According to research, modeling or demonstrating by example has a stronger influence on children’s behavior than actually asking them what to do. So, if you want to emphasize the value of healthy living, start by assessing your own behaviors to see if there are any places that you can change.
When children see their parents consciously make environmentally friendly lifestyle decisions, even though it means sacrificing any comfort, they are far more likely to follow suit as they get older.
Of course, apart from modelling appropriate behavior, there are things you should do to build teachable opportunities. If you’re not sure where to begin, here are some suggestions for educating kids about sustainability while still lowering your family’s carbon footprint.
Visit a sustainable farm in your region
Taking the children to a nearby sustainable farm is an excellent way to educate them about the origins of their food and the importance of purchasing fresh and locally harvested fruits and vegetables. Some farms also let you choose your own fruits and vegetables, which can be both entertaining and informative. Seeing how animals used for meat, milk, and eggs are raised can encourage your children to consider the animal products they consume.
At home, talk about and practice recycling
Another topic that children should be aware of is waste and recycling. You will explain how paper is manufactured and that recycling helps preserve trees, as well as how certain products, such as plastic, take hundreds of years to degrade naturally and are detrimental to animals and the atmosphere. Once they realize the value of recycling, you should make individual bins for plastic, cans, bottles, and paper, and then decorate each one with a different image to remind them of what goes where.
Begin a vegetable garden
Starting a small vegetable garden is a good way to teach your children where their food comes from if you have the yard. Begin by researching which vegetables grow in which seasons and choosing where you want to plant them. If you don't have much outdoor space, you can grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs in pots or build a small vertical garden.
Discuss the importance of conserving water and electricity
Children can struggle to recognize that water is a scarce resource or that electricity is typically provided using non-renewable natural resources. Rather than just asking them to switch out the lights as they exit a room or chastising them for keeping the water flowing while brushing their teeth, look for instructional videos and infographics that can help them learn why conserving natural resources is beneficial.
Collaborate on an upcycling initiative
Upcycling and recycling go hand in hand, and making something beautiful or useful out of something you'd otherwise discard can be a perfect lesson in raising less waste and using energy wisely. Empty plastic bottles, for example, can be transformed into bird feeders; a pizza box can be transformed into an excellent painting surface; tin cans can be transformed into DIY lanterns, and many more ideas to be innovated.
Increase the cycling frequency.
It's tempting to get into the trap of driving every day, but if you don't live too far from your child's kindergarten, the grocery store, and other locations you often visit, you can try cycling when time and weather permit. Not only can this save on gasoline bills and reduce air emissions, but it will also have another teachable opportunity for the children to consider how their daily decisions affect the atmosphere.
Spend your time outside with nature.
Spending more time on nature trails, woodland, and parks will help your children understand the importance of environmental preservation. When you're out on nature walks together, you can discuss how our behaviors affect nature and what we can do to mitigate the effect. You might also bring an empty bag and make a game of gathering any trash you come across while hiking.