Tree-hugging for Tots

A Reader Writes The Green Guide:

Are there any green child daycares? Children are so impacted by chemicals and toxins in their environment, and I am wondering if there are any centers that are providing healthy, eco-friendly environments? Do you know of any in the US or anywhere in the world?

The Green Guide Responds:

Thank you for your question.

Finding a daycare can be a daunting task, and it's made even more difficult when you set out to find one free of environmental health risks. You're right that children are affected by chemicals. Neurotoxins like mercury, lead and pesticides can slow or alter brain development, while approximately 6.2 million children under the age of 18 suffer from asthma, which is triggered by phthalates in cleaning products and vinyl toys and other volatile organic compounds found in building materials. Their tiny bodies absorb more pollutants than an adult's because pound for pound they breathe more air, drink more water, and eat more food than adults do. And their innate curiosity encourages them to crawl around on carpets and stick their fingers and other items in their mouths. You definitely want caretakers to appreciate that and avoid the use of pesticides and VOC-laden cleaners as well as plastic toys and food containers that might leach hormone-disrupting phthalates and bisphenol A.

Fortunately, while "green" daycares aren't as numerous as green schools, many facilities have green aspects. The first step in finding one is to ask lots of questions! Start by gathering a list of the centers in your area, which you can get through your local childcare resource and referral agency (see www.childcareaware.org and search by zip code). Then call around for more information.

No matter what, be sure that any daycare you call adheres to state regulations, which set baseline requirements for education, caregiver background checks and expertise, health and safety. You can find your state's requirements online at nrc.uchsc.edu/STATES/states.htm (some states mandate that centers use chemical-free pest control methods, eliminating some of the worries you may have).

When looking for green aspects, use the criteria set out in The Green Guide's Top 10 Green Schools report and those used by the non-profit Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) Eco-Healthy Childcare Checklist as models.

The OEC's voluntary Eco-Healthy Childcare program has established 25 environmental-health criteria that daycare centers agree to follow, and of those 25, centers must meet at least 20, two of which are required: no smoking anywhere in the vicinity of children and least-toxic pest control methods both inside and out. Among the other non-mandatory requirements are the use of PVC-free toys, wood furniture instead of particleboard, least-toxic cleaners, low-VOC paints and mercury-free thermometers. While OEC doesn't independently monitor the facilities to ensure they're following these criteria, the centers re-apply every other year, and the OEC administers additional surveys and communications throughout the year to check on compliance.

The only program of its kind nationwide, Eco-Healthy Childcare received the EPA's Children's Environmental Health Excellence award in 2006 for its unique approach and effectiveness. "Through this program, the Oregon Environmental Council seeks to reduce children's exposure to toxics such as lead, mercury, pesticides, phthalates, bisphenol A and PBDEs, among others," says Sara Leverette, OEC outreach program director.

If your children won't be in daycare for a few more years, you may benefit from an expansion of the OEC's program. Leverette says that they're seeking funding to institute Eco-Healthy Childcare nationwide and adds that four or five centers outside of Oregon are currently working with the OEC to achieve the Eco-Healthy designation.

You can also use the criteria set out in our annual Top 10 Green Schools reports for choosing a daycare, as schools and daycare centers deal with similar issues. Our report ranks schools based on their use of green cleaners (such as those certified by GreenSeal), integrated pest management rather than chemical pest controls, indoor air quality, recycling facilities and the availability of outdoor green spaces. For a list of suggested questions to ask childcare providers, see the sidebar (right).

Finally, since the quality of care is just as important as the environment, you may want to find out if the center in question has been accredited by an independent agency, such as the nonprofit National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA). Although accreditation is not mandatory for a daycare to operate, these organizations have developed educational, health and safety standards that go above and beyond individual state regulations for childcare and early childhood programs.

If you're lucky, you'll find a daycare that provides exactly what you're looking for, and then some. Laura Silan, the director and owner of Happy Hollow Children's Center in Oregon, says her daycare goes above and beyond the OEC checklist, abiding by those requirements in addition to creating some of her own.

"We have a garden, and all children are involved in planting in it and deciding what to grow," Silan says. "We also make our own compost in our worm bin and make our own fertilizer."

She says Happy Hollow offers organic foods and incorporates lessons that acquaint children with their natural environment. "It's important to have them be aware of all that at a young age," Silan says.

Resources

OEC's Eco-Healthy Checklist: oeconline.org/families/checklist/view

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment's Art Hazards List: oehha.org/education/art/getart.html

National Association for Family Child Care: www.nafcc.org

National Association for the Education of Young Children: www.naeyc.org

National Early Childhood Program Accreditation: www.necpa.net

References

The Top 10 Green Schools in the U.S.: 2006

"Learning Hazards"

"Better Art Supplies for Budding Artists"

"True Grit: Safer Sand and Playsets"