As families gear up to go back to school, parents have a great opportunity to put more “green” in their kids’ routine. These five simple—and healthy—habits empower kids to help save the planet (while saving parents some serious cash):

1. Get on board.
Have your child bike, walk, or skateboard to school. It’s easy on the earth and healthy for kids. Riding the bus or creating a car pool to school is another way to cut carbon emissions. You’ll also save money on gas and introduce kids to ridesharing and public transportation—great skills to grow up with.

2. Watch that water.
Encourage your kids to turn off the water while brushing their teeth. This simple move could help save at least two gallons per brushing per child and as much as 1.5 billion gallons of water across the country each day!

3. Pack a green lunch.
Paper or plastic? Neither! Try using waste-free materials like cloth napkins, old silverware, reusable containers and lunchboxes or reusable lunch bags. This will cut down on the amount of waste that results from plastic and paper products.

4. Rock on-line!
More than 100,000 CDs and DVDs are thrown away each month, but you can cut down on all that plastic packaging waste by having your kids buy music online and by renting movies instead of buying.

5. Shop wisely.
Reduce your family’s consumption when Back-to-School shopping by checking out consignment stores and sales (like the JBF sales events coming to Sacramento Aug 22-24 and Roseville Sep 19-21).

Reuse school supplies (like backpacks and folders) that are still in good shape (even if they are no longer as exciting as the stuff on store shelves). Patches sewn or hot-glued on backpacks, and stickers placed on folders, can make tired, old gear “new” again (and way more original than the latest trademarked character fad). Or why not host a kids’ clothes swap with family, friends and neighbors? If you are still set on getting the kids brand-new gear for the brand-new school year, consider donating their gently used stuff to a charity drive or your nearest thrift store (rather than trashing it).

Recycle as much as you can. Shopping for school supplies? Pay attention to packaging—think reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable. Buy refills when possible; choose recycled notebook paper; and skip the stuff that comes in three kinds of plastic wrap when simple cardboard packaging will do. Pilot Pen’s new line of BeGreeN pens and mechanical pencils are a good example. Made from at least 70% recycled content and packaged in recycled materials, they cost the same as comparable (but less eco-minded) supplies.

With these simple changes to their everyday school year routine, even little kids can make a big difference.