Pint-Size Eco-PoliceNew York Times 10.09.2008

Pint-Size Eco-Police
New York Times 10.09.2008

A little earlier today, we asked you about your biggest green stumbling blocks. Now we're curious: For those of you who have children, are they trying to keep you in check?

Do you have a pint-size eco-police force in the house?

In many households, according to this New York Times article, kids are the ones enforcing green standards -- hanging clotheslines in their bedrooms, scolding their parents' for not recycling thoroughly enough, lobbying for solar panels, and forbidding SUVs.

We were tickled by the anecdotes in the article: One child turning off the water while his parents are brushing their teeth, and reminding them that "Every day is Earth Day." Another asking a neighbor: "Why are you watering your lawn? It just rained." Sure, it drives some of the parents a little nuts, but we're encouraged by the thought that the next generation is growing up with these sorts of tendencies.

So .... do you have little eco-police monitoring your every move?

Via HuffPo

image via Christian Hansen for The New York Times

Comments (4)

I am the "pint-sized" (23 yrs old) eco police in my house. TRYING desperatly to teach my parents the way. They are better than most Americans (being born and raised in East Germany they have always more out of less) - we have a solar powered water heater (live in south florida), use our own reusable bags for groceries, and line dry our laundry.

But I would love for my cleanfreak of a mom to switch to eco friendly cleaning products.

posted by nickel525 on October 14th 2008 at 9:43am
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I got my parents to start recycling their soda cans when I was 7...and that was 20 years ago. They're not perfect (who is?), but I always encourage them to go greener.

posted by Stiletto on October 14th 2008 at 2:13pm
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in my experience working at a school i've found that it's frequently the children that tend to recycle more and use less than their teachers and administrators. trying to change the habits of adults set in their ways is much more challenging than "educating" the children.

posted by molly h on October 14th 2008 at 2:38pm
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I was raised in an eco conscious house, mostly due to a depression era mentality and resourcefulness. I tried to get my high school to offer recycling bins and was a bit mouthy to my friends parents about their consumption habits. Now, 20 years later, I still have the same tendencies and my kids don't know any different. I still have to remind my daughter to turn off the water when she's brushing her teeth but they're both pretty good at recycling.

posted by little green on October 14th 2008 at 7:48pm
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