My daughter is at that age where she wants to be a participatory member of the family. (I know, relish this while it lasts because in a wink she'll be a teenager.)
One of her favorite chores is to help set the table. She picks out cups and plates for every one (even though they are from the drawer with the kids' dishes) and puts a napkin at each place setting.
This girl needs a napkin. If for some reason she isn't given one, someone must get up and fetch one for her so that she can daintily dab her mouth or hands.
I've been trying to reduce the number of paper towels that we use in our home. Just ask my husband since I keep reminding him that there are washcloths to clean the children's post meal mouths and dish towels to dry dishes and just-washed hands. (I'm driving him crazy, I really am!)
I didn't grow up in a home with formal place settings or cloth napkins at dinner time. It didn't dawn on me until recently that one thing that we as a family could do to reduce consumption and waste is to use cloth napkins. (You must think I've been living under a rock.) And what better way to get my daughter involved than to give her the task of putting out cloth napkins at dinner every night.
I have found the cutest children's napkins called Fabkins. And boy are they fab! They are just the right size for children. A set of five will get a school-aged child through a week of waste-free school lunches.
Our set resides in my daughter's drawer in the kitchen where she has easy access to them. I hope that starting her early utilizing reusable cloth napkins will set her up for a lifetime of mindful paper use (or disuse as the case may be).
Fabkins boasts that their cloth napkins for kids:
- Make mealtime more fun
- Reduce paper waste
- Encourage good table manners
- Teach environmental awareness
WIN IT: We have a set of Fabkins in the winner's choice of style/color (retail value $23) compliments of Fabkins. To enter, leave a comment here by midnight (eastern), Friday, May 2, 2008 (anonymous comments with no e-mail are not valid entries). In your comment, please tell us one thing that is on your mind about the environment, something that you already do that is earth-friendly, or an action that you want to begin. If you've already tried Fabkins, let us know what you think. Winners will be notified by e-mail and announced on Prizey Winners. See our Tips For Winning for further entry information. Open to residents of the US only, please.
(This was written by Leeanthro who can be read at Soy is the New Black where she dishes about family, food, foraging, and frivolity. While many of the products she discusses are sold only through boutique or specialty stores, some are widely available at national stores and online.)
156 comments:
These cloth napkins look super cute! I would love to get a set for my daughter. Thanks for sharing such wonderful & practical ideas!
Me me! Clean water is on my mind these days.
My daughter would definitely use these adorable napkins! I have been concerned about all the plastic in our lives - toys, bottles, bags, etc.
BPA and plastic has really been on my mind lately. Yikes!
amiramurphy at gmail
I would like to start recycling more.
These are SO cute! We just started cloth diapering! Yay!
Recycling, energy saving light bulbs, no #7 plastics
We stoped using all fertalizers & pesisides,we use energy light bulbs and are trying to cut out our dependancy on paper goods.
mcginnisfamily5(at)gmail(dot)com
I already use cloth napkins but it would be fun to have ones just for the kids.
We have recently been trying to wean ourselves off of napkins and paper towels at our house. This would be a great way for my daughter to do her part at school and at home.
I have actually checked out fabkins online before and have been thinking about buying them as my next step in going "green". Currently I am replacing cleaning products with organic.
beck2jeff at adelphia dot net
I am interested in composting. Great giveaway, thanks!
Cloth diapering! Love not throwing all the diapers away!
Using cloth bags to sack my groceries!
Hi, Other than the fate of the human race and this planet, the polar bear situation really effects me. They are losing their icy habitat and have nowhere to go or nothing to eat. Please enter me in your drawing.
Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
i'm also using the cloth bags for shopping!
These are so cute!
hearing about how certain plastics may be harmful to us (baby bottles, etc) has been on my mind lately.
I love these!
You said one pack would get you child throuh a week of lunches; consider re-using them for a day or two to decrease your laundry load. Really, many days the napkins don't even get dirty (soup days are different of course!!)
dianna_ball(at)hotmail(dot)com
We just had a baby, and at our showers I was appalled at how many traditionally cloth items now come disposable! Washcloths, burp clothes, you name it and you can get a throw away version. I am taking all those things back, I am not a disposable girl!
Eating more local foods and trying to grow some of our own veggies has been formost in my mind.
we have been using less electricity. only run the washer and dishwasher when full, we switched all our plastics to glass.
would love to win this
bwalleshauser AT yahoo DOT com
My son hates when I wipe his face. Fabkins are so bright & colorful they would make cleaning up fun. Plus, we don't have to create more waste with paper towels!
I want to get rid of all of our paper towels. When we clean or eat we use so many. These would help me on reaching my goal.
Our family needs to start recycling.
I plan on getting a clothesline this summer to dry our cloth diapers and other clothing.
momabr@yahoo.com
Chemicals in our food and water worry me most. Our small town does not do mass recycling yet, but I'd love them too. We do what we can, recycling aluminum. And the kids and I are always looking for ways to repurpose things.. All of our flower "vases" are old spaghetti sauce jars and we use cardboard egg trys to start our seed sprouts :)
I'd love to send these napkins to school in my kids lunchboxes :)
sublimejen@gmail.com
These look wonderful, thank you for the giveaway. I worry over Deforrestation. I would also like to convert to cloth napkins, but have not done so yet. This may be my opportunity.
MLgrandma AT yahoo DOT com
I too have recently figured out that we could use cloth napkins but was waiting until payday, these are adorable! Living green has been on our minds lately and I've also started using cloth shopping bags, every little bit helps! Great giveaway!
This is such a great idea. We already use cloth napkins, and my daughter has been wanting to join in. The napkins we have are too big for her, so these would be ideal!
melin44(at)gmail(dot)com
I can't stop worrying about BPA. Even though I try to buy only "safe" plastics for my family now, how do we avoid it completely when it lines canned food cans and lids of glass jars?
Thanks for the chance to win these great napkins...
sgrimmell99 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I love these. Maybe with something so cute my kids would actually use a napkin.
How fun! Would love a set of the fruit salad napkins. With all the earth day awareness happening, I have been wondering if we may be too late to repair the damage we've done to the world. Scary to think about! However, we try to be as eco-friendly as possible, but there is always more... I have yet to switch our light bulbs (gasp! I know!), and have been meaning to. I'll commit to doing that this weekend!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
laurachilton {at} hotmail {dot} com
Lately I'm obsessed over banning BPA from everything in our house! These cloth napkins would go a long way towards our efforts to be more "green". Thanks for a great contest! I would be thrilled to win these! chicshopperchick (at) gmail (dot) com
I need some cloth napkins and this is a great way to start. Thanks!
We are in the process of ceasing use of plastic bottles in our house.
Fingers crossed!
Stephanie V.
These are so cute! I'd love to make cloth napkins the next step in our green efforts. We've also eliminated plastic water bottle use - we like the aluminum bottles with water from the tap. It's healthy, cost-conscious, and safer for everyone!
beezerly (at) yahoo (dot) com
very cute,
we use totes at the store, growing a veggie garden and freecycle what we don't need
These are so cute. I really want to do away with paper napkins so this would be great to win.
We try to use washcloths and cloth towels instead of paper towels. We still have paper towels on hand, but we also keep washcloths around too and those are usually what we reach for first.
They have been hammering in the global warming in my college classes lately.. and its really quite frightening.. Ive had nightmares the last three nights.. how bad is that?!
I blogged your contest on Prize-A-Tron
http://www.prizeatron.com
these are awesome. as far as going green? we try and minimize the use of plastic... especially with all this bpa stuff... blahhh and i carry my own grocery bags with me... they're stuffed in my diaper bag.. lol
My roomates and I used to use cloth napkins that we painted our names on so we could use them a few times before we washed them, these are much cuter!
how awesome! thank you! please enter me.
I already told you on your other giveaway how we recycle. Something else we're doing is trying to use less water. It's one of those things that we really take for granted. There's oceans and oceans of it but up until recently, I never realized that it's not "that easy" and that there isn't a lot of CLEAN water to go around.
Saving energy. Recycling. Reducing the amount of garbage....
Thanks
I'd like to be more thoughtful about what cleaning products I use.
Great giveaway! As spring approaches around here I have been thinking about doing more organic gardening.
I would love to win these, that little girl looks just adorable with that napkin, lol. Very classy. One thing that does bother me is all the napkins & paper towels we still use in our house!
These are great! Plastic is bothering us lately.
I want to be more diligent in recycling the correct way (removing bottle caps, not using plastic bags to store recyclables, etc.). Great giveaway!
We have the same napkin/paper towel issue at our house. We recently started using cloth napkins and my 4 yr old thinks they are sooo "fancy." These would be perfect for us!
I wish my daughter's daycare/preschool didn't use so many disposable products for so many purposes.
I love these napkins!
I am always look at what we are wasting. I HATE to waste these days, and am always looking for new ways to cut down on my own waste. Reusing plastic bags, reusing dryer sheets, making my own wood polish, etc.
I'd love to start using cloth napkins...these are so cute and my kids would love them.
We cloth diaper and also use cloth wipes! It's great and so easy. I love not consuming disposables.
I'd have to say that chemical cleaners is really concerning me. I've started using green cleaner in my home and also using less plastic...
knittingforsythia@yahoo.com
We try to use dishcloths instead of paper towels. We should use cloth napkins as well!
I love the garden friends pink and white napkins...my niece would love these in her lunch box...I am really concerned with gas prices and the limitations on choices of Hybrid or alternative fuel cars...they are so expensive..would love to see an economical hybrid that also can run on alternative fuel at times.
3beez at bellsouth dot net
I am trying to purchase more of our food in large packages to reduce the amount of packaging we recycle or landfill.
additionproblems [at] gmail [dot] com
I'm thinking about getting one of those huge IKEA bags to use for my groceries. I think my son would really like these napkins.
Fabkins are adorable, and a great idea! We use cloth napkins for ourselves, but they're pretty huge for my 2 yr old.
I've been working on eliminating the plastics in our household, because BPA, pthalates, PVC, and lead are really concerning me lately.
sarah dot brassard at gmail dot com
What I would really want to do to become "more green" is to get rid of my ziplock bags. It has become so hard for me to give up these little wonder bags - I use them all the time!!
nateandjakesmom at gmail dot com
I get really upset when I see the billboard by my house that say, "global warming is a scam". I just don't understand why these interest groups are ignoring the evidence, or putting out their own false evidence. It is really sad, because their are so many people out there who don't take the time to search out their own facts.
Would love the blue ones. Such a great product. We recycle water bottles!
i would love to have a set of these for my 6yo's lunch box (she uses a laptop lunchbox) but can't justify spending $$ on something we don't really need. winning them, however, is a totally different matter! i'm currently trying to break our families paper towel habit and i'm building a worm bin!
These napkins are adorable! I try to air dry as much of our laundry as possible to avoid using the dryer.
jennj44(at)hotmail(dot)com
very cute....we have always used cloth napkins. Originally it was just a southern ettiquette thing, but then I discovered it was more environmentally friendly!!
krisindam at mac dot com
my kids recycle and know more about being green than any kids I know of, I'm proud of them.
i use products for cleaning that are enviormentally friendly
I really really want the Garden Friends in Blue. They are absolutely fantastic. I would really love a set in ADULT size when you come out with them! I have always thought cloth napkins are so chic!
We recycle whatever we can.
Those are cute. We use cotton napkins at home, and last night, my daughter set the table without prompting!
These are soo cute!
I need to start using cloth napkins.
Our latest green issue is using sigg bottles to rid of our plastic use.
Stephanie V.
These are great!
The food crisis has really been on my mind lately.
We do several small things but are really excited to have just bought a diesel car and plan to start making our own biodiesel!
We recycle everything we can, and also pick up garbage in our neighborhood.
We buy local. Helps the local economy and the environment!
We use cloth diapers most of the time. Love them!
katie at dekabyte dot com
I use refillable water bottles and try to conserve energy.
We're trying to save energy by using the car less. Shutting off lights. Saving water. Not using as much paper towels, plates, napkins.
Thanks for this giveaway. These napkins are adorable.
We drink water from the faucet instead of buying bottled water. These cloth napkins would certainly help in our attempt to go "cloth" more often.
mccammacks(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
How fun! We have totally gotten rid of paper plates in our household, and are trying to keep that up for the future!
I live at the beach, and every year a little bit more erosion occurs on our dunes. This year a huge barge anchored out a good distance from the shore, shooting dirt to make man induced dunes. Ever morning my Chesapeake and I have a goal, to fill one large tote with butts and trash from the night before(tourist Town). This Thermos Set would come in handy for my home made herbal tea on those walks!(repeat of thermos comment, but it applies! Love the Pink and White Striped Garden Friends.
The Fabkins are adorable...perfect for my grandkids! We recycle, recycle recycle! And when we can no longer use something we try to find someone else that can use it rather than just throw it away.
we recycle whatever we can
I would love these! Living in the desert, wasting water is on my mind.
I am concerned about all the napkins we use at our house as my daughters are the same way as your about napkins. These Fabkins would be a great alternative!
tmf315@hotmail.com
These napkins are so cute! We are being a lot more careful about planning weekend chore "outings" these days. Instead of separate trips, we head out on Saturday and go to the library, drugstore, post office, market, grocery, etc. in one big loop.
I'm going to start using napkins. I'd never given it much thought to just this second. Thanks! Anyway, these fabkins look so cute.
Great idea and very cute. I compost and save rain water for the garden.
We use to use napkins when I was a child...and I am now wondering why I stopped as an adult? I have also been thinking of switching to reusable grocery sacks for my food...
I invite cats into my yrd for their "donations" toward my garden.
very special I use all the water that I use for vegtables after cool I use in My vegtable garden and wow My plants love it...all extra water in house
Earth friendly cleaning products are on my mind!
I began carpooling to work four months ago with a friend of mine, so we're using one car instead of us both taking separate cars.
jnl930@yahoo.com
Global warming and the shrinking ice caps have been on my mind lately. Thanks for the giveaway.
jliemberger@aol.com
I'd keep the one with the dragonfly design for myself!
I've completely given up plastic and paper bags and use only canvas bags now at the grocery store.
moonstone53@yahoo.com
What a great idea, I know my daughter would love them. I am trying to keep my familt earth minded by using reusable shopping bags and being mindful of water and waste. This would be a great addition. Thanks
april_epperson(at)yahoo.com
I lowered my hot water heater and make sure my house temp is at 68. You get use too it.
These are great! thank you!!
Recently my daughter has been learning about recycling. On our nighty walking trips she always notices who recycles and who doesnt. We use napkins during dinner, I think she would get a kick out of these cloth napkins and would reinforce what she is learning on going green.
one thing on my mind: potable water shortages
something I already do: buy local
action I want to begin: remembering to bring reusable bags along when I shop
catch rainwater for watering plants.
I take my own bags when I go shopping.
I have reusable water bottles for my 3 kids. They have to bring in water everyday (we live in FL) for their gym class. I wash and refill instead of giving them a new prefilled bottle everyday. I do the same w/ my cofee when I go to work in the morning.
We also switched out our bulbs!
Wow, that never even occured to me. I will make a point to reduce the napkin usage. Thank you very much.
We try to do as much as we can in our house - organic food and green cleaning supplies, limited plastic bag usage, recycling, water filters rather than plastic water bottles, public transportation. My very favorite thing we do is shopping at the farmers' market and trying to cook as many meals as possible with local ingredients.
Looking into being a raw foodist and that is great for the environment... I already am vegetarian and that is one main thing you should do to be more green!
I'd love to try those cloth napkins. Must try to conserve on paper towel use!
I use cloth bags instead of paper or plastic.
dolls123[at]gmail[dot]com
We use cloth napkins now but I'd love some cute ones just for my son!
My daughter would adore these!
I've been thinking a lot about BPA in plastic lately and also worrying about the water shortage. Although, it seems like the message about preserving the environment is finally getting out there which is so great to see.
Thanks for the fun contest and for giving parents another easy idea for making small changes to help preserve the environment.
melodypierce[at]excite[dot]com
We have already replaced all of our paper napkins and paper towels with fabric napkins and rags. These are much more attractive, though!
We have Sigg water bottles and I'm using thrift store yarn to make snazzy holders for them so that we remember to take them everywhere with us.
We use canvas shopping totes, nalgene re-usable sports bottle with a purified water filter to eliminate water bottles.
Currently we reuse whatever we can -- use all natural dishwasher detergent, fluorescent light bulbs, and recycle! We haven't tried fruitabu but they sure look yummy!
I'm wanting to upgrade all of my plastic containers and get glass dishes for my food!
Thanks for a great giveaway,
Marissa :)
md-sweeps (at) hotmail (d0t) com
What fun!
We use cloth diapers, cloth napkins, handtowels vs paper towels, reusable shopping bags, microfleece instead of kleenex.... there's always more I want to do, though! Thanks for the chance!
aaronandjulie719 at yahoo dot com
Totally wonderful!
awareness.colors@yahoo.com
I forgot to mention that removing irresponsible plastic and non-healthy foreign made goods from my consumer habits is number one on my list right now.
We just started using g diapers and are trying not to use plastic...love the napkins, esp the garden friends and prima ballerina!!! Hope to win! chiarascari@gmail.com
My clothes dryer broke 2 years ago, and I've never looked back. I hang our laundry outdoors to dry (in upstate NY)!, and when it's too cold, I just hang it up on racks and the shower rods in the house. Saves a lot on the electric bill. I would love the pink gingham ballerina napkins for my granddaughter!
Kathy (at) cats4me@frontiernet.net