With global warming, it’s imperative that we arm our children with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure their future is not only bright, but green!
As a busy parent, this isn’t always easy. Here are some quick and easy tips to make sure you’re raising earth-friendly kids. To be truly effective in your childrens development, the whole family needs to get involved. By showing that you care about the environment, your kids will do the same.
Teach your kids to respect Mother Nature
Nature is a powerful force that is capable of incredible things. When your child knows this, they will learn to respect it. Help your children plant a garden or tree, fill birdfeeders or pick up litter whenever they see it. Doing simple tasks like this will help show your children how important being environmentally conscious is. By working together, your childrens development will flourish.
Reduce and Reuse should be two of your child’s first words
Your children should know that using less, will always mean more – especially for the environment. Teach your child to reuse containers, bags, newspapers, wood, jars and pots and other everyday items they find lying around the house. They don’t have to reuse stuff in a conventional way, get creative! It can be a fun project to do with your child, and spending time together will strengthen your relationship.
Show your child the importance of recycling
Begin by recycling at home. It's the easiest action to perform, but often the hardest habit to teach. It’s a simple matter of ensuring that you have the right bins. You need bins for each type of recyclable: one for plastic, one for glass, one for paper and one for cans. Once you have these, you can teach your child what can and cannot be recycled. While it may start at home, be sure your child starts practicing recycling when they’re out in public, too. Show them the difference that taking those extra few steps to the recycling bin can make to the environment, and ultimately, their future.
Build a brighter future for your child by showing them energy conservation
Energy is precious, and its important children know that from a young age. Remind your child to switch off lights when they’re not being used, power down computers and playstations, turn off the TV when nobody's watching, and resist lingering in front of the refrigerator with the door open. You can involve older children in changing light bulbs around the house to compact fluorescent light bulbs. They provide roughly the same light output as incandescent bulbs, but last much longer, and only use a fraction of the energy.
Pass it on
Nothing should ever go to waste. This includes old clothes and toys that your children have outgrown. Ask your little ones to gather toys, books, clothes, and other goods they no longer use or want for donation to local charities or organisations. They should know that just because they’re no longer using them, doesn’t mean somebody else won’t. It’s a great way to ensure your child grows up conscious not only of the environment, but of each other as well.
