Gone are the days when going green is just for the old individuals in the society because even kids today are turning into this idea. Every day your kids encounter different environmentally related scenario in their life. But regrettably, kids nowadays are more focused on the playful screen-world rather than the real setting. More and more children prefer to play with their four-sided gadgets instead of becoming curious on how gardening works or how picking trash and putting it into proper cans can turn the world into a better one. This is mainly not because they naturally love tech but because, as a parent, you allow them to embrace this type of system on their life.
It may seem hard to divert this old mentality about going green but with some simple formula and little green actions, you can make them an advocate in their growing years.
Set a Good Example
The simplest yet the most moving green deeds on how you can successfully raise green-diplomatic kids is to become their role models. Kids in their growing days are good followers and they value what they see, so the implication is to start with yourself as their parents. Go after the practice of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Use natural and environmentally friendly products for your home and be active in different local organizations. The value of practicing what you are preaching and being consistent on it can help your child be more aware that green is so in and can be something vital.
Teach Them to Become Little Advocates
Kids nowadays view going green as a responsibility and sometimes tend to become a saddle for them in some ways. It must not be like that. Before doing anything or pushing them to do this and that, start educating them. Initiate mentioning how beneficial is energy saving or buying eco-friendly products is. Don’t also forget to cite green actions’ benefits that may affect their health and even their daily living. Begin with micro benefits up to the striking and surprising payback of every activity they can gain with green activities. You can also turn those into little stories of how you, as an example, are not that literate on doing green before, but now you’ve changed. Make the conversation convert them to become just like you. Always make it personal and spontaneous.
Don’t forget also to give them a glimpse of why it is important to go green, especially today. Mention some facts. Kids love listening to different information that are sounding and next thing you know, they are the ones who will initiate asking some more. Make them curious on how impactful going green is!
Simple as Green
Saving Energy & Resources
After educating and giving them the main gist and purpose of turning green, you’ll be surprised that you can easily start creating activities that will make them apply what they’ve learned. Start from simple. Activities such as energy saving can be a good initial set up for them. Stress the importance of turning the lights off when leaving a room. Your kids must ensure that they turn off the water when they brush their teeth to trim down water consumption. Also, encourage them to unplug electronic chains to lessen your electric bill. You can make this activity more fun in a way that those who don’t unplug chargers or anything will wash the dishes for a week.
Green Day
Have a day where everyone takes advantage of all the green activities. Go outside and pick up garbage along the streets together, or maybe collect old toys that are no longer needed and donate them for reuse purposes. Another activity for your green day is simple gardening and planting trees on a vacant lot, if available. Or maybe a DIY trash can activity right on your abode can be an alternative. With this activity, you can educate your kids how to be creative while knowing the differences between bio-degradable and non-degradable layout. Allow them to design the trash cans for them to better differentiate the two.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Encourage your kids to embrace this mentality. Recycling not only gives the environment an opportunity to become better but also will give you and your kids a fracture on how to boost their creativity on maximizing things they already have.
You don’t need to go after grand things to turn your kids to becoming green lovers or environmentally-oriented individuals. Simple things above can help them be aware of how valuable is green leap on the early stage of their existence.
Start Young
Are you wondering when to start the green drift? The resounding answer is now. Start getting your kids to be green as soon as you can. Once they’re involved in eco-friendly practices, you will be amazed because they will surely gain bounty appreciation from the environment that will last their whole lives. How simple and how grand those green actions are, is not what matters the most. It’s the value of how you establish instilling in your kid’s brain the value of taking care of their environment. Start with young kids because they are the upcoming people of the world. They deserve your initial green words as little green advocates of the future.
By: Jeanette Anzon
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