4 Tips for Raising Eco-Conscious Kids
Want to raise eco-conscious kids? Here are some tips for instilling a love for nature and sustainable living in children of all ages!
When I was a kid, I was fascinated by the idea of environmentalism. After attending a local festival with my parents that focused on ecology and eco-consciousness, I became obsessed with recycling and the idea of saving the planet. Of course, it didn’t hurt that I grew up in the beautiful Ozark mountains, and was surrounded by nature every day! But I still remember the amazement of learning that I could have an impact on the world, and could help make a difference in the health of the planet we live on.
If you’ve ever spent much time around kids, you know that they just seem to have an innate love of nature and fascination with the natural world. But when we grow up – especially if we grow up in a city or urban area – we tend to lose that connection. Instilling eco-friendly and eco-aware habits at an early age can inspire a life-long commitment to caring for the world around us.
After all, the future of our planet really is in the hands of our children! These are our future leaders and visionaries, who will help guide the world in a more sustainable direction – if we teach them to.
Here are a few simple ways to raise eco-conscious kids with a heart for taking care of the planet.
1. Spend time outdoors.
If you want kids to care about the environment, bring them outside! The more kids are immersed in the natural world, the more they will care about preserving it. The sky, trees, critters, and other flora and fauna not only engage a child’s sense of wonder and curiosity but also provide an opportunity for conversation and exploration.
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2. Recycle.
We hear it all of the time, but recycling really does work wonders to reduce our carbon footprint and send less waste to landfill…
Have your kids help set up a recycling area in your home and put them in charge of making sure everything goes in the right place. Allowing them to take ownership of the project will make them more engaged in the act of protecting their planet.
3. Conserve water.
The internet is full of resources that present information on water in a visual, kid-friendly way. Sites like ryanswell.ca, water.org, and georgiebadielfoundation.org have loads of facts and videos and activities to do with your kids. It is one thing to tell your kids not to waste water, but these sites can foster a greater understanding of the need to value and conserve this precious resource.
After exploring these and other sites with your children, ask the rest of your family to come together and talk about different ways you can conserve water in your own home…
4. Read, read, read.
There are some incredible books out there to help kids really make connections and inspire them to care about the world around them… You can choose fun and funny books for really little ones or more realistic books for older kids. From fiction to nonfiction, a few of my favorites include Michael Recycle, Last Child in the Woods, and A Long Walk to Water.
By taking a mindful approach to the world around you, using the senses to experience the wonder and beauty that is our earth, cultivating empathy and connection to the animals and people who share this planet, you and your kids will feel inspired and empowered to take care of the environment and raise your collective eco-consciousness to make a difference.
For more tips, read the full article at MindBodyGreen.com…
