Teach Your Kids to Be Eco-Friendly
By: Aaron Guhl
We all try our hardest at teaching our children to have positive values in life. Sharing, responsibility, equality are just a few. With so much to learn and do as a parent, it isn't hard to overlook teaching your children to be eco-friendly.
Teaching your children about the importance of being eco-friendly is crucial to do while they are still young as they are more inclined to retain those values into adulthood. Here are 10 ways you can instill green values into your child:
1) Teach respect for animals. Trips to petting zoos as well as allowing hand-on interaction with other animals is important. Not only will it ensure that they grow up not to be afraid of animals, but it will create a bond with animals that will stay will them.
2) Show water conservation. While they are brushing their teeth, turn the running water off and explain to them why they should not waste water.
3) Give them the opportunity to be eco-friendly and recycle. Have them put bottles and cans into the recycle bin so that they get into a habit of putting recyclables into the recycle bin instead of throwing them out.
4) Energy conservation. Tell them to turn off any lights that may not be in use and to make the most use out of natural lighting. Explain to them that they shouldn't waste electricity when it isn't needed.
5) When watching TV, encourage shows with eco-friendly nature and discovery topics rather than cartoons. This will get them excited about the environment.
6) Purchase discovery toys. Kids like to play, so purchasing toys that help them learn about science and nature will allow them to have fun while learning at the same time.
7) Take a trip to a botanical garden so they can learn to appreciate plants. Purchase a plant for them to take care of that doesn't require a lot of maintenance.
8) When reading good night stories, pick ones with wildlife and animals in them so they get attached to characters that are a different species than human.
9) Go outdoors. When it comes to recreation for your child, encourage them to go outdoors with their friends so they learn to love the great outdoors.
10) Talk with your child. When doing any of the above, be sure to talk with them about being eco-friendly. Explain to them why the environment is important.
Protecting our planet is important for us, but even more important for our children. Adults today are now just learning about the impact that we as humans can have on the environment because our parents never instilled eco-friendly values in us. If we teach our children about being eco-friendly, then they won't make the same mistakes we have.