Part of our role as parents is to teach our children about the world and encourage them to care for it as well. We are, after all, raising the future generation who will be responsible for nurturing our planet. We must teach them about how humans have damaged the planet, and how we can recover – with their help. Read on for some advice from an independent school in Hertfordshire on how you can encourage your child to be more environmentally conscious.
The home environment
Learning starts at home, so think about how you can teach your child about the environment by referring to everyday activities and objects. Talk about where gas, electricity and water comes from and how we need to conserve energy as much as we can. Train them to switch lights off when they’re no longer in a room and tell them why you’re only filling their bath half full. Ask them to identify areas where energy is being wasted needlessly, like leaving a phone plugged into a charger overnight, and encourage them to check in their room for other energy-draining devices which could be switched off.
Recycling
Teach your child why we recycle and what happens to recycled material. Explain which bins are for plastic, paper, cardboard and food waste, and encourage them to put their own rubbish in the right bin. When the bin men come, explain what they’re doing and where the rubbish is going, being clear about how this benefits the environment. Teach your child that we all have to do our bit to safeguard the environment.
Time outdoors
The best way for children to learn about the environment is for them to spend time in it. You can search for litter and talk about why it’s bad to throw litter outside and how it affects wildlife. Look at how trees have been cut down to make way for houses and talk about the impact humans have on the natural world. Just spending time outside will help develop your child’s appreciation of and respect for nature, and hopefully, nurture a desire to preserve its wonders for years to come.
It’s never too early to start teaching your child about the importance of protecting our environment and how it will be their generation responsible for that in the future.
This is great advice and so hugely important. I have to say though, my 13 year old is really keeping us in check! He is so environmentally clued up, he devours a lot of environmental content online and loves to point out how I personally am destroying the planet! But I think it’s great, I have made some changes thanks to him x
I love when kids get in on the act, all of mine were members of Eco club at school so they all would come home and tell me what changes we needed to make x
My son is in charge of taking the recycling down. We fill a bin daily!! He also has the job of sorting out our fortnightly fruit and veg box. He loves unpacking it all and putting it away.
I love to hear when kids are really helpful. Mine go through phases. We also get through a LOT of recycling which is frightening even though we have been trying to reduce it.
My kids are probably more environmentally conscious than me, but it’s good as we all remind each other
I think schools play a huge role in encouraging children to be environmentally conscious which is brilliant.
LOVE this!! Anything like this is always best to be instilled at a young age to help children understand how important out planet is and how to help preserve x
I couldn’t agree more, at the end of the day it’s protecting the planet for their future x
Great advice. My girls are very aware of the environment and are often better than me.
I think for children it is almost second nature, we are the generation who are trying to make the changes but still slightly influenced by the old ways too x
It is so important that we start teaching our young early on about environmental matters and how they can contribute to its well-being.
I fully agree and I think schools do a brilliant job of this nowadays x
My older three are fab with being environmentally conscious, the younger two are learning slowly… but the truth is they don’t understand at the moment. I’ll try some of these tips to get them more involved.
I think with really young children it’s a process they will learn from their peers as they grow, every little helps x