Help Your Kids Save the Planet at Christmas

The gift giving spirit of Christmas time creates aChristmas wrapping paper and then tape the
flurry of cheerful and colorful presents, lights andpieces randomly together to create sheet of
ornaments every year which helps one enjoy thisChristmas collage paper. If you need to make the
special time of the year. Unfortunately, some ofprocess simpler, a leftover piece of plain packing
that holiday cheer eventually ends up in the wastepaper can be used as a base to which the kids
paper basket after the presents have beentape or glue the festive bits of Christmas
unwrapped and the decorations have been takenwrapping paper. When having done this, the
down. This year, consider giving a Christmas giftchildren will ensure that next year's wrapping
to the planet by making it a point to conservepaper is both environmentally conscious and
and recycle. An Earth-friendly Christmas isartistically unique.
especially appropriate for children, who will enjoyThere are a number of easy ways to reuse
saving the planet while crafting lovely holiday giftsChristmas wrapping paper and cards, and children
and decorations.will be fascinated by the variety of decorations
Wrapping paper and Christmas cards areand flourishes that can be found on some types
indispensable when you want to create a merryof Christmas cards. Many store-bought cards now
holiday experience for your family and friends.come decorated with durable, sturdy trappings
Many people use these paper products only oncesuch as gold or silver foil, puffy snowmen, lace,
and then throw them away, where theyribbon, glitter and even pieces of colorful plastic.
contribute to the amount of waste on the planet.These decorations can be pulled off or cut out of
Some people try to recycle as much of thethe paper part of the card and glued to cardboard
wrapping and packing paper as possible, along withbacking to create handmade ornaments for next
cards, cardboard boxes and other paper products.year's tree. To use this year's Christmas cards as
But even recycling isn't always the best choice fornext year's gift wrapping paper, let the kids cut
the environment, and reusing these materials atout interesting images and sections from their
least once before recycling them will help towardChristmas cards this year and store the pieces
helping the Earth.away. Next year, let the kids choose their
By reusing wrapping paper can seem like anfavorite finds from the old cards and glue them
obvious way to reduce holiday waste, but there'sonto wrapped presents or fancy gift boxes. With
no need to stop at simply folding up this year'sa little bit of imagination, you can make a
paper to use next year. On the morning ofChristmas tradition that's creative as well as good
Christmas, while the kids are still in the right moodfor the Earth, imparting environmentally conscious
for cutting and shredding the wrapping paper, letlessons to your kids along with the holiday spirit.
them tear and cut up several different sheets of