How to Raise a Green Kid
Whether or not you’ve seen Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth, a documentary about global warming, chances are you’ve read the headlines. You’ve watched the news and you know greening isn’t only important for today’s lasting impact on the earth but tomorrow’s as well.
In order to further the mindset of an eco-friendly society, what better opportunity to limit waste and promote environmentalism than starting with your very own little earth-friendly helpers? Here are several ways you can positively impact our planet by instilling green values and behaviors in your child.
Encourage Earth-Friendly Contributions:
According to Ellen Sabin, author of The Greening Book (Watering Can Press, 2008),it’s important to show kids how their own actions can make a positive impact. Talk to them about everyone’s responsibility for saving the environment, and let them know their positive actions can help shape the future. “It’s fun and engaging if there are tasks they can do start to finish. Examples would be cleaning up litter at a local park, or writing letters to politicians or community leaders about an environmental issue.”
Set a Positive Example:
OK, this may sound like a no-brainer but your habits will influence your children’s. When you’re brushing your teeth be sure to turn off the water. Take shorter showers. Turn off the lights when you leave your bedroom. Refill your plastic water bottle at home rather than constantly using a new one. Although these may seem like simple steps, the better example you set, the easier it will be for your child to emulate these good behaviors as second nature.
Create Group Opportunities:
Whether it’s a matter of spending a day at the recycling center in town to create two separate piles — one for paper and the other for plastic - or planning a family bicycle outing to a local park instead of driving to the destination, Sabin says environmental issues foster opportunities for group interaction. This way, you’re not only helping the environment, you’re having fun, too! “Encourage children to work with others in their neighborhoods, schools, and communities that help Planet Earth,” she says.
Reuse, Reduce, Recycle:
In a nutshell this is Environmentalism 101; repetition is never a bad thing as you indoctrinate recycling to your child. Whether you call it reusing, reducing or recycling, it matters not. They’ll get the point that what goes around comes around in the Universe, and it’s important to give back once you’re done with something. For instance, instead of throwing out books once they’ve finished reading them, donate them to the local library instead.
Play!:
The purpose of this nugget of green wisdom is two-fold: not only will it help environmentalism, it will also help your kid’s social skills and physical interaction. In essence, they should play! They should get out of the house and away from the computer or Wii - reduce that electricity and power being used. They should get their energy out in your yard. Playing hoops, riding their bikes, throwing a frisbee. Staying active and playing with their friends will get them out of coach potato mindset along with reducing significantly the amount of electricity used in your home.
What have you done to make your home “green”?
Michelle Brunetti works for TheCuteKid.com, the most respected and fastest growing baby photo contest with 1.7 million members. TheCuteKid baby modeling contest is judged by Entertainment Industry Professionals and awards over $100,000 in prizes annually. Do You Have a CuteKid?