It seems today’s society is becoming more and more apathetic to the world around them. Many children (the tweens in particular) are more concerned with playing the latest video game or who they are chatting with in the House Party app and don’t really pay much attention to the environment around them. Unless your child is a “VSCO girl” you aren’t going to get them to care about the turtles overnight. And it may seem hard to get your children to show an interest in the world around them, but you can get them to care if you start early and take small steps. You may not make a difference overnight, but you may just make a difference in the future of the planet by investing in the future habits of your children.
Before you get the “Ok Boomer” response, you have to take the first step in raising your children to be eco friendly.Which rerally just means, be eco friendly yourself. You can tell your children to be respect the environment all you want, but you’re not going to get anywhere if you don’t practice what you preach. You may not be Captain Planet, but you can start with small steps to get involved. Follow the practices of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Use natural and environmentally friendly products. Get involved with local organizations that help protect the environment.
It’s a shame that this new generation has to deal with melting ice caps, zero ozone layer and species becoming more and more extinct. It’s nice we havemoved away from plactic bags and started using metal straws but we still have a long way to go. We really need to care about it because this planet isn’t going to take care of itself and this is the only place our children have to live.
Once you’re involved in eco friendly practices, start getting your kids to help as soon as you can. You can start out simple by having them put their own recyclables into the bin, or even have them ride along with you when you take your bin to the recycling center. You can have them help you build a compost pile, or just go shopping with you at the organic food store. When I was a child, my mom would get me to pick up trash that was lying around, and I still pick up trash I see to this day. Just remember to start small and work your way up to bigger steps.
The people who do the most to help the environment are the ones who know the most about it. That’s why it’s important to start your child learning about the world around them early. While you should do your best to teach them on your own, you can also get some help from the experts. Many zoos and nature centers offer educational classes for children as young as three years old. These can be a valuable resource in helping small children start to learn about the environment and to expand their knowledge as they get older.
You could also get your child involved in volunteering. If you work or volunteer for an environmental activist group, get your children involved as soon as they are old enough. Many areas offer volunteer organizations for teens and young adults. The first place to look is with the places where you found classes for young children. The most important part is that your child gets involved on a larger scale than just within your family. This also helps them meet other people their age who also care about environmental issues.
While children will inevitably be resistant to volunteering and doing extra work or chores at some point or another, they will still gain an appreciation for their environment that will last their whole lives.
Recent Comments