Teaching kids the importance of sustainability is a vital part of raising responsible citizens. Sustainability is about using resources responsibly and preserving the environment for future generations. Kids should learn about sustainability early so they take the environment into consideration when making decisions. It begins with small changes to care for our beautiful planet.
One of the best ways to introduce sustainability to kids is to start with activities that are fun and engaging. Nature hikes, planting a garden, and sorting recycling are all great activities that help kids understand the importance of sustainability. You can also use educational games, books, and movies to explain the concepts of sustainability in age appropriate ways.
Children learn more easily than adults, meaning the habits they create when they are young will likely stick with them through adulthood. -Rose Morrison, Biofriendly Planet
Unsure where to start? A simple plastic bottle can be a great learning tool. Discuss with your family what happens to that bottle if it ends up in a landfill instead of a recycling bin? (Pssst…It takes 450 years to decompose!) For younger children, teach them about composting by turning that bottle into a composter! Older kids can learn about soil erosion by turning a few bottles into an experiment that demonstrates the impact of vegetation and how it impacts groundwater.
It’s essential that kids understand the impact their actions have on the environment, and it’s our generation’s responsibility to encourage them to do better than we did. Teaching kids about the effects of pollution, global warming, and overconsumption can help them make better choices in the future. As you, the adult, make conscious choices toward living sustainably, let the kids in your life know why you do it, why it’s important to you, and how it helps benefit the Earth. Kids don’t have to respond in any certain way (or at all) in order to absorb the message.
Talk to kids about the importance of making sustainable lifestyle choices. Bring it up in conversation. Show them ways you conserve energy, reduce waste, and consider packaging when buying responsibly. These simple steps help create more conscious, responsible consumers who are more aware of how their decisions impact the environment.