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.
