These 5 tips will help you teach your children about sustainability. This is important because it allows us to prepare children for the future. By raising environmentally conscious children, they are likely to make a positive difference in the world. But sustainability is a super broad concept, so where and how do you start? That's why below are 5 tips that you can use to teach your little one about sustainability.
To recycle
You may already separate waste at home, but by making it a fun activity, children are more likely to continue this habit as adults. Label the separate bins if necessary to make behavior easier. As they say; the environmentally conscious children of today are the responsible consumers of tomorrow. See here what unique ways you can recycle with your children.
You can also take the kids on a so-called 'green team walk'. Grab some gloves and a garbage bag and start picking up trash. Maybe make a trip out of it and drive a bit to a nature reserve.
Allotment
Create your own vegetable garden in your garden. This is not only a fun and educational experience, but you also grow your own organic fruit and vegetables. This not only gives children green fingers and a healthy diet, but it also teaches them to appreciate food.
You can also create a small indoor vegetable garden. Read this article for more tips and tricks to create an indoor vegetable garden.
Sustainable crafting
You can be creative with what would otherwise go into the container. This way the kids can make their own work of art from recycled paper. Save these items from a trip to the container, for example:
- Dessert containers, bottles, jars and cans
- Caps, lids, corks, crown caps
- Rope, strings, ribbons
- Pieces of fabric, old clothes or towels
- Boxes and boxes, colored cardboard
- Clippers
- Magazines
Children can also enjoy what they can find in nature.
- Rhinestones
- Shells
- Chestnuts and acorns
- Chopsticks
- Pieces of bark
- Seeds
- Flowers
- Feathers
- Moss
Books and videos
Books are a good start for young children to teach them about sustainability. There is also YouTube and The National Geographic Kids with plenty of interesting videos that teach children about animals and the world around them.
Be an example
Children learn by imitating the behavior of their parents, for example. That is why it is also important that parents set a good example. Often it is the little things that make an impact. This could include turning off the lights when you leave, using a shower timer to save water and using recycled toilet paper.
Reducing the use of plastic is also a good way to teach your children how to live sustainably. For example, by encouraging the avoidance of single-use plastic products, such as bottles, bags and straws.
