15 Tips: How to Teach Children to Take Care of the Earth

Children love nature. They enjoy going to the park, they love to splash in the summer, they don't hesitate to throw leaves in the fall and they are extremely happy to make snowmen in the winter. The role of the parent is to help the child to maintain this connection with nature and to take care of the planet.

Everything is usual: we start with small things, by our example and using fun activities. So, here are 15 simple tips that we can use to teach children how to care for our common home - the Earth.

Help the child to find out as many curiosities about the environment as possible.

The first step is to read as many stories as possible together and watch cartoons about nature, the earth, the environment.

In this way, you will help the little one to form a broad vision of nature. And stories and cartoons will not only help him love plants and creatures but also want to protect them.

Don't kill the geese.

Understandably, the first instinct when you see a goose is to step on it. So is the reaction of the child who, at the sight of a spider, shouted at his mother to come and crush him.

But every insect is part of the environment. Instead of killing her, it is better to catch her in a cup or jar and very carefully, together with the child, take her out where she will quietly continue her life. It will be a good lesson intolerance for the child.

Save birds and animals.

When walking with your child in the park or the woods, eat food to feed ducks, pigeons, or crows. If you find an injured sparrow, help her, as far as possible, by taking protective measures. The child will be overwhelmed by your kindness and, in the future, will be just as caring for nature creatures.

Create your own garden.

If you have a yard, reserve a space that will only belong to the child for gardening. Plant the plants together, water them, break the wild weeds. Afterward, together you will pick the vegetables and fruits grown by the child and enjoy the fruits of nature.

And if you live in a block of flats, you can make a small garden on the windowsill - vegetables and greens will create a pleasant atmosphere in the house.

Go for picking different fruits.

If you know safe places where mushrooms or berries grow, you should go for picking. Finding food in the environment is free, fun, and very impressive. Such an outing is a real adventure in search of the treasures of nature.

Talk to your child about electricity.

Explain to the child how much energy is needed for each household to have electricity. Tell him how important it is to turn off the light when he leaves the room, to turn off the TV, if he is not watching it, and if the electric toys do not use them, simply put them back.

Another skill that a child must develop is to close the refrigerator door after he has taken the necessary product. The refrigerator left open consumes more energy, may be out of order, and the products may deteriorate.

By the way, by following these rules, you will save significantly on bills and help the planet.

Keep room temperature when a device is operating.

The child should know that care must be taken to close the door to the room when the air conditioner is running, so as not to allow the room to cool down in winter or to heat up in summer. The door can only be left open if the room is to be ventilated.

Save water.

Explain to the child how precious each drop of water is. But also remind her that it is very important to brush your teeth, face, baths, and showers daily. Show the little one how to turn off the water when brushing his teeth or soaping his hair, and so on.

After you have finished washing, check that the faucet does not leak. Some research shows that an apartment drips almost 3,000 liters of water a year.

If you have a garden, show your child how to properly select plants for watering, as well as when watering flower beds or lawns.

Recycle plastic bottles.

Tell your child that 70% of the human body is made up of water, and regular water consumption is good for your health. Although it must be permanently hydrated, it will not always be convenient for your child to carry a reusable bottle (although this is ideal), so at least teach him how to dispose of plastic bottles in recycling bins.

Opt for an ECO lunchbox.

Give up food packed in plastic bags - often, after use, they end up where we don't want them - in the ocean. Plus, they're very boring and awkward.

Choose reusable lunch boxes - they are very attractive, comfortable, and environmentally friendly. In addition, such containers keep food fresh longer.

And one more thing: rarely a child who does not eat all the lunch packed in a container, for example, in the form of BB8 from "Star Wars".

Do not use plastic tableware at home.

Even if the cutlery, paper towels are very comfortable, after use they occupy a huge space in landfills, and for their decomposition, in nature, it takes at least 400 years.

Use ceramic, clay, porcelain plates, stainless steel cutlery, stainless steel, silver or ECO wood, as well as textile towels. And if you put a flower on the table, you will feel like in a restaurant.

And don't use plastic straws - in addition to being harmful to nature, they are not healthy for the human body either. Opt for natural straws or give them up in general.

And if you go on a picnic in the middle of nature, you could use a minimum of disposable cutlery.

Recycle waste.

Turn recycling into a game. Find a large box, color it with your child, and divide it into several sorting sections: glass, paper, plastic, and batteries. Trash organic waste in a trash can. Praise your child every time he or she chooses the right recyclable compartment.

Give new life to recyclable products.

Bottle caps, gift bags, old stickers, ice cream sticks, and other items may look like adult garbage, but in the hands of the right child, they can be turned into art projects.

Make the most of your imagination. Toilet paper tubes, with a beautiful design, can become separators for crayfish. A refurbished gift box can be turned into a treasure chest where the child keeps his jewelry. These are the first things adults learn in ecology school.

Clothing can also take on new life, so don't rush to throw away your stained coat or a small hole.

Recycle pencils.

We especially want to tell you about wax crayons: don't throw them away. The leftovers can be melted right in the microwave and turned into new pencils. You can also create various figurines from these pencils. For example, make paper shapes, fill them with pencil pieces. The material melts and takes the shape of the paper object. You can also create a giant pencil that your child would be proud of at school or kindergarten.

Give gifts instead of buying them.

And again, this would mean that you have to spend on these processes. Use paints, colored paper, recyclables, scissors, glue, and lots of creativity.

Every day, by their example, adults can help their little ones to love the environment. Remember: young children can do great things for the health of the planet.