“Many of us often wonder what kind of planet we’re leaving behind for our children. But few ask the opposite: what kind of children are we leaving behind for our planet?” —Simeon Ogonda, youth enterprise development consultant from Kenya
It is our responsibility as parents to raise children who will take care of our home, and by this we mean it in the largest sense—our planet. Teaching our kids simple life-changing habits can help them better understand the role each one plays in addressing climate change, global warming, and other environment-related issues.
We may already be experiencing the negative effects of neglecting our planet, but it's still not too late to make a lasting positive impact. Start them young with the countless little ways they can do to help save Mother Earth.
In celebration of World Earth Day, ask yourself: how can I help raise the next generation of eco-warriors?
1. Be a role model.
Never underestimate the power of your influence over your child. Show them through your daily habits how to contribute to efforts of preserving the environment. You have to be a reliable role model. Whether it’s closing the faucet when you brush your teeth or throwing a candy wrapper at the bin, you have to walk the talk, mama!
2. Practice proper waste segregation at home.
Explain to your child that waste that’s not separated properly gets all mixed up in landfills. So it’s a must to segregate dry and wet waste properly, as the former can be recycled while the latter can be turned into a compost. Set up separate waste bins at home and teach your kids the basic waste segregation practices.
3. Teach them how to reuse, reduce, and recycle.
Make these three Rs a golden rule in your home. Help the young ones understand that not all used items should go to the trash bin. There are items they can recycle and repurpose. It’s also important to reduce the amount of waste the household is producing.
4. Conserve energy.
Your energy consumption at home has a tremendous impact on the environment—and kids should be aware of this. Remind them to always turn off the lights when not in use, reduce appliance use, and unplug energy vampires.
5. Build a small garden so they can take care of plants.
Gardening is not only a fun and engaging activity for kids. It also provides a hand-on learning opportunity for them to learn lessons on sustainability and caring for the environment.
6. Watch an environment-themed film or documentary together.
Educating your child can also be in the form of relevant content they can watch. By watching films or documentaries that tackle relevant topics such as climate change, pollution, global warming, biodiversity, among many others, they will understand the impacts of their small actions in a bigger picture.
7. Let them participate in community activities or start their own initiative.
Being surrounded by like-minded individuals can have an enormous impact in the way your child sees and understands things. Scout for initiatives or organizations in your community where kids can participate—and get them involved! They may not be able to join physically now but their ideas can be valuable contributions too. Or you can also start your own through simple projects like donating used clothes and items to charities and promoting upcycling among households.
