas wrapping paper.
special time of the year. Unfortunately, some of thatWhen having done this, the children will ensure that
holiday cheer eventually ends up in the waste papernext year's wrapping paper is both environmentally
basket after the presents have been unwrapped andconscious and artistically unique. There are a number
the decorations have been taken down. This year,of easy ways to reuse Christmas wrapping paper
consider giving a Christmas gift to the planet byand cards, and children will be fascinated by the
making it a point to conserve and recycle. Anvariety of decorations and flourishes that can be
Earth-friendly Christmas is especially appropriate forfound on some types of Christmas cards. Many
children, who will enjoy saving the planet whilestore-bought cards now come decorated with
crafting lovely holiday gifts and decorations. Wrappingdurable, sturdy trappings such as gold or silver foil,
paper and Christmas cards are indispensable whenpuffy snowmen, lace, ribbon, glitter and even pieces
you want to create a merry holiday experience forof colorful plastic. These decorations can be pulled off
your family and friends. Many people use these paperor cut out of the paper part of the card and glued to
products only once and then throw them away,cardboard backing to create handmade ornaments
where they contribute to the amount of waste onfor next year's tree. To use this year's Christmas
the planet. Some people try to recycle as much ofcards as next year's gift wrapping paper, let the kids
the wrapping and packing paper as possible, alongcut out interesting images and sections from their
with cards, cardboard boxes and other paperChristmas cards this year and store the pieces away.
products. But even recycling isn't always the bestNext year, let the kids choose their favorite finds
choice for the environment, and reusing thesefrom the old cards and glue them onto wrapped
materials at least once before recycling them will helppresents or fancy gift boxes. With a little bit of
toward helping the Earth. By reusing wrapping paperimagination, you can make a Christmas tradition that's
can seem like an obvious way to reduce holidaycreative as well as good for the Earth, imparting
waste, but there's no need to stop at simply foldingenvironmentally conscious lessons to your kids along
up this year's paper to use next year. On thewith the holiday spirit.
morning of Christmas, while the kids are still in theJon Kelly is a published author who writes articles on
right mood for cutting and shredding the wrappinga variety of diverse subjects. This includes articles
paper, let them tear and cut up several differentabout Christmas and Christmas decorations. If you
sheets of Christmas wrapping paper and then tapewould like to get more information and ideas about
the pieces randomly together to create sheet ofChristmas Time .
Christmas collage paper. If you need to make the