When kids are young they are influenced by their parents and can be guided to make the right decisions. However, as they get older and more independent the parents influence lessens, but that doesn’t mean it is hopeless cause. No matter what stage your children are at, your actions is what will encourage and affect how your kids grow into the sort of adults that will acre for the planet.
So how do you support your children make more eco-friendly decisions?
Here are a few tips:
Get your children to collect items that can go into the recycling bin. This activity can be made into a game. Let them see how many objects they can get and how many different types. Not only will they understand that some items need to be recycled, but they will learn what items/packaging cannot be recycled and what a waste they are creating.
Stick notes on the light switches and mirrors and remind kids to switch off lights and turn off the tap. For younger children, pictures may work better. Mum or Dad can also be there to remind them as they brush their teeth or leave the room.
Show your children how items can be reused and don’t always have to be thrown away e.g. cardboard for artwork, using old clothes for cleaning rags, jars for preserving food, etc.
Cooking is a great tradition in a lot of families, especially if you want to encourage healthy eating. This is a good opportunity to talk about what happens to leftovers and to food scraps. Show them how these food scraps have another life and get the children involved with the composting. What kid doesn’t love worms.
Take walks in nature. Great for all your health and mind, but it will also give your children a great love for nature.
Get the kids to hold the shopping bags to the shops. This will become so normal, they will do it automatically after a while.
At the end of the day, if you set a good example by your actions and discussing why you do certain things, eventually your children will be doing the same too. And one day they might have a few earth friendly ideas of their own!
Attracta & the earthly passion team