Fun ways to teach your kids about sustainability

The concept of “living sustainably” has gained a lot of attention, given the global context and the urgency of shifting towards a less wasteful lifestyle. A lot has been done to raise awareness about the necessity of sustainability and recycling, but we still have a lot to learn and improve. Part of ensuring that our children have a better future is to teach them about the importance of “green living” from a young age. It requires patience and time, but it can be done in a fun and entertaining manner.

Here are a few fun ways to teach your little ones about sustainability and spark their interest in becoming responsible consumers when they grow up:

1.      Teach them what recycling is

It can be difficult for kids to understand how discarding a plastic bottle in the dedicated recycling bin instead of the regular trash bin makes a difference You can talk to them about what happens if people don’t recycle and watch documentaries on the topic together, or even take them to a local recycling center to show them what happens with recycled items. You can drop by our facility with your little ones anytime if you live in our area.

2.     Get into DIY projects

Kids love creating things, and their imagination should be fed continually. Engaging them in fun DIY projects and repurpose or upcycle something that would typically be discarded could serve as a valuable lesson on how we could easily cut down on personal waste. Here you have some nice and creative ideas to get started.

3.      Plant a garden together

If you have a garden (lucky you!) with a sad and lonely spot, it’s time to turn it into something beautiful with the help of your little ones! Planting is a great way to stimulate your child’s senses of touch, sight, sound, taste, and smell – and spark their interest in nature. They’ll love getting their hands a bit dirty and watch the little seeds grow into a plant – especially if it’s an edible one. Kids may become more inclined to eat vegetables if they’ve planted them.

4.      Clean up a local beach, park, or playground

Here’s one of the most eco-friendly family activities ever: invent an outdoor clean-up game and get your kids to be more physically active. Moreover, studies show that the most direct route for caring for the environment as an adult is participating in “nature activities” before the age of 11. You could challenge them to compete and see who’s the fastest cleaner, while indirectly teaching them civic responsibility. Teaching them about the importance of respecting the community and not littering is appropriate at any age. 

Here are some interesting recycling facts you could teach your kids while completing activities:

• 75% of our rubbish can be recycled.
• Recycling one ton of paper can save 17 trees.

• Recycling one aluminium can save enough energy to power a TV for three hours.