Our #brightFuture Challenge

When you have a family everything changes, but how do you create a #brightFuture for our children.

We all want our children to be happy, healthy and keen to learn, with zest for life and able to look after the world which we live in.

Our biggest strength as a family is getting outdoors for fresh air and fun. Just being outside means the kids are inspired to grow and learn in a fun and interactive way.

This time of year is a little more challenging weather wise, but nothing than a few extra layers and some waterproof clothing won’t fix. My top tip is to take a change of clothes and a bin bag in the back of the car so you can pop all the mucky gear into the bag and then carry it inside without getting everything else messy. Then pop the items straight into the washing machine and wash with Persil as soon as you get home.

helwell-bay

One of our favourite haunts this time of year is the beach as it is far less touristy and the kids can roam free and hunt for fossils and other treasures to their heart’s content. They also come back filthy and I have a car full of sand but that is all part of the fun.

When it comes to washing, for my #brightfuture challenge, I am going to use less water, wash at lower temperatures and make sure I only do full loads, which will help to educate my children about the little changes we can implement to make a difference.

We are also attempting greener living generally and my children are already keen recyclers and often tell me or their Dad off for putting the wrong thing in the wrong bin.

We re-use boxes, bottles and jars where possible and make decorations from things we have found when we are out and about. Isaac has made his own Bug Hotel complete with pool (a sunken washing up bowl) in the garden and has lots of happy residents and Eliza has made a fairy garden and has grown her own wild flowers, perfect to encourage bees and butterflies.

fairy-garden

We successfully grew our own strawberries in the summer but sadly our tomato crop failed, but we have been encouraged to attempt some more vegetables next year.

  • Unilever’s brightFuture initiative focuses on small changes that can make big differences and how we can build a world where everyone lives well and lives sustainably. Since the launch of the Sustainable Living Plan, Unilever has helped 482 million people to improve their health and hygiene, including through hand washing, improving self-esteem and oral hygiene.
  • This is exemplified in the work undertaken by Domestos that has committed to helping 25 million people gain improved access to a toilet by 2020. Access to clean sanitation can protect people from preventable diseases, reduce mortality rates, help reduce school dropout rates and improve quality of life.
  • Furthermore, Persil has backed a global initiative ‘Learning for Tomorrow’ partnering with UNICEF to help give children in some of the world’s toughest areas the opportunity of a quality education.
  • Building on the aim to improve lives through small steps, the Dove Self-Esteem Project has worked closely with leading psychologists, academics and experts to create materials and resources that help young people develop a positive relationship with their appearance. The project has now reached over 19 million young lives.

This post is an entry for BritMums #brightFuture Challenge, sponsored by Unilever

6 thoughts on “Our #brightFuture Challenge”

  1. I think getting children outside is so important, so many studies have linked spending time in the outdoors to better mental health as well. I’ve never heard of the work done by Domestos, but it sounds like an admirable project.

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  2. Little steps do make a difference. Enjoying more time moving around outdoors means less need for high levels of heating in the house too. I love all the little areas of your garden.

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  3. Oh what a good idea, I seem to constantly have our washing machine on!I’ve also found that living near the beach has made it much easier to explain environmental issues to my kids – I think some of it is going in!!

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