ECO Friendly ...

Ideas to get Out of School Hours Care

Services started
Contents
Energy saving…..…………………………………………………………… 4

Waste management……………………………………………………… 6

Sustainable food practices………...………………………………… 8

Water saving ……………………………………………………………… 10

Green play experiences……………………………………………… 12

Gardening, Composting and worm arms……………....… 14

U se fu l we bsite s……………………………………………… 16

Reflections…………………………………………………………………… 18

References ………………………………………………………………… 20

“If we want children to flourish, to

become truly empowered, then let us
allow them to love the earth before
we ask them to save it”
David Sobel

2 Illawarra Children’s Services

Introduction
Regardless of the setting - school hall, purpose-built
centre or backyard - sustainability is one of the core
elements of a high quality service.

When services invest in ECO Friendly sustainable

strategies, the rewards are endless. By teaching our
children to respect and love our planet through
sustainability we are teaching them to become
responsible and passionate world citizens.

The aim of this booklet is to encourage owners,

directors and outside school hours care professionals to
discuss and reflect upon the importance of
sustainability.

This booklet is a professional development tool and

resource to help staff explore and reflect the key areas
that lay the foundations for ECO Friendly service.

‘ECO Friendly” 3
Tips for……….
Energy saving

• Turn off appliances when not in use

• Search for energy efficient globes
• Encourage children and staff to dress appropriately
for each season to minimise the need for heaters
and air conditioners
• Invest in shutters and blinds, open doors and
windows to keep rooms cooler.
• Provide spray water bottles on hot days. Encourage
children to cool themselves with these if they
are feeling hot
• Encourage children to close doors behind them on
cooler days to retain the heat in the room
• Discuss your electricity bills with the children –
compare the difference of your energy usage from
one quarter to the other and ask for ways you can
improve on this.

4 Illawarra Children’s Services

Have you considered……..

• Inviting the children to help hang out the

washing?
• Counting the stars on energy efficient rated
appliances with the children
www.energyrating.gov.au
• Reading a thermometer with the children?
• Discussing the global impact of greenhouse
emissions with children and getting them
involved in developing and implementing solution
strategies?
• For example washing up
the dishes after
afternoon tea
instead of using the
dishwasher, and then
emptying the water on
the garden.

‘ECO Friendly’ 5
Tips for ……...
Waste Minimisation

• Reuse glass, plastic and paper products in the

centre, e.g as paint pots, storage containers
• Encourage children to use both sides of paper
• Involve children in basic repair activities rather
that throwing things away
• Minimise use of plastic bags for throwing away
small rubbish etc. Re-use your empty bread
packaging instead, or wrap in newspaper.
• Let children sort recycling products. You can
download signs for you bins at
www.media.socialchange./net.aurecycling/
• Visit a recycling facility
• Use biodegradable green cleaners rather than toxic
chemicals. You can find products at
www.sasiclean.com or
www.freshgreenclean.com.au
• Use recycled materials in your art projects and
cubby buildings

6 Illawarra Children’s Services

Have you considered…….

• Organising a swap or used items notice board, or

market day for families to trade or sell unwanted
items. –someone’s trash is another persons
treasure
• Offering your newsletter to parents via email?
• Involving your service and children in National
Recycling week – 2nd week in November. For ideas
and information go to www.planetark.com.au/nrw

‘ECO Friendly’ 7
Tips for…….
Sustainable food practices

• Offer seconds and thirds at lunch time and

afternoon tea rather than serving a large meal
• Buy organic products - http://enviro.org.au/ has a
list of organic food suppliers from a variety of
southern NSW regions.
• Provide opportunities for the children to unpack the
groceries with you. While doing this discuss how
you are going to use all the ingredients and the
packaging used in each product.
• Organise a “Bush Tucker” walk in your area with
your local elders.
• Get together with other local children’s services or
your school canteen for OOSH and create a food co-
op—buy non perishable foods in bulk and order fruit
and veggies collectively from the growers.
• Grow your own fruit, vegetables and herbs in your
garden or in pots.

8 Illawarra Children’s Services

Have you considered …

• Supporting local Farmers Markets where you can

meet the people who grow the food - http://
www.sustainableillawarra.com.au/Sustainable-
Food.html#markets has information on markets in
the Illawarra. http://www.marketguide.com.au/
nsw-1.htm has information in alphabetical order for
the whole of NSW.
• Trying to buy locally grown produce? The “100 Mile
Diet” website can help you out with some
inspiration. www.100milediet.org

‘ECO Friendly’ 9
Tips for…….
Water saving

• Empty water trays into pots, garden beds, or on the

grass.
• Use tap water for drinking rather than buying water
• Install a rain water tank and a rain gauge.
• Discuss your water bills with the children – compare
the difference of your water usage over time and
ask for suggestions on how you can keep on
improving
• Involve your centre and children in National Water
Week in October. For ideas and information go to
www.nationalwaterweek.org.au
• Encourage the children reflect on their water
usage– especially in the outdoor environment.
• Encourage children to tip left over water onto the
garden.
• Encourage children to turn the taps off in the
bathroom whilst washing hands.

10 Illawarra Children’s Services

Have you considered …

• Encouraging children to soak paint brushes in water

when finished so they don’t take as long to rinse
under a tap of running water?
• Collecting rainwater in buckets and reusing it in the
centre for cleaning spills, mopping etc?
• Providing soapy water and encourage children to
wash dolls clothes, material scraps, cloths etc by
hand and air dry?
• Talking with the children about how precious water
is, where it comes from, how rain is formed and
why we cannot use salt
water for drinking.
• Discussing how there is
drought in some parts of
Australia. Show pictures
and discuss how it may
feel to live there.

‘ECO Friendly’ 11
Green play experiences

• Encourage families to bring in boxes – small and

large –and use them as building blocks, e.g cereal
boxes, sultana boxes, muesli bar boxes.
• Paint on off-cuts of timber, fabric, stones or leaves
instead of paper. Children can collect these things
whenever they see them and keep them to use in
their art and sculpture.
• Provide gardening tools and gloves and use a patch
of bare earth for children to garden in—encourage
them to set up their own garden
• Install a small bird feeder or other habitat in the
yard, along with magnifying glasses for a close up
view.
• Provide pots of pencils, textas, crayons and paints
in earth tones as opposed to multi colours. E.g
ochres, browns, sepias, siennas, and neutrals
• Visit .www.sustainableschools.nsw.edu.au for lots
of ideas and experiences aimed at school aged
children

12 Illawarra Children’s Services

Have you considered …

• Building your own scarecrows to protect your

veggie patch and inspire creativity
• Providing whiteboards – small or large – instead of
paper for children to draw on.
• Discussing with staff the different kinds of
materials you could provide children with such as
wooden, felt or natural fiber toys.
• Discussing sustainability as a whole service
approach and not just an add on to your
program.
• Researching ideas on protecting animals and plants
in your garden visit http://www.fnpw.com.au/
Backyard_Buddies/Backyard_Buddies_home.htm

‘ECO Friendly’ 13
Gardening, composting and worm farms

• (www.deh.gove.au/biodiversity/month/html)for
information on National Tree Day
• http://www.sustainableillawarra.com.au/pdf/
Worm-Farm-Fact-Sheet_Your-Questions-
Answered.pdf for information on worm farms and
compost bins. These are excellent alternatives to
throwing food scraps in the bin.
• http://www.bokashi.com.au (bench top compost
bin) http://www.scenicrim.qld.gov.au/residents/
documents/Compostingfactsheet.pdf for
information about minimizing your food waste
• Share the responsibility for watering gardens,
flower or pot plants and around in the service with
children and staff.
• Have watering cans available near your water
tank or collect rainwater.

14 Illawarra Children’s Services

Have you considered …

• Growing your own veggies / herbs and using them

for cooking?
• Visit www.sustainableillawarra.com.au/
Sustainable- Food.html for helpful hints for getting
started.
• If you don’t have space at your service, get
involved in a community garden. To find a
community garden in your area go to
http:www.communitygarden.org.au.

‘ECO Friendly’ 15
Useful Websites
Eco – OOSH in Action
Eco OOSH in Action: a whole of centre approach to sustainable living is
a project designed for (OOSH) Out of School Hours centres. It aims to
encourage children to experience, enjoy and interact with the natural
world, be curious about its workings, and move towards becoming
sensitive citizens of the Earth.
http://www.netoosh.org.au/ecooosh.htm

G Magazine – The Best Of Green

This online magazine explores a wide variety of environmental issues,
from why do whales beach themselves, to how to have a kids eco
party. It also included activity idea and ideas to encourage children to
appreciate the environment.
http://www.gmagazine.com.au/

Sustain Illawarra
This comprehensive website has some great practical fact sheets, from
starting a worm farm to using natural products to clean with.
http://www.sustainableillawarra.com.au/

Michael, Michael, Go Recycle

http://funschool.kaboose.com/globe-rider/earth-day/games/
game_michael_recycle.html
An on-line recycling game for children – loads of fun!

Clean up Australia Day

http://www.cleanup.org.au/
Has a children’s section with a plastic bag survey for school age children

The NSW Early Childhood Environmental Education Network (ECEEN)

Strives to promote and support education for sustainability. It does this
by connecting early childhood services with information, resources and
organisations within their community.
http://www.eceen.org.au/

16 Illawarra Children’s Services

Websites cont…
Safer Solutions
http://www.safersolutions.org.au/index.php

Waste and Recycling Stuff for Kids

http://www.portenf.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1040
A child-friendly site
Waste sorting activities, quiz show, the journey of your waste
City of Port Adelaide Enfield

Environmental Sustainability
http://www.rch.org.au/emplibrary/ecconnections/
CCH_P_June2008_English1.pdf
A one-page fact sheet for parents – great for the newsletter

Planet Patrol
http://www.planetpatrol.info/main.html
A site for kids – includes information, games, even a link to find out
how big your carbon footprint is

Talking with Children About the Environment

http://www.psychology.org.au/publications/tip_sheets/
children_environment/#s1 This article is broken down into age groups
with sections covering teaching children of different ages and stages,
and steps for teaching children about the environment

Reverse Garbage
http://www.reversegarbage.org.au/
A great art resource, you can purchase supplies in bulk.

Department of Climate Change

http://www.climatechange.gov.au/
Information on climate change with Australia and policies relating to this.

‘ECO Friendly’ 17
Reflections
“One of the most significant responsibilities
that professionals have is to support children
to retain the sense of awe and wonder that
they are born with, to add to that a desire to
nurture and protect what is beautiful, and to
encourage them to appreciate that there are
many possibilities for honouring life and
wonders that the world holds.
(Stonehouse, 2006)

Ask these questions at your next staff meeting to initiate

discussions about developing an sustainable approach at your
service.
• What does sustainability mean? What does it mean for our
service? Consider in terms of our philosophy, policies and
program.
• How can we include all children, families , staff and the
local community to support our whole service approach to
sustainability?
• How could we include sustainability into every aspect of our
curriculum? ( E.gdaily practice, linking with families and the
local community.)
• Where can we start? Develop a plan of action and hold a
forum with families
• Why do we as a service want to become more “green”?

18 Illawarra Children’s Services

‘ECO Friendly’ 19
 References
Everyday Learning About Being Green - Early Childhood
Australia's Research in Practice Series.
Author: Rachael Kinsella Published: 2008 Purchase through
Early Childhood Australia Price: $14.95 (approx)

Greening Services: Practical Sustainability

Author(s): Rachael Kinsella Published: 2007 Purchase through
Early Childhood Australia Price: $14.95 (approx)

The Outdoor Playspace Naturally: For Children Birth To

Five Years
Author(s): Sue Elliott (Ed.) Published: 2008

Putting Children First – magazine of the National Childcare

Accreditation CouncilIssue 29 March 2009 (Pages 12-15) is a
great article that examines all aspects of implementing a
“greener” service.

Climbing the little green steps—How to promote

sustainability within early childhood services in your local area.
Author: Mia Hughes, Environmental education Services, 2007
Available for download at www.wyong.nsw.gov.au

Illawarra and NSW South East

Inclusion Support are an initiative
of the Inclusion and Professional
Support Program, funded by the
Australian Government.

May 2009 www.ics.org.au