by Sarah Lane
Gush. The other day we at PK Reader received a box of samples from O’Bon, a maker of eco-friendly school and stationery supplies. I am often unimpressed by new green products and see many examples of either (1) green products that aren’t that great or (2) decent products that aren’t that green. But O’Bon is the real deal and has both areas covered. Plus, O’Bon understands good design, and its products have sacrificed nothing in terms of attractiveness, which is exciting to someone who, having been in the …

by Julie Hall and Sarah Lane
Here are activity ideas for five different types of birthday parties for kids.

Ocean Steward Party
Visit the Aquarium. Arrange to take your partygoers to your local aquarium. Have the kids bring along dive log fish stickers (such as those made by Stickerfish.com) and a piece of sturdy paper. Challenge them to find live examples of the fish on the stickers. Invite them to place on the paper each sticker of the fish they see and record other observations. (1.5-2 …

By Julie Hall and Sarah Lane
Making your child’s party green is easy on the planet and easy to do. It’s also good modeling for kids and other parents. Here are some Earth-smart ideas to help you get started. Visit our Planet-Friendly Party Activities post for creative party ideas on environmentally friendly themes.
Tableware

Napkins. Use washable colorful fabric scraps from a fabric store to make fun, reusable napkins. Or use recycled paper towels.
Tablecloth. Use an old sheet for a tablecloth that kids can …

by Sarah Lane
In response to our local power company’s proposed construction of a new electrical substation and installation of high voltage power lines in the downtown core area, I decided to investigate possible health and safety concerns related to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), those electrical and magnetic emissions created by all the electrical devices in our lives, from appliances to giant electric towers. I knew the conventional wisdom that there is no definitive link shown through research between EMFs and cancers, including childhood leukemia. But I’ve also walked underneath high voltage …