3 Things You Can Do To Help Children.

Here is a list of things you can easily do to help ten children breathe better, live healthier, and play safer. Check off three items that you will commit to doing over the next six months.

Pesticides: Commercial products have chemicals that can harm infants and young children through inhalation, skin contact or accidental ingestion.

• Learn about Green Cleaning for your home and begin using non-toxic cleaners.

• Incorporate Integrated Pest Management for bug control in your home.

• Ask your childcare center to implement Integrated Pest Management.

Air Quality: The air indoors and outside can affect children's breathing.

• Speak with your doctor or call your health plan for a smoking cessation program to reduce/stop smoking.

• Take A Brake. Instead of using your car, at least one day a week, use public transportation, a bicycle or walk to work/worship services/run errands.

• Stop using air fresheners. Instead, vent your home by opening windows or absorbing odors with baking soda or vinegar.

• Phthalates can be harmful to developing fetuses and young children.

• Sign on as a concerned citizen to ask the Food and Drug Administration to have all health and beauty products list phthalates in their ingredients. Visit www.nottoopretty.org to sign up online.

• Write to the manufacturer of your favorite perfume/cologne or deodorant to ask that they not use phthalates in their products. See the list of products that were tested at www.nottoopretty.org.

• Teach others, including your medical provider, about the effects of phthalates on children's health.

• Join WHEN to help us continue these educational programs.