1 in 100 American Children is Autistic

World Autism Awareness Day is this week: April 2, 2010.

I just read an article entitled, The Explosion of Autism at Healthy Child, Healthy World, and was stunned to learn the harrowing statistic that 1 in 100 American children suffer from Autism. Autism affected 1 in 10,000 children in the 1980's. Is anyone else as outraged as I am? I can't understand how a developmental disability that was basically unheard of during our parent's generation is now growing at such an alarming rate without every single person demanding answers.

To date, researchers have largely been spending their time fruitlessly trying to uncover genetic causes for autism... but it is the ENVIRONMENTAL causes that need to be focused on. The article highlights the study “The Search for Autism’s Missing Piece: Autism Research Slowly Turns Its Focus to Environmental Toxicity” by Brita Belli, which spotlights environmental factors that might contribute to autism."

Here are a few of the many environmental factors that Belli believes may contribute to autism:

• mercury in vaccinations, dental amalgams, seafood and other sources,

• lead and sulfur dioxide in our air and drinking water,

• arsenic and pharmaceuticals in our drinking water,

• chemicals in plastics - phthalates, Bisphenol-A, and

• flame retardants found in homes and school.

I urge you to read this article in its entirety to gain an understanding of the link between environmental toxins and autism... including alarming information about infants and their consumption of antibiotics used to treat ear infections. We can no longer afford to go on our merry way as a society, thinking autism just happens to other people... it is happening to all of us, and we need to turn back the tide on this rising wave.

Source: The Explosion of Autism

Craft TuesD.I.Y with Lisa Lopez: Beautiful, Unique Easter Eggs Decorated with Seeds, Grains & Beans!

Oh, the fond memories of coloring eggs the week before Easter! Remember those colored tablets that would fizz in the cup, and the neon colored dye that would remain on your hands for days to come? While packaged egg dyeing kits are still readily available, there are so many greener, craftier ways to decorate your Easter eggs. This year, I decided to make unconventional, rustic looking eggs by decorating them with various nuts, grains, seeds and beans: raw pumpkin seeds, uncooked rice, lentils, beans, orzo and popcorn! To do the same, all you need is some creativity and a few things you already have in your pantry!

Materials You Will Need:

• Boiled, cage free, organic eggs

• Rice

• Lentils

• Seeds such as sunflower, pumpkin

• Beans

• Orzo

• Anything else you can find in this realm!
  

1) Hard boil your eggs and let them cool and dry completely.

2) Gather the seeds, grains and beans you'd like to decorate with. You will need a food safe glue to use if you plan to eat your eggs once the holiday has passed -- also keep in mind that they will still need to be stored in the refrigerator if you have future plans to eat them. And any type of glue will do if you are going to use them for display purposes only.


3) Next, coat the egg in glue and get in touch with your inner artist! This craft is especially great for older kids -- it's a nice way to slow down, unwind and pass the time bonding together. If you have little ones in your household, make sure to supervise them during the process and display the eggs out of their reach -- since they are covered in small, uncooked items, such as beans and seeds that may look inviting to eat, but will pose a choking hazard.


Another idea for eco-friendly egg decorating is to color your eggs naturally. Click here to view a step by step tutorial on how to dye Easter eggs using fruits and vegetables! And don't forget to compost the shells of your Easter eggs once peeled!

However you choose to decorate your eggs, have a fun and Happy Easter!

Handmade Charlotte: Handcrafted One-of-a-Kind Girl's Clothing

I am truly inspired by Rachel of Handmade Charlotte. She is the mother of FIVE children, and she still finds time to author an utterly enchanting blog and to design and craft the most beautiful and unique collection of children's clothing and accessories. The bonnet above is perfect for Easter and spring celebrations, and will adorn your little angel's head with old-fashioned style and grace. Below are more whimsical pieces from her collection.


Each of Rachel's designs are one of a kind originals that are handmade with 'lots of love.' Her collection is pitch perfect for spring/summer, boasting elegant yet playful apparel and accessories that will make little girls look simply darling. Recent additions to her collection include the Love Letter Backpack seen above -- perfect for tucking away tiny treasures and secret notes -- and the sweet Mouse Ears hat seen below -- ideal for jaunts to the park, this ear hat protects a little one's head from the sun while also adding a playful element of dress-up play to everyday excursions.


I also love Handmade Charlotte's skirts with colorful pennant belts -- you won't find anything like them in quality or craftsmanship -- and her decadent polka dot blouse with rosette detailing may be dressed up or down to make your daughter the life of the party everywhere she goes. Handmade Charlotte clothing highlights the independent, unbridled spirit and charm of little girls -- celebrating their youth and vivaciousness by decorating them in clothes with a classic and timeless appeal.

EARTH HOUR IS TOMORROW NIGHT AT 8:30 PM LOCAL TIME!

Earth Hour 2010 is tomorrow night at 8:30pm local time. Join hundreds of millions of people across the planet in the fight against climate change by turning off your lights for one hour. Earth Hour is a fun and educational way to involve kids in feeling like they are part of a global effort -- pitch a tent in the living room or backyard and camp out during this hour of darkness. Visit the official Earth Hour site for kids, where children may play games, learn more about climate change and endangered animals, and join the effort to save our planet. Don't forget to charge your BOGO solar powered flashlight to provide further illumination of this great cause!

Eco-friendly Easter Egg Musical Rattle Toys for Green Babies

If you're having a hard time cracking the code on what to get your baby for his/her first Easter, look no further than these Maple wood egg shaker musical teether toys from Little Alouette. Your little one will delight in finding these smooth eggs in their inaugural basket, which are perfectly sized for tiny hands and finished with organic seed oils, (so they're safe to gnaw on too!) -- and they'll love shaking them endlessly to rattle the dried beans inside.

These wooden eggs will last long beyond the Easter holiday, providing jubilant entertainment for both wee ones and their audience!

Reader Submission: Make a Playhouse and Puppet Theater Out of a Crib Box!

It's a playhouse, it's a puppet theater, it features a giant felt board exterior! It's a toddler's dream space come true -- all thanks to one green mom's resourcefulness and ingenuity!

Petite Planet reader Jeanne from Portland, OR submitted this adorable abode she made for her daughter out of the cardboard box her new baby brother's crib was shipped in.

Jeanne used:

• Crib box - one side cut in half, other side still intact, but with a window cut out

• One roll of regular duct tape (to attach & reinforce structure)

• One roll of red duct tape (to match & attach felt to box)

• 3 yards of red felt to cover structure

• Box cutter

Jeanne advises:

Keep the lip on both sides of the box intact to maintain the strength of the structure.

Jeanne embellished the box with felt flower cut outs, people cut outs, and curtains that draw open and closed to be used for puppet show entertainment.

Thanks for the tip, Jeanne!

Petite Planet readers, if you'd like to submit your green kids DIY project, please email me at bethsheawriter@gmail.com!

Craft TuesD.I.Y with Lisa Lopez: Homemade, Eco-Friendly Easter Baskets

Hopefully by now the real grass you have been growing for your Easter baskets is looking great -- there's still time left if it needs a bit more sun to spring up! In the meantime, get a jumpstart on making your eco-friendly Easter baskets. Here are three green and economical homemade Easter basket ideas using items right out of your fridge!

Materials You Will Need:

• Pipe cleaners

• Berry baskets

• Plastic clamshell container that fruit or veggies come in

• Tape

• Glue

• Scissors

• Stapler

• Stickers

• Ribbon

• Silk or real flowers

• Juice or milk carton

• Colored paper

Berry Simple Easter Basket

I used a berry basket that my strawberries were packaged in from our local farmers market, looped some ribbon through the slots, and put a pipe cleaner through the sides as a handle. This sweet and petite basket makes a great Easter party favor or teacher gift.


Clamshell Cutie Easter Basket

I used the plastic container that fruit or veggies come packaged in at the grocery store, and simply punched one hole on each side of the clamshell, then looped a pipe cleaner through the holes to make the handle.

'See the Carton as Half Full' Easter Basket

1. Another basket idea is to use an empty juice or milk carton -- rinse out and air dry.

2. Next, cut out the side that has the spout.


3. Take your colored paper and measure it against the carton, tracing out each side, then covering each side with the colored paper, using either tape or glue.


4. Take another piece of colored paper and cut out a long piece about 2 inches wide for your handle. Staple it to the carton. You can use flowers or stickers to cover the staple.

5. Decorate your basket with stickers, let your child color or paint it, put flowers on it. Whatever you wish!

6. Lastly, I took my grass that we have been growing and put it in my recycled juice carton basket!


These Easter baskets make wonderful, very eco-friendly offerings for friends and family! Have fun making them!

Sow and Grow Gardening Book for Kids

Spring has sprung! Soak up the beauty and wonder of nature with your kids by reading Sow and Grow -- a sweet book by author Tina Davis, which features an entire year's worth of playtime ideas that combine learning, fun and nature. Davis includes a calendar of indoor gardening activities that relate to seasonal celebrations and season changes. "Sow and Grow also acquaints young children with the basics of plant biology, teaching them the meanings of words like “fruit” and “flower” and explaining the roles of light, air, and water in plants’ development."

Petite Planet Crafter Lisa Lopez for Hire!

I'd like to announce that Petite Planet's resident crafter, Lisa Lopez is for hire! Her amazing crafts will still be featured here on Petite Planet on Tuesdays, and she's now available to grace other blogs and websites with her crafty expertise!

In the short time Lisa has been making crafts for Petite Planet, her work has been featured and raved about on several leading craft and children's design websites including Craft, Ohdeedoh, Inhabitots, and Prudent Baby.

Lisa has played a tremendous and invaluable role in building Petite Planet's traffic. Her thoughtful, well presented, original crafts are appealing, fun and easy to make. Countless sites have linked to her craft posts here on Petite Planet -- her recycled crayons post has been a major hit across the web, as have her felt cookies, washcloth bunnies, and gingerbread house made from a juice carton! You can peruse all of Lisa's Petite Planet craft contributions by clicking here.

While her focus has been in the eco-friendly, children's craft genre for Petite Planet, Lisa is an all around crafter who is able to deliver a wide array of crafts based on a site's mission and needs. She is professional, reliable, a joy to work with, and gets my highest recommendation!

If you'd like to get in touch with Lisa to discuss hiring her to do crafts for your blog or website, please contact her at: lisalopezcrafts@gmail.com

Recycled Paper Bunnies & Chicks from Mibo

These adorable spring and Easter inspired paper crafts are a fun project to enjoy with the kids, and they also make festive home decor or Easter basket fillers! Designed by Madeleine Rogers for Mibo, The Carrot Crew and The Yolk Folk are available for purchase as PDF downloads which may be printed onto A4 recycled card and then brought to life in minutes via the included templates. All you need on hand are scissors, glue, a ruler -- and perhaps some baby carrots or chicken feed once your animals come to life!

Luella Jacket from Let Them Eat Cake

I am typically the most practical person in the world when it comes to fashion, but every once in a while I come across an unconventional item that makes me weak in the knees. As was the case with this gorgeous Luella jacket by aptly named company, Let Them Eat Cake. How sweet and indulgent is this little number -- handmade with vintage fabrics in the UK?

Available in size 6 years (size 4 years is currently sold out.) This jacket is the only reason I'd ever want to re-visit the first grade. It's also £110.00, which is more than I have spent on my entire wardrobe in the past year. But my little girl would look simply smashing in it...

Available at Orfeo.

Bicycle Garden Sprouts up in Queens

Check out this cool bicycle garden "planted" by the Recycle-a-Bicycle program. All of the flowers are made out of salvaged bike parts! More on Recycle-a-Bicycle:

"Recycle-a-Bicycle is an innovative, fun youth training and environmental education initiative that has taken root in New York City public schools and respected after-school youth programs. Recycle-A-Bicycle promotes everyday bicycle use, and it is a great place to learn bicycle mechanics and interact with positive, forward-thinking NYC youth."





via Scouting NYC

Craft TuesD.I.Y with Lisa Lopez: Green Your Easter Basket with Washcloth Bunnies!

Easter is quickly approaching, and here's another fun and easy way to make your Easter baskets more eco-friendly: make sweet little bunny rabbits out of washcloths! Choose new washcloths in a festive color, and bring them to life as cute inhabitants of Easter baskets, that may then be used as washcloths for bathtime. These washcloth bunnies are also a great alternative to plastic egg holders... stuff a few candy treats inside one of these critters instead!


Materials You Will Need:

• Washcloths

• Rubber bands

• Ribbon

• Googly eyes

• Pom poms

• Tape
  

How to Make a Washcloth Bunny:

1) First fold your washcloth in half to form a triangle.

2) Then roll the washcloth from small point to long side.

3) Fold your rolled washcloth in half.

4) Fold washcloth in half again and fold the loose ends back toward the fold.




5) Place a rubber band around the washcloth about 2 inches from the fold.

6) Cover rubber band with ribbon.


7) Tape on googly eyes, and pom pom nose and tail.
*I recommend using tape so your washcloth is not ruined by glue -- because you'll want to use it after Easter for tub time!

You can also place an egg in the back of the bunny and use it as a holder. These washcloth bunnies are so cute and they also make great baby shower gifts! Your kids will love these adorable bunnies to hop on into their Easter basket this year!

Green Mode of Transportation: Skipping

Maybe I need to get out more, but this hilarious video on skipping as a trendy, eco-friendly way of getting around town had me laughing out loud. Not to mention that Olivia has started gleefully skipping everywhere we go, and I often join her. Let me tell you, it's impossible not to smile or laugh while skipping.

via Enviromom

Yes to Carrots Debuts New 'Yes to Baby Carrots' Bath & Body Collection!

Can't get your kids to eat their veggies during mealtime? This spring, at least you can get them to say Yes to Baby Carrots during bath time! This new, organic bath and body collection from Yes to Carrots has baby covered in goodness from head to toe with: shampoo & body wash, soothing diaper cream, nourishing baby lotion, bubble bath, and SPF 30 sunscreen.

All Yes to Baby Carrots products are 100% natural, paraben-, phthalate-, and SLS- free, tear-free, hypoallergenic, and are not tested on animals. In addition to all of these necessary requirements to ensure bath time is toxin free, Yes to Baby Carrots products work beautifully, smell lovely and have a price point which can't be beat: $7.99- $12.99!

One of the main areas of concern I hear from parents who want to go green and all natural with their household regimen, is that doing so is "too expensive." So, when lines like Yes to Baby Carrots crop up, I feel like it's a victory for parents and kids everywhere! And it doesn't get any better than this -- Healthy Child, Healthy World teamed up with Yes to Carrots to create this bath collection for babies and toddlers!

My thoughts on the collection:

Yes to Baby Carrots shampoo & body wash dispenses as foam from a pump, and works best when lathered up with hands or a sponge. I love the light natural fragrance emitted by the inherent organic melon and organic carrot oil ingredients, and I love that it softens skin with vitamin E. It also leaves Olivia's hair soft and bouncy, and doesn't weigh it down or leave a greasy residue like many other shampoo/body wash combos we have tried.

Yes to Baby Carrots baby lotion is also delectable. Again, the sweet aroma from the organic Aloe Vera, organic carrots and Cocoa Butter ingredients leave a pleasant, and subtle scent. You know that "baby" smell we all go gaga for? This lotion has captured that essence naturally, and wearers smell so dreamy!

Yes to Baby Carrots soothing diaper cream contains a treasure trove trio of effective ingredients: organic Aloe Vera, organic pumpkin and zinc oxide. I have not tried this on a baby with an active case of diaper rash, but given its powerful yet delicate ingredients, I believe it would be highly effective in both treating and preventing diaper rash.

You may purchase Yes to Baby Carrots products from any of the retailers listed here, including Target, Babies R Us and Walgreens -- available on store shelves by the end of this month.

Be sure to get your kids squeaky clean this spring with these Yes to Baby Carrots products, and stay tuned for my reviews of their SPF 30 sunscreen for kids and daily moisturizer with SPF for moms in the coming months!

Neti Wash: Eco Neti Pot from the Himalayan Institute

You've probably heard by now about the benefits of using a Neti Pot to maintain or improve your sinus and your overall health. Dr. Oz of Oprah fame says that using a Neti Pot may even be "more effective than medication." In case you're scratching your head and thinking, "Neti Pot??" click here to read more about these "ceramic pot(s) that look like a cross between a small teapot and Aladdin's magic lamp.

I have decided to jump on the Neti Pot bandwagon, because there have been many times where I'd like to flush out and clean my nasal passages in order to avoid illness -- particularly after a packed birthday party in an enclosed, unventilated space (which is usually a no brainer that I'll get sick).

In my search for the perfect Neti Pot, I wanted to find one that was of course, eco-friendly. And I luckily came across the Himalayan Institute's Eco Neti Pot. It is "made from petroleum-free, non-toxic, natural bioplastic... and it is certified biodegradable and commercially compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute." Making it an even better choice, "Proceeds from the sales of Himalayan Institute products benefit Himalayan Institute humanitarian, environmental, and educational projects in India, Africa, and worldwide."

After being somewhat tentative because I was fearful of how it would feel, I was able to use the Eco Neti Pot with no problem. It will take me some practice to be able to get the head positioning just so, but I really like that it is lightweight and I think the Aladdin-lamp shape of this Neti Pot makes it easier to use. I highly recommend it!

Read more about Neti Pots in a comprehensive article featuring the Eco Neti Pot on Inhabitots.

Craft TuesD.I.Y with Lisa Lopez: How to Grow REAL Grass for Your Easter Baskets!

This week's craft requires a green thumb... we're growing real grass for our Easter baskets! I'm presenting this craft a month in advance of Easter because it may take 2-3 weeks for your grass to grow. It will be worth the wait to have beautiful real grass to line your kid's baskets -- and you'll help make the Easter Bunny's offering an eco-friendly one!



Materials You Will Need:

• Grass Seed

• Potting soil

• Aluminum foil

• Plastic wrap

• Squirt bottle (not mandatory)

• A shallow container to grow your grass in, or if you already have your baskets, you can grow the grass right inside the basket. If using a shallow container, make sure it will fit in your basket ahead of time.

1) First, line your container or basket with aluminum foil.


2) Next, fill the container with potting soil, but don't fill it to the top because you'll need to save room to spread another layer of soil on top of the grass seeds -- sprinkle the top of the first layer of soil with your grass seeds. Then, cover with about 1/4 inch of soil on top.


3) Use your spray bottle to moisten the soil, or water it lightly if you don't have a spray bottle.


4) Finally, cover with plastic wrap to retain moisture, and place in a sunny window or warm dry area, ie: on top of the refrigerator.

Keep an eye on your grass each day and spray or moisten it if it begins to dry out. After the grass has sprouted, you can remove the plastic wrap. Then, continue to water each time the soil gets dry.

Growing your real grass will take anywhere from 10 days to a few weeks. So get a jumpstart now so it will be ready for Easter! I'll be checking back in with a post to update you on how my grass is growing!

NOTE: Another eco-friendly idea for an Easter basket filler -- shredded newspaper or junk mail painted green!

Under the Nile's Organic Cotton Reusable Nursing Pads

Every parent knows that the more they can limit disposable anything from their baby's regimen, the better off they'll be in the money department, and in the eco karma department. We all know that breastfeeding is the greenest way to feed your baby, and you can make nursing an even greener endeavor by using reusable nursing pads, as opposed to the disposable variety.

Under the Nile nursing pads are my top recommendation! They are super soft, made of 100% organic Egyptian, Fair Trade cotton, and they feature a soft flannel knit and one layer of an absorbent terry liner. Additionally, they are machine washable, and they only cost $5 per pair, making them much more economical than disposable breast pads.

For more Under the Nile goodness, re-visit my post on their amazing organic cotton crib sheets for babies.

Wall Art which Displays All of Your Child's Masterpieces

I've come across some pretty clever ways of cherishing your child's artwork, but this idea by decorator Jan Eleni, who was highlighted on decor8 is by far the most beautiful and charming.

Excerpted from her interview on decor8, Eleni details the collection of miniature art pieces:

"While I was working on children’s spaces – I wanted to time capsule their moment in art – and I started making these beautiful art frames – a way to archive your child’s art in a modern way. It is a labor of love – a time consuming process – the end result is a grid of hand cut miniature images – a gathering of your child’s artwork. It is amazing if you think of how we can influence the next generation of artists and creative types."

We currently have a sweet star clip which says, "this week's masterpiece" to which we attach Olivia's artwork -- but right now it is working overtime with at least 8 pages hanging from it. I'd love to figure out how to scan her art, shrink it and frame it in this fashion... and then recycling the originals wouldn't be so final, since they'd still be catalogued in this gorgeous fashion.

via Ohdeedoh via decor8
image via decor8