Green Kids

'Caring for our environment' is one of our family values.  Like many values it is learnt via how we live rather than taught. However a lot can be imparted by how we answer questions and explain choices. The concept of choice is an important one, namely we choose options that are better for the planet even if they are not the easiest or the same as what everyone else is doing.

Some ideas of choices your family could make:

• Use scrap paper for drawing and writing. Using the other side of discarded non confidential work papers or mail works well. 
• Teach kids to look after their toys to a prevent breakages going to landfill. 
• Focus on fewer, quality toys rather than cheap junk which breaks or are grown out of quickly. 
• Join a toy library. 
• Watch less tv. This encourages your kids to be more imaginative and better at 'making their own fun' with whatever is available to them. 
• Choose to walk, cycle or take public transport. Explain why. 
• Grow veggies
• Compost or worm farm
• Recycle
• Pick up rubbish
• Observe the effects of pollution on waterways and our neighbourhoods and environment
• Choose your local school
• Enjoy wearing and giving away hand me downs

What other ideas can you think of?

These holidays we got a lot of cardboard boxes from the supermarket.  First the kids made towers, cubbies, and walls out of them.  Later my son and I hot glued some into a robot.

Rocket Week 4 - 27 km

A lighter week with 27 km accomplished.  We are both still very much enjoying using Rocket.

I choose to ride on the footpath when my daughter is aboard as it feels safer, particularly on congested or busy routes.  However it does have some drawbacks.

1.  It is illegal.  New Zealand has antiquated laws in this regard:

NZ law from NZTA website, "You can only ride on the footpath if you're delivering newspapers, mail or leaflets". Or expanded version from their code for cyclists: "You are only allowed to cycle on the footpath if you are:delivering newspapers or mail, or
you are riding a small wheeled recreational device that has a wheel diameter of less than 355 millimetres (typically tricycles or small children's bicycles)."

I believe the NZ law is outdated in this regard, and we need to campaign for revision more along the lines of NSW in Australia. Although there is debate about whether it is safer or not in the footpath, I believe parents who would absolutely not allow their children to cycle on the road would be okay with the footpath, and parents should be permitted to accompany their children on the footpath.  Drivers would adapt and become more vigilant about footpath users including cyclists if they become used to seeing more if them. Local laws should ensure cars exiting driveways have clear views of the footpath. 

NSW cyclist law: "you can
Ride on the footpath if less than 12 years old
Ride on the footpath if you are an adult riding with, and supervising, an under 12 year old
Ride on the footpath if you are carrying a person under 10 years old as a passenger on your bicycle or in or on a bicycle trailer you are towing - not a pedicab"

Although it seems unlikely I would be booked for riding on the footpath, I am a law abiding person and don't like being on the wrong side of it.  However it is a legal battle I may relish if it bought much needed change to this antiquated law.

2.  I am quiet and surprise other footpath users.
I feel rude ringing my bell at people.  If I ring from too far away they don't hear it, and if I ring to close I scare them.  Often trees and other obstacles prevent me from going on the berm to pass.  My bell isn't friendly sounding and is poorly placed for ease of access.  I am experimenting with a sequence of jingly bells dangling from my handlebars designed to gently announce my presence but I will have to work on that as I don't think the current ones are loud enough (they are old cat collar ones, more suited to keeping cats away from birds!).   Any suggestions from fellow cyclists are most welcomed!

Rocket Week 3: 40 km

Another first for Rocket this week - two passengers.  I removed the basket and put the second cushion back on, enabling me to transport my son to Keas along with my daughter.  My son was overcome with excitement and shouted at passers by 'Look we are on a tandem for three people'.  He is resistant to my explanations that Rocket is not a tandem!  It was certainly a fitness challenge carrying them both, and it got my heart rate up.

Other Rocket highlights of the week:

I've noticed my pannier hooks nicely to side of shopping trolley when getting a few things from Supermarket.  This is because it is adjusted for the wide diameter tubing of Rockets intreated rear rack.

Attention: Many people ask about Rocket: "did I have it custom built", "wish I'd had one", "where did you get it?", "that is so cool", "what an awesome bike".  We even had a passing car beep and give us the thumbs up out the window.  A nice change from the usual type of motorist reaction to a cyclist!

An alternative name:  My friend, upon seeing Rocket, recited a wonderful phrase from Julia Donaldson's children's book 'Room on the Broom':

"Then out rose ... A TRULY MAGNIFICENT BROOM! With seats for the witch and the cat and the dog, A nest for the bird and a shower for the frog. "Yes!" cried the witch, and they all clambered on. The witch tapped the broomstick and whoosh! they were gone."(DONALDSON, SCHEFFLER, 2002)

Rocket week 2 : decked out

Rocket Week 2: 33 km, and looking good!

Last week we did 33 km, using Rocket for a full week including some errands.

'Running Boards'

Daryl of Cargo Bikes NZ, who sold us Rocket, provides laser cut Marine Ply protective panels for the sides of the rear rack and the bottom parts of the rack.  I call these the 'running boards'.  I have sealed them with a marine grade varnish to protect them and enhance their durability.  Because I may be hanging panniers from the top of the board I have reinforced/protected it with some plastic edging from the hardware shop, and covered this with decorative duct tape (my daughter chose the design).  On the lower boards I have added non-slip adhesive tape, as I was concerned the gloss finish of the varnish would become slippery when wet, and this is where my daughter places her feet whilst mounting and dismounting, as well as riding, on Rocket. 

Left: The running boards are installed, with some decorative and functional improvements
Right: Wings added to Hi-Vis vest. 

Safety

I have purchased a high-vis vest for my daughter and added hi-vis fairy wings to it.  She loves it and usually doesn't want to take it off when we get to our destination.  The wings were made out of an op-shop visibility vest (cost $1.40) and some reflective piping (cost $4).  I was going to velcro them on but ended up just sewing them on instead.  My own hi-vis vest came courtesy of NZTA and their 'See the Person, Share the Road' campaign.  It says 'Mum' on the back and people keep asking where I got it!  I have also added a safety flag to Rocket.  Come winter I will add some lighting.

A spare flag added to the rear with help of some plastic tubing and cable ties.

Fun

For fun I've added a bike bell to my daughters handle bars, along with a homemade basket-bag that used to hang on her balance bike.  (It is made out of the leg of an old pair of jeans, with her initial appliquéd on it, and some fancy wool stitched on as a fringe, it is attached using cable ties through button holes).  We've taken some soft toy passengers in the rear basket, and my daughter is getting good at stowing whatever she wants to take in either the pannier or the basket.

A bell and basket-bag for my passenger

A new way to get around: Rocket Week One

Before my first child was born he owned his first cycle helmet.  And so began our next phase of active transport, family style.  I will do a post on our historic efforts, but this one focuses on our latest  move forward, our new Yuba Mundo Cargo/Utility Bike!

The Decision
After seven years of extensive buggy use my feet and I had had enough.  I was looking for alternatives that would not turn my four year old into an olympic speed walker.  We cover 20 - 30 km a week - a lot to ask from little legs, either on foot or bike.   Our Wee-Hoo is great for adventures, but not so great for around town.  I'd spied kids perched on cargo bikes and found out more.  The Yuba Mundo seemed the go, and living on the flat, we opted not to get an electric version.  After looking out for a second hand one for ages, I drained my savings and bought a brand spanking new bright orange Yuba Mundo.  Yippee.

The Waiting
Good things come to those who wait, and it seemed a long week between ordering and receiving our new wheels.  However the wait gave us time to ponder names, and how we would personalise our ride.

The Arrival
The Yuba Mundo arrived Friday night and was named Rocket.  Rocket had marine ply laser cut side panels that needed to be sealed, so that was the first job.  Not being keen to wait on that long process, I cut temporary panels out of a cardboard shop display and attached them instead.  Colourful!

Two rear cushions, and handlebars for the front passenger.

In our first week, and incomplete week of use (pending temporary panels), we did 23 km.

The maiden voyage to school and pre-school, using elastics to secure the bag to the utility deck.

Spot the 'Estee Lauder' side panels!

Improvised lower attaching point for pannier

The 'Pimp your ride' plan

Attaching a pannier and basket

I set to work deciding how best to add features that would enable us to carry school bags, shopping, etc.  I've attached a basket using an old belt, and improvised a lower attaching point for a pannier.  I also set to designing a name sticker that can be attached to the completed side panels.

Yet another coat of marine grade varnish on the panels.

Clean Teeth for Kids

The kids dental clinic (aka Dental Nurses) recommend that we brush our kids teeth for them until they or six or so.  I see an irony here, as their precious adult teeth are arriving at the same time they have to come to grips with their own dental hygiene.  Yikes.  So here is how we manage the joys of teeth brushing time in our house.

1.  Keep 'em handy.  We have toothbrushes and paste for the kids in both the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms.  In the evening teeth are brushed during bath/shower time.  In the morning we do it in the kitchen where we eat breakfast, straight after breakfast.

2.  Use Technology.  We find some of the toothbrush timer apps are fun, and you can also buy a little Barnabee timer on-line (picture and link below).  This helps make the two minutes pretty clear for all concerned.  For my older son, we use the kitchen timer whilst he stands at the sink - no arguments over how long as it is digitally dictated!

Apps:

Maclean's Nurdle, Free Apple or Android App.
This little guy does a song and dance with instructions on how to brush.
Just ignore the bit about rinsing as it goes against current recommendations.

https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/macleans-nurdle-time-nz/id528168742?mt=8

Barnabee also does a song and dance and is rather cute.  My daughter objected to him on moral grounds as he almost uses a word for bottom that rhymes with gum.
You can play his song online, so we just bookmarked the page rather than buying the app.  We did buy the little timer and it was popular with my son for a while.

http://shop.beehealthy.org.nz



3.  Use games.  I like the one where you pretend to be a Zoo keeper and need to brush the Lion's (or Crocodiles, or Hippos etc) teeth!  You'll find lots of other great ideas on the web too, especially imaginative games you can play with preschoolers for toothbrush co-operation.  We do these ones in the evening for my daughter.  For my son we often brush his teeth in the evening to ensure they get at least one good clean a day.

How do you manage tooth brushing for kids in your house?

School Book Covering

It is that time of year again - back to school.  A lovely bundle of fresh stationary represents all the possibilities and excitement that a new school year offers.  I must admit to having a bit of a thing for stationery!

One  thing I am not so keen on is the process of covering the school exercise books.  The adhesive book cover stuff and I do NOT get along.  In the course of covering the book I end up with myself, and possibly my cup of tea attached to the stuff, not to mention the air bubbles, toast crumbs and hair that sneak in as well.  It sticks to the scissors and just does not end up looking nice.  It kind of spoils the new book look!

And then at the end of the year, or whenever you get to it…. that clear stuff makes the books hard to recycle, and face it, that is where a lot of them will end up, sooner or later.  I've no doubt the emotional attachment to pages of alphabet, blend and math practice will wear off.  Story writing is another thing altogether, those we keep!

So how excited was I when I read of an alternative!  Re-useable book covers!  Oh yeah, bring it on!  I used them last year and can happily report that:

• They lasted the year
• They were easy to put on and remove
• We will be able to reuse them (size dependant)
• They are handy to switching to a new book later in the year
• My son liked them

They have patterned, coloured and clear ones.  I quite like the clear ones as they are easily reusable from son to daughter, whereas the patterned ones seem to have gender focused designs.  We personalise the books by making on the computer a 'bookplate' which includes my son's name, class, and some favourite pictures.  We paste this onto the exercise book, and then put the clear cover on top.  Easy peasy lemon sneezy!

I've seen them at Warehouse Staionary (or was it Officeworks?) but I buy mine from ezcover.co.nz, they are quick and good value.