Who is more important to the future of the earth than the youngest among us? As individuals we should all remember the obligation we have to adhere to greener methods of living, but as parents we shoulder an even more important responsibility — ensuring the next generation follows in our footsteps. Children are our future and we want them to enjoy a clean and beautiful earth and to teach those same values to their children!
By instilling sustainable practices in kids at a young age, it makes green living not only seem the wise choice — but more importantly — the normal one. The following are a few ways that you can demonstrate to your kids that cleaner and greener is always best!
Be an example for your children. Kids look up to mom and dad to learn the ins and outs of life, so go that extra green mile around the house. Switching off lights when leaving the room, turning off running faucets, recycling cans and glass, unplugging electronics when not in use and watering plants with warm-up water will let kids know that if you care about the earth, then they should too.
Start a garden. Growing fresh fruits and vegetables shows kids where food comes from, while also giving parents an opportunity to teach them about nutrition and sustainable practices. Find ways for young ones to participate in gardening — pulling weeds, picking off bugs, watering plants all help kids view it as a fun adventure!
Teach them about the circle of life. Getting kids involved in composting and recycling is a fantastic way to instruct them on the proper disposal of unwanted items, the reuse of materials and the life cycle of a product. Let them know that throwing out old toys fills up the landfills, to encourage them to make the most of what they already have before buying new things.